i wonder if anyone can shed any light on a problem i have with my pl53? in particular the pump. when i pump it up a few times it starts pouring fuel out from the pump housing. surely i should'nt be getting fuel in the pump itself as i have replaced the nrv. i'm just scratching my head here. any tips would be helpful and appreciated thanks steve
@stephen scott It sounds very much like your NRV is not operating correctly. Check that the pip hasn’t got any dirt on it; and that the spring is not stuck. Look also for cracks in the pump tube. If it’s working correctly the Tilley pump should, when out of the tank, make a farting sound when the air is expelled rapidly. Cheers Tony
You could also clean the brass sealing lip of the NRV, gently rotate a wad of fine steel wool on it so that it is bright and smooth.
Brass tends to have small cracks, which you even don't see with naked eye. When you have pressurized the empty fount and remove the pump piston , do the water bucket test and have close look. Are bubbles coming out if the nrv centre hole? Or the lead seal of the nrv? Or from the brass pump cylinder wall? Recently I had to unsolder a pump cylinder from a Petromax, to close/ solder 3 (!) small cracks in the brass. Then insert it back into the fount. Lantern survived. Regards Willi
A cracked pump tube is a rare fault in a Tilley although I have seen two in the last 20 years or so. Easy to find. Just shove the pump in a glass of water and press down so the pip is solid in the seating and pump and the bubbles or lack of will show all. ::Neil::
You do the suck test. With the NRV installed, the pump rod and washer removed suck on the pump cylinder and use your tongue as a stopper. If the NRV is working properly a vacuum will be maintained. If it is leaking then you will not be able to suck a vacuum.
Too bloody right ..... but I do it testing all my NRVs, Tilley and Coleman. Sure highlights any problem, and the dog won’t kiss me. A strong coffee afterwards is always a great idea .....
