My Tilley lamp is going out

Thank you Jeff,many happy returns.
January is a long month but we are getting through it..

 

Thank you Henry.
How do I check if the pump is working efficiently now?
I am not so sure that I am generating enough pressure with my pumping.
Do I need to remove the pump leather to check this?
If the lamp is generating enough pressure and air tight then what else do I need to check to ensure the lamp is working properly(carbon build up?)
Thanks very much,yes during that very cold weather,Bonny went up into the nest box of the sussex coop I have her in and the chicks must not have been able to get up to her and died of the cold.
Over christmas,another chick got crushed in the automatic feeder I left in the coop.I did this because a rat had taken a chick and was getting my neighbour to mind them when I left for cork.
I knew it was risky putting in the automatic feeder but I was up against it no matter what.
I will take good care of the last little chick.You learn all the time...

 

Best wishes for this year to you, sorry to hear the chicks are struggling :/

Lovely old picture!

Are you making the candles the traditional way by dipping ?

Good luck with everything

 

Air escaping from the pumptube seems normal to me: there is air "trapped" above the leather pump seal and the pump knob.
Once that is away there should be no more air bubbles.

 

Fiona, Make sure there is fuel in the tank and operate the pump positively. If it is working correctly, you'll hear the air bubbling up through the fuel which, to put it rather crudely, makes a farting sound. If it doesn't, make sure the leather is well oiled and supple, it won't make a good seal against the side of the pump barrel if it's dry or stiff (or both). Also, check for splits or cracks.
In a previous post, I mentioned using olive oil, actually this is not a good idea because vegetable oil goes rancid, it's better to use neatsfoot oil or a lightweight mineral oil e.g. 3-in-1.

It has been mentioned in earlier posts that there could be a partial blockage somewhere between the tank and the burner. Once you have determined that the pump is working efficiently, here are some things to try. Appologies if this ground has already been covered.
With fuel and pressure in the tank, take the top and the glass off the lantern and put them where they won't get damaged. Take the lantern outdoors and making sure your back is to the wind, briefly open the control cock, you should get a stream of paraffin 1.5 or more feet straight up into the air (depending on how much pressure you've put in the tank).
If this does not happen, with the lantern turned off, unscrew the vapouriser and pull out the cleaning wire, if there is a build-up of carbon on the wire, it's safe to say there'll be a build-up inside the vapouriser which is restricting the flow of fuel. If this is the case, it will need to be replaced with a new one but don't give up on it yet.
Still with fuel and pressure in the tank, open the control again, there should be a good supply of fuel like a bubbling spring. It's a bit messy but all part of the diagnostics. Even if you think it's O.K., there's more you can do. Release the pressure and remove the control cock in order to check the gauze filter and make sure it's clean. Push a wire down the fuel tube, you may have to work it up and down a bit but make sure it goes all the way through and hits the bottom of the tank. Empty the tank and rinse it out with clean paraffin - make sure it is properly filtered before putting it back in the lantern. Put everything back together again and hopefully there'll be an improvement.

 

Yes Podbros,dipping..
I still have one brave little chick..Dear Bonny has turned out to be a poor mother..
Thanks very much,
Fiona

 

Is that the Tilley? .. Hurrah!!!

Lovely view there, Fiona :-)

 

I changed the leather cup in the pump and then tried it..it has been flying since.
I am.getting neatsfoot oil tomorrow but put a little leather food and chainsaw oil on it and a little vegetable oil,I won't put any more vegetable oil on it.
My Tilley is super..thanks so much everyone

 

Well it's been a bit of a saga but at last, your Tilley is once again burning brightly.

 

Hello Henry,
Thanks so much for all this.
I might need to do these tests as the Tilley started to fade a bit last night and then sort of went out.
I will oil the pump leather again and then maybe check for any blockages outside and then report back.
Have a good day,
Kind regards,
Fiona

 

Hi Henry,I repeated the dunk test with the pump out and there are bubbles coming from under the fuel cap..
What seal is leaking?
Thanks for all your help.
I didn't try anything else yet..just replaced the leather pump cup(with washer included?) and now repeated the dunk test but this time I took out the pump.
Kind regards,
Fiona

 

That would be the pump clamp washer (Part No. 154) lodged in the top of the pump to seal the join between the pump and the tank boss:-

sp1 exploded view (base-camp.co.uk)

 

Hi Fiona, removing the old seal can sometimes be difficult. You may need something like a small screwdriver with a narrow blade to it dig-out. Whatever you use, be careful not to stab your hand.

 

@Fiona Farrell , if you do a dunk test without the pump shaft in place. Where do the bubble apear ?
Maybe a picture will help.

A petromax has only a valve seal in the bottom of the pump shaft. With a dunk test air will escape from this shaft.

A Tilley has a seal in the cap which will be mounted on the tank and a valve seal.

When filled a Petromax pump shaft will not leak air but parrafine. Assuming the shaft itself is not split ;-)
A tilley can leak both, air as well as fuel.

 

Thank you Wim,sorry about the delay in replying.
I changed the pump clamp washer,the leather pump cup,pip and the 3 washers in the control cock and bottom of vapouriser and junctions.
I tightened all by hand and then just last night I decided to move the little brass part behind the leather pump cup around the other way and that has much improved the pump efficiency.
I also bought two more lamps..a 1943 Vapalux 300X and a Tilley X246 lamp.
I lit the Vapalux yesterday and it is working well but the light fades and gets bright again when I pump.
I ordered a washer kit for this old Vapalux lamp.
I haven't tried my Petromax lamps as I want to get s spirit dish(to go around the vapouriser) so I can soft start it.
I need to try to put the Petromax HK500 new lamp back together(the needle and vapouriser)I wish I hadn't taken it out now.
Here are some photos.
Thank you to everyone very very much.
You are all so kind and helpful.
Health and happiness and peace to you all.
Kind regards,
Fiona

 

Sounds like your Vapalux is losing pressure, replacing the seals should fix it. They're a little bit more complicated to service than Tilleys ;you need a large flat screwdriver to get the valve out of the bottom of the pump tube. Looks like someone has painted the hood- I'd advise stripping it off, as it will burn off when the lamp is running.
Those are two nice lanterns- the Tilley is from 1950 to 54, the Vapalux looks to me pretty much all original for 1943 apart from the glass and spirit dish which are maybe 5 to 10 years later.

 

Thank you Steerpike,
I ordered a vapalux 300X washer kit on the fettlebox last night.
I have started to try and clean the hood with just a lemon so far..
Thanks very much,
Fiona

 

As far as I remember I have send you one.

 

Getting the paint off..
Does anyone know if this is a Vapalux 300 or 300X please.
Hopefully I ordered the right washer kit.
The seller advertised it as a 300X.

 

How far have you got with your Petromax, Fiona?

 

It's a 300 I believe... can anyone confirm that? If you look in the Reference Gallery under Great Britain, Vapalux you'll see the 300 folder with other examples.

 

Yes, Vapalux 300, really like that one!

 

Hello Rer Isi Rer,
Sorry about the delay in replying to you,I haven't done any more with my Petromax rapid lamp that was working well,I will wait until I get a spirit dish for it.
I did a dunk test though in the new year,with pressure up and fuel in the tank and the pump out this time.
I did not see any air bubbles behind the pump this time.
I did the dunk test before christmas without fuel in the tank and with pressure up and with the pump in and there was a regular but slight air bubble coming from behind the pump.
I will repeat these when I get time.
I brought the Petromax outside last year and put fuel in the tank,put pressure up and took the hood and globe off and turned the control cock down and there was a jet of fuel coming.
I then tried to light the lamp with the rapid preheater but the rapid preheater failed.
I tried to disassemble the rapid preheater and clean it and check washers but didn't spend very long.
I think there is a problem with the rapid preheater.
I need a spirit dish for this lamp so I can do a soft start.
I won't be taking apart the vapouriser like I did with my Petromax HK500 fairly new lamp as I still haven't got it back together!
I will get time over the next few months and maybe post a lamp to somebody who can help me,or get help from you all here.
I have my hands full showing seeds and minding my flock and getting ready to plant potatoes..
Thankful for all and all of your help.
Kind regards,
Fiona