Too much time spent looking at a computer screen prompted me to wander off to the shed and actually fettle something rather than just visit the shed for the fridge! To tee off. The nights are drawing in, it has been a dull day, so needed some extra light in the shed tonight. Enter my Optimus 500 with a Petromax reflector to do that very job. Let there be light and there was. I've been cleaning and rebuilding a Optimus 1350/350 for a couple of weeks. Service kit from Fogas. Pressure tested at the start, all good, apart a leak from the Rapid Pre-Heater. Got that sorted tonight and reassembled the lantern. Here is the first light up of the Rapid Pre-Heater: Not the clearest of pictures, but one that captures the camera operators dance/enjoyment as the Rapid Pre-Heat does its stuff, very excited/pleased! Here is the lantern running doing what it should do: Sadly it has headed back to the fettle pile. 30 or so minutes later flame appeared outside the mantle, with a touch of black mantle disease. This suggests a worn needle and nipple. I've got the spares and will replace over the weekend. It is a strong, well constructed lantern that I am look forwards to getting some use from.
Ooh that does look nice @Alex Smith ! Is this basically a 350/350 but with the rapid pre-heater ? Chris
Chris, It is a 1350/350, with rapid pre-heat. It is the first time I've had a Optimus with the rapid jet fitted.
@Alex Smith Really nice. Haven't got my hands on an Optimus with a rapid lighter, yet. Just nosey, but what's in the fridge? Cold one, I hope?
Hi @Alex Smith A great fettle and subject to new needle and nipple a great success! Beer in the refrigerator? Surely not! Beer = room/cellar temperature, Larger = refrigerator. Regards Jeremy
Gentlemen, thank you for the compliments. First I'll answer the questions on beer and then show how the re-fettle has gone. @X246A Jeremy - I'd be strung up as a heretic by CAMRA (Campaign for real ale here in the UK) if I'd put "beer" in the fridge. The fridge contains the cold brewed stuff, lager . Fettling, Round 2. Replaced the nipple and jet this morning. Lantern is running up, the first half hour is encouraging. I'll keep it on all afternoon to see how it goes.
@Alex Smith That’s looking good. Is it just a British thing I wonder, the taste for warm, flat heavy beer?
@BigStevie Nothing flat about a decent real ale with secondary fermentation! As for warm, potentially only a few months of the year although unusually more so this year and heavy depends solely on choice. Personally I prefer a chilled lager or wheat beer which have no secondary fermentation or a “real” (live) lager or ale at cellar temperature, the same goes for the Belgian Trappist beers which lose the nose and complexity of flavours when too cool. @Alex Smith Good to see the lantern running as it should! Great work, now time to treat yourself to a nice cool bevvy.... Regards Jeremy
On a hot day, after some hard work, a cold beer is just the ticket ....... while watching a lantern run of course ..... Cheers Pete
