Refurb but still does not work

Hi all so the symptoms are that when I pressure the tank the pressure valve when pumped comes back to the top and when I light the lamp itself I get the fireball effect and flames out of the top of the hood any ideas what I am doing wrong ?

 

Hello and welcome !

Did you change the nrv at the bottom of the pump tube?
Sometimes a new one can take a while to bed in?

regards
pb

 

Well the pump that is comming up indicates that the pump valve is leaking.
For the rest you should tell us what you do when you light the lantern. The sequince of doing things, the right way, is critical.

 

Hi I will dismantle and try to reseat the plunger mechanism and NRV

 

If you're getting a fireball (even with the leaking NRV) then you did not pre-heat with meths / denatured alcohol for long enough. First you need to fix the NRV, then when you are sure fuel is not escaping into the pump tube, try to light it again making sure the meths preheater tray is adequately filled.

 

Also, you will need to be careful when removing the NRV from the bottom of the pump tube. The Bialaddin/Vapalux type uses a slot and is very difficult to undo without chewing up the slot.

 

Vapalux and bialaddin lamps do not have a positive shut off valve, the knob just operates the jet cleaning device, the secret to firing it up is to fully preheat for 3 minutes with the cleaning needle in the down position and just before the flame dies out pump enough air in for the mantle to pop into life then slowly increase the pressure over a period of time until the lantern doesn't get any brighter, if you get a flare up when putting pressure in release the air and preheat for longer, if this doesnt cure the problem you may have something else at fault, hope this helps.
Regards Ian.

 

@Mr cod , that is way I ask how somebody, in this case @Rangerfranky, fires up the lantern.

 

@Rangerfranky it looks in good condition.. hope you can get it going

 

It's probably the non-return valve pip that is leaking but one trick is to empty the tank, pump some air into it, pull out the pump plunger and then pour a bit of water into the pump tube. You can then see where the bubbles are coming from and where it is leaking from.

 

What I do with old pump valves in situ: remove the plunger, check/replace leather cup, pour some spiritus/alcohol in the pump, press it through the valve. It will clear debris, old harded oil/vaseline from the vlave pip.
If this doesn't help > dismantle/repair the valve.

 

I have refurbished many vapalux/bialaddins but I had one where the NRV just would not seal. New pip etc and it all looked OK. In the end I bought a new one as it was quicker and easier. The old one is in the "to be fxed" pile for use as a spare.