Restoring a Petromax 827 (newbie..)

I think any liquid hand soap will work. I believe dish detergent is worth a try, too.

 

Check the pricker eccentric piece and its moving the connecting rod to open the foot valve. If its not moving up and down when you turn the pricker wheel, then its obvious. Also check that the rod reaches the foot valve to open it when you lower the rod. Do this with the upper vaporizer removed and fount slightly pressurized with fuel.

 

I remembered that the eccentric piece was stuck in the lower vaporizer part when you took it apart earlier. The threads for attaching the connecting rod could be loose or worn. Must be some reasons it was detached from the conducting pricker rod earlier.

 

@Peter

Just caught up on this post and noticed the video upload comments.

If you upload a video to YouTube you should be able to upload the link to your post.

Keep fettling and good luck.

Regards Jeremy

 

I always say: pressure lamps work witch flammable fuel under pressure, so make sure you know how it operates.

Not to give you a rand but when you say you have changed seals etc. did you check if they work ?
What was in the tank a a residue ?
Did you clean the fuel pick up too ?
Is the eccentric piece moving freely and vaporizer clean as far as it goes ?
Did you adjust all the mechanism rods right ?

Lots of things you have to adjust and check.

Last check is when filled, pressure is on and without inner hood: fuel should come out straight as an arrow.
And stop when turning the knob.
Also you can flush fuel through without jet.
Or a cleaner at hand.

Btw you have fuel resistant rubber seals ?
Not all the seals available are (really) fuel resistant.

I have several pieces of wire, straight or twisted to clean out the tubes. Special the fuel pick up can be nasty when fuel has become "over date" in the tank.

 

I couldn’t stay away from it.... took it all apart again this morning and everything looks fit. I’m gonna go with another proper wash up. Probably just some dirt clogging up the jet that’s my problem right now.
I’ll soak the vaporizer in alcalic degreaser overnight and give it an ultra sonic bath tomorrow and see where that leads me!

Once again I would like to thank you all for all the help!

/Peter

 

Remember to check that you are not losing any pressure via the rapid preheater torch too.
You should be able see fuel spewing out from the top of the Preston loop vaporiser with the jet removed, if you pressurize the fueled fount and turn down the pricker rod to open the foot valve.
If that's the case, everything's fine except for a clogged jet in yours. Without a pricking needle, a few loosened specks of residue carbon from within the vaporizer getting stuck in the jet's orifice the would ruin the day.

 

Update (again)

So, i couldnt wait for tomorrow...gave the vaporizer a good bath in degreaser and at the same time I blowed compressed air through it whilst it was submerged. Worked really well. I also strainghted my needle out and mounted it.

So now I have a flame. It’s a quite fragile flame, and it seems to blow out when I start to increase the preassure a bit...

/Peter

 

YouTube link: (thanks for the tip @X246A Jeremy)

 

That flame looks just about perfect. Now you just need to tie on a mantle, with the folds distributed evenly around the burner. Burn the mantle off, wait a minute or 2, pre-heat very well with alcohol, close air screw and pump up. It is good to stand the lantern on a rubber mat on a stable surface so that it will not rattle or shake when you pump. Start with a full tank so minimal pumping is needed. The pricker should be down/ fuel valve open during this whole process. Once it lights, you can rotate the control wheel a couple of times to ensure the jet is clear.

 

SHE’S ALIVE!!!

 

Very nice

Regards Reinhard

 

Congratulations!

 

See you can do it !
Congratulations !

What is the position of the air-mix paddle ?

 

Thanks guys!
@WimVe could not find any such paddle I’m afraid.

 

Congratulations, @Peter ! Finally there was success after the whole search and effort. Those are the moments that I enjoy most: When an old lantern comes back to life after lots of years in a shed, cellar, or attic.
Enjoy your success and keep on lighting it!
In some of the Petromax lanterns (or also some other makes) you'll find a screw in the J-tube just above the jet. It is connected to a small sheet of metal inside the tube, where you can adjust the airflow a bit. However, most of the lanterns work best with the airflow unrestricted, which means the slit of the screw in vertical position.

 

@Peter

Glad you got it up and running.

Just wondering what the next lantern or lamp is on your wish list.

Regards Jeremy

 

Well done @Peter .
Congratulations.

 

@X246A
Well Jeremy, I don’t now really
My fathers ex thought he left one at her place and she would look for it for me...no idea what model it is though.
Then I think I would like to have one of them old blow torches!

@Martin K.
Yes it was almost magical when she lit up!

/peter

 

@Peter

You are definitely hooked!

Regards Jeremy

 

Congrats, Peter, to the success.
Enjoy the hiss and light.
The 250cp Petromax look great.
Regards
Willi

 

Correct.
Besides that it is also the cause of the noise I guess.

 

When dismantling the vaporiser does the needle have to be removed before the upper vaporiser tube (with Preston Loop) can be removed?
Thx.
J

 

No, Unscrew the upper vaporiser jamb nut and slide the upper vaporiser up off the needle+conducting rod.

In some cases the conducting rod will be so crusted with carbon deposits that it sticks in the upper vaporiser.
If that is the case, unscrew the excenter shaft assembly from the lower vaporiser and then the conducting rod will come off with the upper vaporiser.

 

As I suspected...

Lantern lights and runs ok. Do I have to release the lower vaporiser from the fount?

 

Why would you do this ?

 

As a general fettling rule, only take apart the minimum needed to ensure reliable and safe operation. If you remove the lower vaporiser you will have to fit a new lead seal between it and the fount. The lower vaporiser with a new lead seal can only be tightened up to the correct "clocking" position once and not backed off or it will leak.

 

This principle has been stated before...basically if it is not broken dont fix it.
And I agree!
On the lamps that I've fettled, and I'm still a learner, I've made a point of cleaning the control rod of carbon using wire wool. When this upper vaporiser didn't lift off I was a but confused and concerned that it might be a problem. I get a good plume of paraffin after repressurising and opening the valve so I assumed things must be more or less ok.
After fitting a mantle, pre-heating with meths and the the kick-start (which works really well) the lantern burns with a bright light, no hunting, no pulsing and maintains pressure. I ran it for 90 mins on first lighting no prob.
So, if the vaporiser is carbonated it's not having much effect.
The advise given here will be useful in the future.
Thx to all
James