Sourced from Spain a few months ago, the lack of a nice easy service kit and my own lack of knowledge and experience meant this one took some getting right. The strip down and clean up was straight forward enough. I could hear the patina gang telling me to leave it as it was, but it really was just dirty for the most part! A vinegar bath and a very fine wire wool clean brought it up beautifully. The lantern was actually in pretty good shape with the cleaning wire and needle in tact. It’s certainly an unusual needle, more textured finish than I have seen before. Reassembly was more complicated as I had to make my own lead washer, a first for me, and and identify parts from other manufacturers. Vapalux served me well for the NRV refurb. The pump leather was shot and a Tilley cup was too small but an Optimus fit perfectly. I was particularly nervous about the valve stem gland packings but was advised that graphite foil was worth a try and it certainly seems to have done the job, though it’s a bit fiddly. The light up was worrying me with the oddball spares I’d utilised and everyone’s gasoline safety advice still fresh. However last week’s successful firing of my Coleman 327 had given me a bit of confidence so I tried to light the Focus fuelled by Brake Cleaner, outside. The first attempt was a total NRV failure. Managed to get a bit more of a nip on the NRV and tried again. Second attempt NRV failed again. Stripped it out and found the washer hadn’t seated properly and had become damaged on install. Third attempt today and away she goes. Took much more pre-heating than anticipated, certainly compared to the Coleman so I presume it’s due to the vapouriser on the Focus being more substantial plus I used the fairly modest spirit cup whereas the Coleman I preheated with my torch. After a minor flare up she cleared her throat, coughed and spluttered for a bit and eventually settled to a nice bunsen flame. 4th light up with a mantle (21a) and chimney on and a full paraffinesque preheat and she lit beautifully. I did try the lanterns pre-heat torch and it worked but did seem to depressurise everything very quickly. I may be using it incorrectly though! Anyway, really happy with how it turned out and what an adventure! Thank you for the advice @Henry Plews and for supplying the holey Vapalux globe which fits and works a treat! Special mention also to Random_Collector_Jack who I linked up with through Instagram who gave me some great pointers to get me going. His Focus collection has to be seen to be believed.
Does anyone have any advice on use of the preheat burner? It works but possibly too well, as it depressurises the fount very quickly. Should I just crack the valve rather than open it fully, and would it be necessary to add more pump strokes after the preheat before lighting?
Hi Scott, I don't have a Focus but I do have a Primus 1051 which is a petrol lantern and later versions have a preheater that works the same as the one on your Focus. With no instructions to follow, here's how I light my Primus 1051. With all valves closed and 1ltr of fuel in the tank, I put 20 pump strokes worth of air into the tank. Operate the preheater lever which opens the preheater valve 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn and apply a match. After 5 - 10 seconds, open the main valve and when lantern lights, turn off the preheater. Add more air. The vapouriser in your Focus lantern is a heavy duty affair and will most probably need more preheating than the Primus one, I'd start with perhaps 15 or even 20 seconds and see how you go. If it still flares up, preheat some more. If it lights O.K., you can experiment with the amount of time you need to preheat.
Thanks Henry, I had another try and managed to preheat using just the preheater. I just cracked the valve open ever so lightly and then did have to apply more pressure once lit. I think the spirit cup is the easiest option really though.
Hi Scott, you got there in the end. I tried to make a short video of a Primus preheater in action but I couldn't quite manage to light the preheater, keep the camera steady, pump in more air with one hand and keep an eye on the second hand of my watch all at the same time. What I did find was that the times I mentioned in my previous post were a good few seconds too short. Also, because I'd had the lantern lit previously, there was some fuel left in the vapouriser which when hot enough, burned in the mantle and I was able to open the valve without drama. I did have to pump in more air both whilst the preheater was burning and once the lantern was lit.
Well done @Scott D A very good save and restore. Great photos and a real pleasure to see it in action.
Thanks guys, still chuffed with getting it running. I do think I maybe need a slightly bigger pump leather on it. When it dries out (anything less than saturated) it’s not as snug as I’d like. What would be the next size up from an Optimus cup?
Hi @Scott D .. Thanks for sharing your rare and lovely lantern and you have done yourself proud with the fettle and presentation.. Well done mate !!! There are threads about pump leather sizes and also about making your own? ..Well worth having a read up? There are pump cups at the base camp .. a whole page, if you can find it! And of course the fettling box ))
You need to measure the inner diameter of the pump tube, the Fettlebox do a selection of pump leathers but being a lampy, I have no idea whatsoever how big (or small) a " . . pump leather for standard 2 pint stoves " is, you'll have to enquire. Alternatively, look here: Assorted leather cup washers
Thanks Henry, last night I read an old article you contributed to about the issues with Neatsfoot Oil and temperature. I have been using Neatsfoot oil as it’s what seemed to be recommended when I was doing my initial research. However mine has been more like a jelly since November. So today I soaked the Optimus leather in Olive Oil and it has gone back together and isn’t missing a stroke. I’ll see how it goes. I did find the 2 pint stove cups on the website and that is exactly as they are described should I need them. I nailed the light up this evening as well. Forgot about the preheat torch. Put 20 strokes in the font. Cracked the main shut off valve fractionally on and off to charge the vapouriser. Lit the spirit cup and within a minute the fuel in the generator lit and after a few seconds I slowly opened the main valve. Away she goes again!
The Focus pump tube is 17.5mm Dia. Which is the same as an Optimus 930. A standard 2 pint stove pump tube is 17mm as are most Petromax and Vapalux/Bialaddin types and the leathers should accomodate the half mm difference OK. ::Neil::
@Scott D Wonderful restoration you have there and she runs very well indeed. Thank you for sharing your victory with us. Cheers, Norman
