Hi all, I got this great condition solar recently, it's got the usual perished rubber seal on the fuel cap so I thought I would do the NRV as the pip would no doubt be the same. Problem is I've unscrewed it but it won't come out. Is there a trick to it? I thought it would just be same as a petromax. Any ideas of age? I'm guessing 60s 70s Cheers
The principle is indeed the same. There was recent topic about removing a stuck pump valve. A metal hook, shaking or air pressure via the filler, is a possibility.
@WimVe funny you mention that I've tried all three and nothing has worked yet, but I'll try again tomorrow
I'd say screw it back in and see if the NRV's still functional and not leaking. Save the pip replacement for another time if its still ok. Is the lamp unused? If it had ever been filled with fuel or used, there might be some varnish build-up on the nrv which, could prevent it from dislodging. You'd need to dissolve that first. Sometimes the lead seal of the nrv can be the culprit. Sometimes its due to a slightly bent nrv tube. All the removal methods mentioned earlier usually work except for really stubborn ones. Sometimes I'd fill the fount with some fuel and try to pressurize it as much as possible(if I could get any air through it in the first place). While it is still under pressure, I'd start unscrewing the nrv quickly and see if it could miraculously pop-off with pressurized fuel doubling as a lubricant. This only works if the stucked nrv is only slightly leaky or not at all.
I've had a couple of stubborn NRVs that got lodged after they were unscrewed so I made a thin metal rod with a semi circular half loop at the end. I poked it down the end of the pump tube and after a bit of wiggling I got it under the NRV and finally tugged it out.
Thanks guys. @MYN it's had fuel in it before so I might put some acetone in there and soak it. @ColinG I've been using a bit of tie wire with a small hook but I'll try it with a more circular loop on the end tomorrow
@Brian Reynolds it sounds like the washer on your nrv has perished and is holding or expanded around the shaft of the nrv ? Does your nrv have a slot or is it like the Primus stove type with the protruding thing (don’t know what to call it?) If it’s the slot type then there is an old school tool that is spring loaded and locks into the slot.. I have one made by Blue Point and have used it on Bialaddin/Vapalux nrv types.. sometimes the washer ‘sticks’ to the inside of the pump tube and won’t ‘let go’ When it’s daylight I’ll hunt it out and take a pic.. they’re useful for lots of jobs if it is the primus type then I’m not much help :/
@JEFF JOHNSON it certainly seems nice and we'll put together. It had no glass but a Coleman number 4 fits perfectly, I was a bit worried because I'd read the 500cp model uses an odd size globe
The glass for a Solar 500 cp., lantern is a different size from the usual glass for that type of lantern, so it's good to know that the Coleman number 4 fits.
@podbros it's the slotted type and was completely loose but wouldn't come out, like the threads were catching or something. I wound up pushing the back of it with a small screwdriver through the filler hole and unscrewing it a the same time and it came out! The pip was had it so I made another out of a sheet of nitrile rubber and now it's all go. I was quite surprised to see the tank is made of brass not steel
Nicely saved! Solar lanterns were one of the better Far Eastern brands and were made in Hong Kong I think. The Union Metal Works made a few other brands and the to were pretty good in my opinion. Their 500cp models are bloomin big and use a much larger (and non-standard) glass globe but they certainly throw out a lot of light! Nice to see the old girl up and running again!
