Hail all viewers of CPL. I have a dilemma that I can not figure out the answer to, perhaps some one more experienced than I can. My 500CP, vintage Hipolito leaks fuel from the jet at the top of the vaporizer when the fount is pressurized. I have recently replaced the jet, marked 500, and the cleaning needle as well. The leak is right at the orifice. It's obvious the liquid kero' is seeping past the needle. I can't image that this is standard fare? The needle, for lack of the correct jargon, came from the spare parts, paper envelope that is supplied with a new pressure lantern, as did the jet. It's just enough to be a an annoyance each time I go to fire the lantern, within a few minutes of ignition, the seeped kero' burns off leaving behind that horrid smell of kero' I could do without. Is the remedy to change out the jet and the needle again with a new pair? Thank you, Captain Mike De Long in Hampton, Virginia.
Hi Mike, I suppose you are using the build-in torch for pre-heating? When using alcohol to pre-heat, there is no need to pressurise the fount until the pre-heat is (almost) finished. The problem you have is most probably caused by the pip at the bottom of the generator tube (inside the fount). When turning the knob to lower the needle one also opens the valve at the bottom to let kero enter the generator. The needle is not intended to serve as a valve too (though, it does act like one in a limited way). I have a similar problem with my Petromax, but I prefer to pre-heat with alcohol so don't really bother and I switch off the lantern by releasing the pressure in the fount. Hope this helps! Best regards, Wim
Hail & good morning, Wim. Thank you for your response. In actuality, I do not use the rapid torch on my Hipolito. It isn't working. I assume it is clogged with all sorts of 'fount monsters' that lurk inside it. I am given over to pumping the lantern up and then beginning the process of lighting it. At this juncture, I pump it by hand; but, those days are numbered for I am putting together a small, 12 volt driven piston type air compressor. I find it necessary to use the palm of my right hand to pump up the fount and frankly, the small knob of the pump digs into my palm too much and it gets sore. The 12 volt I refer to is made by Coleman for use as an emergency air pump to be carried in the trunk of a car. Thank you again for the input. It's comforting to know that a Petromax has the same problem. My first Petromax is en-route from Peru even as I type. I'm most anxious to get it aboard to see if it is as well tooled as I suspect it might be. Captain Mike De Long in Hampton, Virginia.
Hello Skipper Mike, the way that I get around that problem is to let the lamps pre heat until only a third of the meths is left in the trough. Then with the pricker turned up I add some pressure, 10 strokes of the pump should be enough, but it depends on how much fuel is in the tank. I then slowly lower the pricker and once the mantle lights I gradually build up the pressure.
Hail & good afternoon, Jeff. Interesting way of getting 'round the problem. I shall have to try it out next firing. I'm very fond of my Hipolito as it was bought for 'peanuts' as the saying goes, $46.00 (29 pounds) which included shipping on Mother Ebay. When it arrived, it was a horror show. Cracked globe and corrosion from one end to the other. I began by dismantling it and then giving each part of it a scrubbing with an 'SOS' pad followed by a session of 'Brasso'. It now looks quite decent given the neglect it was subjected to. It has become 'boat lantern' whilst the others are shelf idols. It's the sort of lantern that I would not hesitate taking out on deck during a howling nor'easter at night. Thanks again, Captain Mike De Long in Hampton, Virginia.
Ahoy there Skipper Mike and you are welcome! The Petromax genre of lanterns give an excellent light, but I live in the Shetland Islands and the wind here can be fierce and it can blow out a Petromax lantern, Jeff.
Firstly, Mike, I don't think there is a problem and secondly, what Jeff has described is 'correct' rather than "interesting". I'm always amazed by Americans in general who seem to want everything done 5 seconds ago. Like most European lanterns, these aren't Instant-Light or even Quick-Light - they need to be pre-heated for 2-3 minutes. That's because they use kerosene which isn't as volatile as Coleman fuel, white gas etc. With all due respect, I think the remedy is to 'read the manual'. Be patient!
Your problem is the foot valve, it is not sealing the fuel pickup properly, it is a couple of dollars part, interestingly enough, I got my Petromax and a Hipolito in Peru, I took great attention to replacing all seals and gaskets, standard operating procedure, "unknown history?" replace all consumables. You can get the parts you need here: http://prela.ch/shop/shop.html Go to Petromax on the left menu, then to - Ersatzteile 500HK, after that you can find sub menus for most of the parts that are normally required for "overhaul", prices are in Swiss Francs, Ernst gives an excellent service and is quite helpful, you can pay with paypal.
PS, there is an excellent "how to" tutorial on how to restore your Petromax lantern here: http://colemancollectorsforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/How-To-Rebuild-Petromax-4658060
Hail David & all viewers of this post. Yes, many Americans want instant gratification, unfortunately, it's a national trait. I for one, enjoy the charm of waiting for the alcohol to warm the vaporizer before firing the mantle. As I saw it, why not have the fount pressurized whilst the vaporizer was being warmed. I see now that the correct way to use these lanterns is to only apply pressure when the alcohol is nearly spent and then just enough to get the mantle to accept its ration of fuel. It would seem to me that liquid kerosene would seep past most 'prickers' in a pressurized fount, particularly if the pressure is high. I have arthritis in my hands and will be resorting to a Coleman, piston type 12 volt air-compressor to take the strain off my old hands. As I delve further into what makes these lanterns work, I will no doubt learn a great deal. The money I spent with Ross has been paid back ten fold already. Incidentally, I phoned up Base Camp this morning to order a few parts, they were very hospitable, spoke with a woman named Amanda. Thanks again for the comments, David.....Captain Mike De Long in Hampton, Virginia.
Yes, the pre-heat is usually sufficient only to get the generator/vapouriser and burner to a temperature just above the vapourising point of kero. Too much pressure in the fount/tank initially, causes a flood of cold kero which cools the vapouriser and burner below the vapourising point - hence your fuel weep and kero stink. In general terms, half a dozen pumpstrokes is usually sufficient at start-up. Then let the lantern burn for another few minutes, by which time the heat from the mantle will have got things up to somewhere around working temperature. Then, and only then, can you pump up to normal working pressure. Works for me...
I have a 500 as well. It had the same problem as yours. I did a rebuild and it solved the problem. The rebuild was much easier to rebuild than I thought it would be.
