Vapalux M320 lack of pressure

Discussion in 'Fettling Forum' started by Westfield, Oct 30, 2020.

  1. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    It is nearly impossible to remove the burner from the top cap and not lose the mantle. Do not feel bad. You will need a seal between the vapuriser and the jet cleaner. use the old one.
    C
     
  2. Westfield

    Westfield United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Will reuse the old seal. Have found the mantle, but it's the only one I have. Starting to feel the pressure! The instructions seem clear enough:

    Unscrew the Tubular Mantle Support “S” from the Burner Body “B”. Pass the smaller end of support “S” through the smaller opening in the Mantle and screw “S” into position again. Stretch the larger opening of the Mantle over the ridge on Burner Body “B” so that it rests in the groove provided. Arrange the Mantle evenly and see that it is not twisted.

    I note that the mantle seems to have a string around the upper opening. After placing the mantle over the ridge on the burner body, do I literally tie a knot in this string to keep the mantle in place?

    20201104_153749-25%.jpg
     
  3. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Yes - and then trim the excess string away (but not so much as to let the knot undo).
     
  4. Westfield

    Westfield United Kingdom Subscriber

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    And there you have it.

    20201104_173050-25%.jpg
     
  5. JEFF JOHNSON

    JEFF JOHNSON United Kingdom Subscriber

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    It's working well!:thumbup:
     
  6. Westfield

    Westfield United Kingdom Subscriber

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    It is working well solely due to the detailed advice received here on the forum, for which I am grateful.
    When I lit the meths, the mantle blackened in places, but I held my nerve. A few pumps after the meths started to gutter and it began to glow, though it didn't give that little "pop" noise. I then ran it for half an hour to see how it went. Absolutely no problems, or pulsing, just that steady hissing roar. Turned it off using the air release screw. Mantle is looking good.

    I've also realised that pouring paraffin into the lantern funnel from a 5L can is not easy. Think I might get a jug. I estimate that the tank would take about a litre of fuel, less the bit at the top of the dome above the fuel filler cap, so maybe 600-700ml. Litre jug then.

    Overall I'm quite impressed with the simplicity and the ruggedness of this thing.

    20201104_173605-25%.jpg 20201104_173354-25%.jpg
     
  7. ROBBO55

    ROBBO55 Subscriber

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    Congratulations @Westfield , a job well done. :thumbup:
     
  8. David Shouksmith

    David Shouksmith United Kingdom Founder Member

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    Those two characteristics are probably why the military bought them in such huge numbers... :thumbup:
     
  9. BigStevie

    BigStevie United Kingdom Subscriber

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    @Westfield

    That’s looking good. I do love the sound of a lamp popping into life, can get quite addictive!
     
  10. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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    Maximum fuel capacity is 1 litre. Pouring 1 litre of fuel from a 1 litre jug straight into a bucket is O.K. but pouring it slowly into a funnel with gauze filter will most likely result in dribbles down the jug, lamp and everywhere you don't want fuel to be. Use a 1.5 or 2 litre jug.
     
  11. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Now that does look good - you must be pleased ! - it will give years of good service now. Don't be surprised if you find yourself looking for excuses to light it :)
    on to the next one !

    Chris
     
  12. Westfield

    Westfield United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Lit at around 5:30 PM, and placed on a table and used throughout the evening of Bonfire Night. Turned it off at 10:30 PM. My wife was, to my surprise, seriously impressed with it!

    20201105_203029.jpg
     
  13. podbros

    podbros United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Nice one Dan :thumbup:

    This is what they were made for, a light in the night : )
     
  14. malcolm race

    malcolm race United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Great stuff, & if your wife is impressed even better, will make your next purchase easier
     
  15. James K

    James K United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Great stuff, that is what we like to see.
     
  16. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Proper job Dan ! Education, satisfaction and admiration - can't be a bad thing ?
     
  17. Westfield

    Westfield United Kingdom Subscriber

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    I fired up the lamp tonight, on the principle that it should be used every few weeks, and I see large black spots on the mantle. I don't remember those from when I last lit it. When I started the lamp the mantle caught with the proper soft "pop", but shortly afterwards I could see red flames around the mantle, which then seemed to subside. Is this, as previous threads suggest, a problem with an enlarged vapouriser orifice, or might I have caused it by something in the way I started it?

    Dan
     
  18. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Might be what you say, but I would rule out it not being hot enough when you started pumping first. Wear on the vapouriser jet/hole tends to be a slow worsening not a sudden thing. Plenty of pressure ?
     
  19. Westfield

    Westfield United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Re pressure, did about 20 strokes. Then topped up a bit later when I thought it was pulsing slightly. I have now given it a few more. It got a bit brighter, but the mantle has a kind of red ring around the centre line. (I would take photos but the detail doesn't come out). I'm pretty sue this wasn't the case last time.

    I lit and burned a full cup of meths, which I lit just as it was dying down at 3:30 minutes. On the other hand it was a cold day. Perhaps a double pre-heat? (Is that not dangerous, by the way, squirting meths into a still hot pre-heat cup?)
     
  20. malcolm race

    malcolm race United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Yes, with that type of spirit cup it is. You must wait till it’s out.
    Have you tried turning it off/ on very quickly. You might have a slight blockage in the jet
     
  21. Westfield

    Westfield United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Malcolm, do you mean rotating the jet cleaner knob with the arrow on it?
     
  22. malcolm race

    malcolm race United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Yes, quickly while the lamp is lit. If you do it quickly enough it shouldn’t go out totally. If it does have a long match ready to poke up the glass to relight it.
    If the lamp is off now turn the knob a few times, then re light it, then do the above when it’s hot
     
  23. podbros

    podbros United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Hum... 20 strokes might be ok for a minute or two to get things warm, but not for long periods???
     
  24. Mackburner

    Mackburner United Kingdom Founder Member Subscriber

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    It's a Vapalux so it likes pressure. 20 pump strokes is just enough to warm it up after starting. Pump it 'til your thumb hurts you can't get much over 50psi in there anyway and it's designed for 120. Willis & Bates are proper engineers so the works test will be 4 times the working working pressure. ::Neil::
     
  25. Westfield

    Westfield United Kingdom Subscriber

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    This is how it looks...

    20201119_200609-50%.jpg
     
  26. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Hi Dan - like the others say - if there is not enough pressure all kinds of things go bad. I give my Vapaluxes 40 pumps. Sometimes more. I think you have to remove that from the equation before assuming anythng else and going chasing shadows.
     
  27. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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    Pump it until your thumb hurts and the build-up of carbon which is causing the red patch will burn off leaving you with a nice bright mantle.
     
  28. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    Shortcut:

    If you have a small butane pen torch, you can get rid of the black carbon patch by carefully burning it off with the torch.

    If the black patch returns after normal operation, you have a problem.

    Henry’s given you good advice: give it a lot of pressure.

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  29. podbros

    podbros United Kingdom Subscriber

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    As young @Matthew92 would say.. "Give it the beans!" :)

    They are made to run and work at full pressure ... You'll only carbon up the vapouriser quicker otherwise?

    100 pumps.. It's what they're designed for :thumbup:
     
  30. Westfield

    Westfield United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Thanks everybody. Next time I light it, beans will be duly given! If that doesn't work, I will try something else.

    Can I just confirm that this "pump it till your finger hurts" approach would not be a good idea with the battered old X246 in the other thread?
     

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