Hi All.. I have aquired the Anchor lamp as above .. in not unreasonable condition considering its prior use in the salty sea air of Suffolk and after a clean and basic service it fires up without problems on kero or Paraffin. Whilst I realise this Chinese lamp is not the best it has some life left and its uses..for me.....It has developed a small fault.. when fired up I see a small red needle flame to the left of the J mixing tube which either comes from the underneath of that tube or the upper vapouriser. Flame is about 1/ 1.5 inches and comes short upwards of the top cover..but not over the top cover .. The J mixing tube is not red and I just wondered how can I decide where the small needle flame comes from...the tube or vapouriser .. it is very hard to see. Is there a way to test / to find out the origin maybe ? I should probably may have to replace both items ... ... but if there is any most learned person with more patience and wisdom out there than me... I would be most gratefull for thier comments and information.....seems a shame to consider scrappage .. thanks Alby
You could try the leak test with empty fount. Remove hood, inner casing and cage. Pressurize the empty tank to 1 bar. Open the vaporizer valve, and fast put a finger on top of then nozzle. Push upper part of the vaporizer under water in a bucket of water. See if and where air bubbles rise. Find the leak.
If it is a needle flame, it probably comes from the upper vapouriser. One of the brazed joints may have developed a slight crack. It could be repaired by careful brazing with an oxy-acetylene torch but it is probably cheaper and easier to replace the vapouriser. Almost any clone 350-500cp vapouriser will fit, but you may need to slightly adjust the conducting rod and the air gap.
Thanks guys for your help all very good ... another awesome lantern project ..in the offing well I have a few more lanterns to tinker with but well if its not broken ... leave it alone thats my philosophy Alb
Follow up ... after the last comments I have found that there is a small crack in the upper vapouriser ... so I will try to get it brazed/ repaired .. I have a substitute UV from another lamp on now which TBH does the job .. I tweaked the fittings to make it work .. so no worries.... RESULT .. happy days
Yes, in action pics would be appreciated. I own one of the Optimus chinamade 1551. Im very pleased with its operation but of course have to store it in a dry in house condition to save it from deterioration. Had it running for hours hanging outside in rain, no problem. After drying up in the garage rust was appearing on the top, so immediate cleaning/waxing was required. Regards Matti Kucer
I've tried this one, both successful and not. I would admit, its not the easiest of a task and my skills on this are at best...questionable. I could not obtain a suitable brazing alloy and ended up fusion-welded it with brass filler rod, which was indeed tricky with an oxy-acetylene torch. Melted right through the vaporizer tube several times and destroyed a few of them.
