I agree that the alcohol preheat is preferable. I have both a Petromax and a Sea Anchor, with a rapid preheat feature. In both the lanterns this works, but rough! I even think that the mantle takes some strain! I tried 6 Bar air pressure thru the jet, after soaking it in lacquer thinners for a day. The kerosene jet stream profile improved significantly! I fine tuned the angle of the preston loop, such that the kerosene jet stream hits the loop spot-on. I found it less "violent" on the mantle, and heats the preston loop quicker. But still, I rather do the alcohol, (methanol), preheat.
It might not just be the air holes. You might also want check whether the air path/space between the conical hollow, #16 and the cone, #9 has been narrowed or closed-in too much. Sometimes, the upper valve block part, #15 can be torqued down so much that it over-deforms the sealing, #14. This can position #16 and #9 so close together as to be in contact and almost shutting off the air path:
I’ve got it running ok (not perfect) now, so I’ll leave it until I do a couple more rapids. Cheers Tony
How long do you have to run that rapid flame, to have the kerosene fully vapourizer? (Looks like the flame does not reach the loop)?
Testing the vapouriser on a 1959 Tilley X246. I’m using my test burner, hood and mantle as this lantern came with a NOS hood, burner and mantle that I’ll use for display rather than on this lamp. I’ll put together a replacement burner and hood for this lantern, and as it came in a well made wooden box, it will be a user. The vapouriser passed the test! Cheers Tony
I made up a replacement hood and burner for the 1959 Tilley X246 (immediately above) and tested it on “David” the test Tilley: It’s working very well so I will now give the lantern a basic service, do some repairs on its workshop-made transport box, and put it into the camping stash. Cheers Tony
Testing an unused Optimus 1551 (the Chinese steel 500cp lantern). I don’t usually light unused lanterns, but this model is nothing special and I want another 500cp camping light. Looking a bit rich here… But it straightened itself out with a test mantle. I’ll test it again tomorrow with the glass and hood fitted — these Chinimus 500cp lanterns have a reputation for running too hot. As a result the 500cp nipples are often replaced with a 350cp nipple and pricker. Cheers Tony
