I have a Coleman 226 which from a light output/colour point of view runs fairly well. It's always fed Aspen4 and it has done only a few hours on it's vapouriser since that was new. All tank seals, Vap tube joints and jet are fine but... I can't understand why it stinks when in use. It does not take long to fill a room with a sickly odour. I think it must be unburnt fuel but I'm not sure where that might be escaping. Greater/lesser tank pressure and brightness have no noticeable effect on the pong. It uses the rather nasty pressed metal sandwich construction. The gas nozzle and mesh screen became loose enough to drop out a while ago. I used a centre punch to cure that(see dimples). The nozzle is still slightly loose in the frame but any gas/air mix escaping there would just burn straight off. I don't see why that would cause any more smell than normal combustion at the mantle. One other theory I would like to check. The spot welds which seal around the gas chamber are very sparse. It certainly isn't forming a complete seam by any means. I think there could be gap in the metal sandwich and some small amount of gas air leaks from the handle swivel points. These are far enough away from the mantle they would not catch and burn. Has anyone experienced this please? I am tempted to run it in skeleton mode to see if I can touch off any leaks which should not be there with a lighter. Bad idea?
I'm not a great fan of these for a number of reasons including that cheap and nasty burner assembly, although others here e.g. Neil seem to like them. I'd probably just chuck it in a skip but it's possible that exhaust putty could seal any leaks there may be in the burner so that might be an option for you. But judging by the signs of combustion on the burner, it does look as if there's a leak from the area around the nozzle where the mantle is attached...
Thanks David - yes I know from your past comments you don't rate them much. It's a shame the cheapo construction lets them down because I think they are a nice lamp otherwise. I would use it more if I could get rid of the pong. It's outdoor use only as it is. I also noticed that soot but I think it happened during lighting up rather than running. I thought about adding exhaust putty (I don't have any but could get some) although the gap to fill is very small. Last stuff I used (probably 1970s!) was pretty lumpy and I can't imagine it would be easy to get it in there. That came in a tin. Maybe there is some other stuff available in a tube which is of creamier consistency. I want to try something as I like this lamp. Jon.
......Hi Jon! ....If you know someone with a gas welding torch get them to whizz round where the seams meet at the edge? ..
Thanks both for the ideas. JeffJ I'm sure the "wet" fuel side is all fine. This is either a leak of gas/air mix or just the products of combustion. I considered the gas welder since I have one in the shed. I wondered whether to try and spot the inner seam with it or else close up the edges. I decided against - too invasive. A gas welder even with smallest #1 nozzle causes a lot of distortion due to sideways heat. Beefing up the inner seam with a spot welder or spot drilling part way through and blasting with a MIG was also an idea, but only if it could actually be proved to be leaking. Actually some more work today shows there are no vapour leaks to the side. Without a mantle and run open frame it burns only at the nozzle - nowhere else. It's blue and so not over rich mixture. I found I was out of #20 mantles (dunno where they all went - I bought loads not long ago!??) so I fitted it with a #21 instead. That's a bit bigger. I'm pleased with the light output which seems improved. As for the pong - only time will tell. Running in - please pass!
... ......Cripes they are thin and nasty then!!!..... ....But you've got the gear and the mig but anyway as you say you don't think a leak is the problem?.. .. Might be 'Heretical' to you but is there another more reliable Coleman burner that would fit???...
Hahaha! Only £100 - a bargain. I like it. It's occurred to me since that I'm running it on Aspen4. Of course what I should do is to put some genny-wine Coleman Fuel in it and see what then. Jon
Check in the bail holes for leaks too. I have a 335 with similar burner construction that leaked there causing similar odor issues.
Hi Jon These small Colemans has a bad sealings. I dont know if that could have any influense on yours nicey lamp, but there is a good link here to CCF here about just that. Then at least you could kill that fail-source if so. http://0flo.com/index.php?posts/49383 Claus C
I have bought Coleman Fuel lanterns in the UK that had unleaded run in it. I had to run several founts of Aspen through the workings to get the smell to go away.
Yes I suspected it was coming from the holes for the bail but I couldn't light any stray flames there so if anything is leaking it must be a tiny amount. This one has not run any unleaded in a long time. I learned my lesson about that long ago with clogged gens/vaps so UL is now < banned > ! Including in the leaf blower where it might work once but will give you endless trouble the next time you need it. I just hate the stuff. The larger #21 mantles I fitted did seem to help the pong but I have to admit it hasn't been lit for a while now. I must get back to it and try again. I think although the vap+jet are both new and have done little work they overfuel it a bit. The bigger mantle and less pressure might work. I should try fewer pump strokes next time.
