I've had this lantern setting on the shelf for about a year now and it keeps calling my name saying help me! Issues with it include someone tried to take out the NRV and messed it up, I ground a 5mm slot in the end of a chisel and that didn't work. Second issue is the control wheel will not spin all the way around, this does not have a vaporizer that removes from the valve body. How is the vaporizer serviced? Should I go at the NRV with an easy out? Looking for age of this lantern, have searched threads and don't see one like it. Suggestions on how to go at servicing. I've included lots of photos.
How much does it match this one? Optimus 200 Your choices for the NRV would be to either use the easy-out, or desolder the pump tube and remove to pump to gain access. Tony
@Dean D You have a very nice Optimus 200 from the early 1930s (around 1932/33). If I were you, I would solve the problems with multiple approaches as follows. NRV 1) Remove the NRV with a reverse tap. See image 1. 2) Remove the pump cylinder from the tank, remove the NRV, and return the cylinder to the tank. Although soft solder (melting point 200 degrees) is good enough, I recommend protecting other soldered parts, such as the fuel filler, from heat transfer with some wet tissues etc.. Control (pricker) wheel I believe your Optimus 200 is equipped with a 1-piece vaporizer. See image 2. Possible reasons for the control (pricker) wheel not turning properly are 1) Fuel is stuck to the graphite packing of the wheel shaft. 2) The cleaning needle rod is stuck due to carbon buildup inside the vaporizer. 3) The cam at the bottom of the cleaning needle rod is not properly engaged with the shaft of the control (pricker) wheel. If 1) is the cause, it can be fixed by applying light heat with a torch, but carbon accumulation inside the vaporizer has almost certainly occurred. So I think it's better to remove the 1-piece vaporizer from the tank and clean the inside with a wire brush. See image 3. After removing 1) and 4), you can take out the cleaning needle rod and clean the inside of the vaporizer. I hope the above helps you a bit, but I think Nils ( @Nils Stephenson ) can give you better advice. Best regards, Shinzo
@Dean D Shinzo has given you almost all you need to know, but I'll add my thoughts as well. If the top of the NRV is so bad that a custom tool will not grip it, then I would go for the easy-out option. Removing the pump tube is always the final option, but I always like to exhaust all the other options first. It sounds like the cleaning rod needs to be adjusted in height. The need for this could be caused by a newer cleaning needle being slightly longer than the original. To do this, the entire vapouriser/fuel feed assembly needs to be removed from the tank to access the blanking plug at the bottom of the vapouriser tube. The cleaning needle rod comes out from the bottom. I hope it all works out as it looks like a nice example.
@Nils Stephenson , @gkpllantern Thanks for the info and the pictures. It is the one pc just like your picture. I have a set of those little easy-outs on the way. I am not too keen on doing any desoldering of the tube. I will keep you all posted, Thank you
Hi Dean, this type VRV removal tool works a treat, i made one like this years ago, mine has never failed to remove the most stubborn chewed up valve, nice lantern, i have one myself, they are great, cheers mate Valve Extractor removal Tool Screw Extractor Petromax Vapalux Optimus Primus | eBay
@outback boy Thanks, I have a set of those extractors on the way. Didn't feel the need to spend that much money for that tool unless Optimus lanterns were as common as green Coleman lanterns here in the States. I will probably make some tool holder on the lathe and have way more time into it and would have been better off buying the tool.
@Dean D See here: a carefully filed square profile on a chainsaw file, tapped firmly into the hole… An unfortunate circumstance: Optimus NRV Tony
@Tony Press I tried the chainsaw file a few times. It's been awhile so I went back to this one. Dreading the thought of desoldering the pump I thought I'd ask a friend what he had for EZ-Outs. He has this nice set of Snap-on extractors, trouble was they take a 1/2" socket and a 1/2" sockets diameter was just a bit to large, chucked it up in the lathe, turned down to go in the tube with an extension and a few taps to seat it it spun right out. Just placed an order for a pile of spares I've been needing including a new pump valve.I was a great feeling. So this one should be making light again soon I hope.
@Dean D I’ve accumulated a whole range of different easy-outs now. I have accumulated some stoves that have very wrecked NRV heads. I’ve silver-soldered a couple of different sizes to steel rods so they reach down the pump tube. Cheers Tony
