I recently obtained a NOS 320 vapalux. after a fount or so of fuel thru it, it turned yellow and sooted the mantle. At the same time as the 320 purchase, I received a new vap for my old 300X, and ran them the same amount. The 300x runs fine with the same fuel. I cleaned the old 300x vap, and installed it in the 320 and it runs fine. What could cause a new vap to go bad? I soaked it in lye, and citric acid. Did the wire on a drill trick, and no go. These generators are dear, and I am too tight to give up.
There may be a build up of carbon on the cleaning wire or it's possible that the jet has enlarged. I would also check the burner in case any part of it has come loose, but when that happens there is a strong smell of paraffin from the lantern.
...Hmmm, does sound like the hole enlarged.... ....I suppose that even on a 'NOS' lantern there is every chance that the vap tube has been swapped without the seller knowing.... Did it come sealed in the original box, seals unopened? As you say the price of a new one is a bit like..."flippin' 'eck!..I can buy 2 lamps for that!" But that how it is and the ones from Korea with the replaceable tip are not much more expensive?? ....not sure about the postage though... I believe other folks have successfully 'peined' the end then re-drilled??? ....I'm not sure myself if i'm up to using a drill the size of a hair?.. ....prob snap it off in the end thus incurring more time, expense, stress, etc etc,...and so it goes on.....
If it's like a Tilley vap it's possible to pein the end and not need to redrill. You need a pricker of the correct diameter to gauge the hole, whatever the correct diameter is. Sorry I don't know this for a 320. Maybe like my Tilley the internal pricker riding too high was what enlarged the jet in the first place? If I were to try peining it then the first test firing would be without the pricker. Good luck if you try.
thanks all. Jeff, there was no carbon at all on the vaporizer, as it only had very little use, and good fuel. It was a new vap, as it had wax "cosmoline"? on the end, and had no scorching anywhere. Lantern is 80s 90s? all in the box. By looking at the jet, it looks okay, but I realize thats hard to see with the naked eye. I will look into the enlarged tip thing.
