Hello all I was just wondering if there is still being made parts that fit the Tilley X246 Guardsman pre 1960? The reason why I am asking is because I wish to buy another Tilley, but I am unsertain if I should buy another X246 or a X246B, which I would need spare parts for in the future. I have seen some of the parts to the X246B has the same numbers as on the X246, but do you know of any parts that does not fit? How are the Tilley International company doing these days? Are they still making parts and lanterns? Here is my X246 that works quite well even if it has just only got a new vaporiser.
Kristian My advice is to get the Tilley X246 lamps that were made before 1954/5 (see the Reference Gallery; they don't have Tilley stamped on the side of the tank). These are the most robust of the Tilleys. While you can get new Tilley parts from Tilley, I usually only get vaporisers from them, if I need them. New globes and hoods are also available from Tilley, but I find that all the other the 'older' parts seem much better made and are available online from Base Camp (link on this site) or eBay; and the washer and pump leather from The Fettle Box (link on this site). If you go to the Reference Library you will also find the parts diagrams you need to order parts for these older X246s. The link below gives you an excellent diagram of the Tilley X246 with parts (p2) and part numbers (p8). http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/788 Cheers Tony
Awesome, thanks for the help Tony. I also get the part numbers I need from http://www.base-camp.co.uk/exploded%20views/Tilley/guardsman.jpg which has a good shart of item numbers. The next parts I will buy are atleast a new spigot and perhaps new complete pump, kock and burner just in case they stop working. I have also checked Ebay and Base-Camp prices and the wierd thing is that Base-Camp usually has the same or lower prices on the same items. I am amaced how easy it is to work on this X246, recently I had a leak in the valve knob and it was just to screw off the knob and one more part and the washer could be changed. Found a total dismantling valve instruction here http://www.spiritburner.com/fusion/printpost.php?tid/4764/ Now the lamp got 70 pumps and it did not need any more pressure for at least three hours untill i turned it off.
I wouldn't bother to be honest. Apart from the ridiculous prices, the pump will probably only ever need service parts available from, say, the Fettlebox. Similarly, the control cock is not serviceable apart from a few seals. Burners do eventually burn out but even with hard use, they last many years. In any case, I'm sure there will be a good few folk here who would be happy to help out with spare parts...
What happens when the burner burns out? Today I got a black spot on the mantle, perhaps the burner is to much used?
I don't actually know because I've never had one burn out. I do know that the threads can become eroded by burning so I suppose you'd get leaks from there and thus small flames and vapour smells. The other thing with eroded threads is if you unscrew them then you can't usually get them screwed back together again. I wouldn't worry about it because in my experience, it's usually only the really old burners that suffer from thread erosion...
My advice about the black spot is: 1. Make sure your kerosene is clean. 2. Make sure your burner parts are clean (check all the tubes) and fit tightly together. They should be hand tight, and then adjusted just a little (repeat little) bit tighter with pliers or multigrips. If they seem in any way 'leaking air' put some copper grease on the joins and retighten. 3. Make sure your vaporiser is clean and the jet not worn. 4. Make sure there is no pressure loss from the tank, pump, control cock etc. 5. Make sure you pump to the correct pressure (not over or too much under). 6. Make sure the needle in the vaporiser is fully 'down' when burning. The burner is usually good for a very long time, but if the holes at the bottom start to join up from being burnt away from extended use, its time to get a new one. Cheers Tony
I've checked the tank, pump and cock for pressureleaks and it should be ok. Vaporiser is brand new and the gass flows like it should when on. But the burner had some issues, one of the 2200 or 709 was a bit loose and had to be retightened. The spigot 707 was also a bit loose and had to be rethightened. Edit- Ok, copper paste/grease can stand up to +1100°C.
Hello Kristian, yes, all parts of the burner must be kept tight. When a Tilley burner is nearing the end of it's working life, it will usually still fire up, but the light will dim down after a few minutes. The burner is only of use for parts then, Jeff.
Hum, the burner should now be tight and looks ok. Yet I found out that there was a lot of soot in the vaporiser. The vaporiser has been used about 16-18 hours and has been turned off and on abut 5-7 times. How long does the vaporiser usually last, and what might be the reason for the build up of soot? The vaporiser has been used on a not so tight burner which might have caused combustion inside the burner perhaps. Edit- I have also now cleaned the controll-cock which had a lot of rubbish in it.
Hello Kristian, if I recall correctly a Tilley vapouriser is meant to last for over 100 hours. It is best to clean the pricker wire once in a while, because the muck which builds up on it will affect the flow of the fuel and air mix and make the lantern pulse. It's best not to scrape the point of the pricker wire as they do break, a soak in vinegar or carb cleaner will do the job, Jeff.
The composition of the kerosene/Paraffin will have effects on carbon build up, a few of our European members had problems a year or two ago I think. An oversize jet is a possibility also.
Thanks for the help once more Graham and Jeff! I use the usual 606 vaporiser and what I think is good quality kerosene, "it says soot-free on the bottle" , no lampoil or such stuff. Will test out karb-cleaner and try to make some sort of device to clean inside the tube. Perhaps just pulling a thin thread thru might do the job.
