Hello there, my latest lanter a 1965 coleman milspes, its in need of some attention. Is there anything i need to be careful or should no about before i begin working on it. It came with all the spare pump washers, spanner and pricker,and matches. It all look original
All pretty simple but two points. The generator is aluminium so don't take a blow lamp anywhere near it. They are a low-medium pressure lamp so 12 pumps to start and 12 more once running. ::Neil::
From what I can see, this looks like it has had the 220 (or whatever model it is) conversion done so no aluminium or low pressure.
Well spotted Nils. Someone has indeed replaced the original burner assembly with a 220 burner assembly. what you have now is a Coleman 220 with a parts well in the fount. If you want to put it back to its original milspec configuration, post a Wanted To Buy (WTB) thread on the Coleman Collector's Forum. Milspec burners are not hard to come by and someone there will set you one at a reasonable price. Your wrench is original to the milspec set up. Pump was the same as a 220, so the pump leathers are good.
i have four, 2 colemans and 2 smp's that are running and 2 colemans i assembled from partsthat i need to tighten up and get running. very good lanterns.
These aren't bad lanterns if you can get use to lighting them.... They can be a bast..d to light, at least mine are! I have three, Coleman 252 made in 1945, one Coleman 252 dated 1952, and one Armstrong Products (it's still a Coleman) dated 1965. Everyone of them is hell to light, although the 1945 model is a bit easier. However, once lit they do burn brightly.
Hi folks I have heard they are a beast to light prior to this post. What could be the feature or inherent issue that makes this so? Regards Jeremy
It's because they are designed to run at a lower pressure and cooler than most lamps. The generator works just hot enough to vaporise the fuel so it is a fine line between vaporisation and a flare up. It is also easy to add too much pressure which with a cool generator makes a flare up more likely. So tricky to light but if you follow the instructions not too bad. 12 pump strokes, quarter turn open and light. It will splutter and flare slightly. When steady open full and it will flare again. Let it settle and then another 12 pump stokes. Another flare and then it will run well. Noisy and bright although David proved that sometimes bright is relative. ::Neil::
I have done away with the 220 burner, i had soursed parts from oldcolemanparts.com back to originals Re assembled it, total check over. Some fuel, afew pumps aignition. Away it went first time. Now an original 1965 coleman milspec My year of birth lanter.
Darryl, that's a great light up. It seems that you didn't get the usual 'milspecs hiccups' with a new generator, did you? What about pumping it up to higher pressures and see if it still works fine?
@Darryl Durdin A lovely light up! Can’t wait to start working on mine. Just wish I could lay my hands on a 65 dated one too! Regards Jeremy
I'd have a look at mine for you Jeremy, but the lock's jammed on the summerhouse and I'll need to drill it out first...
@David Shouksmith You have a summer house full of lamp? Just tell that to my wife! Thanks and regards, Jeremy
