Hi everyone, I have a Coleman 639 winging it's way to me from eBay so I began looking in the reference library and searching for information about this particular model, but there's not that much. It's a tough question, I know, but are they any good? Most Colemans seem to be easy to use, well made and easy to fettle... in any event, I didn't have a 639 so as the price was right I went for it. Anyone got one? How do they perform in use? Are they common, rare, cheep as chips or what? The one I'm getting has some letters/numbers on the outside which I'm sure someone will be able to identify. Are the letters/numbers significant in some way or can I strip the tank and re-spray it? Does this have a history that I should be aware of before I set about cleaning and fettling it? Any answers would be good Thank in advance Colin
The Coleman 639 does work well once it has been properly fettled, but the build quality is not as good as that of it's predecessors, however, the build quality is better than the more modern Coleman lanterns. I have not seen that lettering before and the link below shows my example of a 639. 1974 (January) Coleman 639.
Try and determine what the lettering on the tank stands for before you strip it. It could be significant. Never know...
I definitely will, George. I'd hate to destroy something of historic interest... on the other hand, if it's just the name of an old scout group or a long defunct factory maintenance department, I'll re-spray it. My guess is someone on this site will know something for sure! Colin
You may have a job on your hands, it looks as if whatever text was added to the original finish has been painted over leaving some of it visible for whatever reason. I like the 639, with a little TLC you'll have a bright dependable kero lantern. HD
The original 1970s 639 are very bright and dependable lanterns. They are prone to rust due to the all-steel construction and some examples can be a bit smelly due to a slight gas leak from the burner gallery through the bail holes. For frequent use, one of the advantages they have over other vintage models is that many replacement parts are still being made for the current iteration now just called Large Single Mantle Kerosene Lantern (it has a long model number no-one can memorize)
That's very good news as it's sad when an old piece of technology can no longer be easily repaired. I own an Enders 9061D petrol/gasoline/Coleman fuel camping stove and you can just about get washer and seal sets for it if you know where to look and who to ask. The seal kits are made by RussenJesus, a member of CCS and the graphite packing washers are available from a seller in Korea of all places! Still, it's one of my most treasured camping stoves and I don't resent spending some money keeping it running.
South Korea is one of the prime sources of lamps, lanterns and spares these days. For example:- VAPALUX – The Lamp
Sorry Phil, I have a 639B and the only parts that are interchangeable with the 639 are the burner frame, generator, globe, vent, bail and filler cap. I think the 639C (whatever they're calling it now) is largely the same. Still, that's probably the most backward compatible parts coleman make for a single lantern anymore. HD
That's right, HD. The fount and valve are different from the B onwards. The parts one is most likely to need for a '70s 639 like burner cap, generator, globe, fuel cap gasket, vent are fortunately still the same (granted, the vent is now a darker green). I've noticed that the sheet steel and plating of the burner assembly of the current version is really cheap and nasty compared to the original.
Can anyone ID the letters on the fount? Looks like it could be a WW2 thing, but were these in use in the UK during or just after the war?
The 639 arrived today so here it is! I cleaned it up, checked it over, filled it with fuel and lit it. There doesn't appear to be a leak from the burner gallery but you need to tighten down the pump or the pressure escapes which I assume means that the NRV is shot. However, I left it running for a little while and it worked very well with no drama. I think I saw a bead of fuel at the base of the vaporiser but it disappeared once it was up to pressure - something to be checked out when the workshop is a little less Arctic!
The NRV ball is probably just a little sticky. Often a soak in carburettor cleaner or other solvent will free it. It is normal for them to leak a little- up to about 1" per second.
Just checked it again after letting the pressure go and there is a leak somewhere at the top of the fount as it's wet with paraffin! I'll have to strip it down and find out what's going on. It won't be that soon as I have other projects on the go and it's been snowing recently so the roads are blocked!
Take out the pump piston and NRV stem and squirt some carb cleaner into the pump tube. Let it sit for a few hours with no pressure in the fount. The cleaner should dissolve gummy residue around the ball and seat. The NRV can be removed with a special tool; its slotted head is easily damaged by using e.g. a big screwdriver. The ball is crimped in and is not removable.
Was the fuel valve tightly closed? If so, the leak could be from the fuel valve spindle graphite seal; just tighten up the spindle jamb nut slightly.
@ColinG I’ve only ever had to take the check valve (NRV) out of one Coleman appliance to get it to work properly. The advice above about squirting a good amount of carburettor cleaner (or acetone or paint thinners) down the pump tube is good advice. Do this a few times then let it soak for a few hours. I then usually pump some fuel through the pump tube into the tank and put a drop of machine oil onto the hole in the check valve. That technique seems to do the job almost every time. Cheers Tony
Success... at last! But not without a few problems... since I last posted I have suffered the following little teething troubles. The bead of paraffin/kerosene turned into a serious leak that dribbled all over the fount and despite lots of serious looking, tweaking and tightening, it wouldn't stop. I took it apart as much as I was prepared to on a freezing evening in my garage workshop but every time the fuel flooded out. In the end I searched the Coleman Collectors Forum and found that I might have been pumping it too much. So, I checked the mating surface of the generator, cleaned it with fine steel wool and did the same with the other surface and put a little oil on the joint before tightening it up. I then primed the pre-heat cup and left it for about 2 mins before giving it a few pumps and.... everything worked perfectly! I'm not sure if there was a small particle of grit messing with the mating surface or if I was simply over-pressurising the fount but it's now been running for about an hour with no sign of a leak and a nice bright light. Now it can join the rest of its friends in the collection. Excellent!
Glad to see you get that leak resolved. That gen leak can be caused by a piece of grit as you stated, but I've also seen it where simply re-seating the generator can resolve a leak. Going back to your first post: >>Anyone got one? How do they perform in use? Are they common, rare, cheep as chips or what? The one I'm getting has some letters/numbers on the outside which I'm sure someone will be able to identify.<< I just got my first 639 brand new last year and it was made March of 2017, so I can only reference current production. It's my first true kero lantern and I really like it. Mine can give off a bit of a kero odor, but that's not an issue as I only run my lanterns outdoors. I wouldn't call a 639 rare, unless you were looking to buy new and all the retailers ran out like they did several months ago in the US, but admittedly, Coleman kero lanterns are generally uncommon here. I think they sell for a decent amount (not "cheep as chips") and are still in production. Because they are still selling/desirable, Coleman is still making them and just made another batch a few months ago.
Hmm, thanks for the info Jim. I've just cleaned the base with wire wool and founts the date (unreadable) 73. The month digits are covered by rust, but now I know it's 45 years old so she's quite an old lady! I've also got a 201 so I've got both the daddy and baby versions, both running on kerosene!
Oh, can anyone shed light on the letters on the fount? My guess is it's a scout group ID of some sort but it would be good to know before I respray the fount. Oh, and it was made in Canada or so it says on the base.
