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Posted

Here's one right up Turtle's alley:

 

I've been looking for a proper kerosene lamp for ages now. Over here, they've all gone all gas and rechargable electric camping lamps. I've had one years and years ago, the one where you inject a little spirits into a pre-heater and then you have to pump a little piston to get the kerosene pressure up, and you open the valve and you have probably (in my mind, okay) the best damn camping light in the whole wide known universe.

 

So I visited a mate of mine, and we started talking camp stuff. And I mentioned that it's nigh damn impossible to find these kerosene lamps. So he said he can understand why you can't find them, 'cause they're crap! I nearly socked him one! Sacriledge! So to illustrate his point, he went to his garage and got a new(ish) Coleman 639B-series kerosene lamp, which was lit exactly twice in its life. And he gave it to me. For free. I almost kissed him. Until I tried to light it! It doesn't work. The piston is immensely hard to pump, which makes me think that the valve in the fuel tank is bust. The rest of the lamp is in immaculate nick, but the damn thing simply won't work! And getting a troubleshooting guide on the net is impossible. Does anybody here have a 639B-series Coleman, with a manual? Or know someone who does?

 

Come, Turtle - you're prepared for all kinds of disasters!

Posted
Here's one right up Turtle's alley:

 

I've been looking for a proper kerosene lamp for ages now. Over here, they've all gone all gas and rechargable electric camping lamps. I've had one years and years ago, the one where you inject a little spirits into a pre-heater and then you have to pump a little piston to get the kerosene pressure up, and you open the valve and you have probably (in my mind, okay) the best damn camping light in the whole wide known universe.

 

So I visited a mate of mine, and we started talking camp stuff. And I mentioned that it's nigh damn impossible to find these kerosene lamps. So he said he can understand why you can't find them, 'cause they're crap! I nearly socked him one! Sacriledge! So to illustrate his point, he went to his garage and got a new(ish) Coleman 639B-series kerosene lamp, which was lit exactly twice in its life. And he gave it to me. For free. I almost kissed him. Until I tried to light it! It doesn't work. The piston is immensely hard to pump, which makes me think that the valve in the fuel tank is bust. The rest of the lamp is in immaculate nick, but the damn thing simply won't work! And getting a troubleshooting guide on the net is impossible. Does anybody here have a 639B-series Coleman, with a manual? Or know someone who does?

 

Come, Turtle - you're prepared for all kinds of disasters!

 

Mmmmm...reminds me of the thread on I'll have an ice cold___" :xx: The pump type lantern of your description takes fuel we here in the US call "white gas" or variably "lantern fuel", but it is distinctly different from what we call 'kerosene'. If you put what we call kerosene in one of these lamps it will definately clog it up.

The pump in the lanterns has a small leather seal which requires oiling, particularly after sitting a long time without use as it dries out. Does your lantern have a small mesh bag inside the globe? We call it a 'mantle' here, and they require regular replacement.

If I haven't muddied up the issue entirely, I beg you give me another chance. :phones:

Posted

Mmmmm....so they make a kerosene version! Never used one myself. Still, the pump has a seal and it needs oil, so I'd start there, give it all a good cleaning of all orificecess, replace the mantle, and then ...uh....then...experiment! Yeah, that's the ticket. Preheater tray!? Alchohol bottle!? :phones: Maybe you squirt a little alchol in the pre-heater tray, light it, then turn on the valve. :xx:

Posted
The pump type lantern of your description takes fuel we here in the US call "white gas" or variably "lantern fuel", but it is distinctly different from what we call 'kerosene'.

Yep. Over here 'white gas' is called parafin, and that's what I'm using. But on the Coleman site, they distinctly say that the 639B-series uses kerosene. I think it's more a generic thing than anything else. But I'm on parafin, or 'white gas'.

If you put what we call kerosene in one of these lamps it will definately clog it up.

Not according to Coleman! Besides, this little bugger's only worked twice in its life! Methinks it might be a factory screw-up...

The pump in the lanterns has a small leather seal which requires oiling, particularly after sitting a long time without use as it dries out.

Rubber, and it's in good nick, too... :phones:

Does your lantern have a small mesh bag inside the globe? We call it a 'mantle' here, and they require regular replacement.

The mantle's fine. There's just no way of pumping the damn thing.

If I haven't muddied up the issue entirely, I beg you give me another chance. :xx:

Chance given... :hihi:

Posted
Yep. Over here 'white gas' is called parafin, and that's what I'm using. But on the Coleman site, they distinctly say that the 639B-series uses kerosene. I think it's more a generic thing than anything else. But I'm on parafin, or 'white gas'.

In that case, you ought to be on kerosene.

 

Rubber, and it's in good nick, too... :phones:

It may still need some oil to make the seal air tight as well as lube the cylinder. Is there an oil hole on the pump piston part? I can't tell from the exploded view of parts at the Coleman site.

 

The mantle's fine. There's just no way of pumping the damn thing.

 

Chance given... :hihi:

 

Again...again...!

 

Here's a Wicky for your wick-less. Scroll down to the pressure lamp entry and they have a description of how to light it.

Pressure lamp

This type of lamp is far more sophisticated than a wick lamp and produces a much brighter light, although they can be quite complicated and fiddly to use

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene_lamp

 

:xx: They said 'fiddly'! :D

Posted

Lighting's not the problem. Like I said, I had a couple years ago, and they ran just sweet. The rubber seal on the piston is all lubed and sweet. The balls-up seem to be inside the fuel tank, in the pump cylinder itself. And there's no way of getting into it - all the other parts can be replaced and dismantled except the tank. I'm starting to figure out why my mate gave me the lamp in the first place...

Posted
Lighting's not the problem. Like I said, I had a couple years ago, and they ran just sweet. The rubber seal on the piston is all lubed and sweet. The balls-up seem to be inside the fuel tank, in the pump cylinder itself. And there's no way of getting into it - all the other parts can be replaced and dismantled except the tank. I'm starting to figure out why my mate gave me the lamp in the first place...

 

Mmmm....we aren't gonna let a stupid little fiddly lamp stymie us! Does the pump work in and out OK but just no pressure builds?

Posted
Mmmm....we aren't gonna let a stupid little fiddly lamp stymie us! Does the pump work in and out OK but just no pressure builds?

No - it's a ***** to pump in and out, which makes me think that there might be some sort of blockage inside the cylinder's outlet to the generator attachement. And that's inside the damn fuel tank!!! How on Earth...

 

Gimme ten minutes; I'm gonna remove the generator pipe and see if I can get inside the tank...

Posted
No - it's a ***** to pump in and out, which makes me think that there might be some sort of blockage inside the cylinder's outlet to the generator attachement. And that's inside the damn fuel tank!!! How on Earth...

 

Gimme ten minutes; I'm gonna remove the generator pipe and see if I can get inside the tank...

 

 

Hold on a minute! Those pump stems unscrew to pump, then you rescrew it to burn. Lefty loosey, righty tighty.

Posted
Hold on a minute! Those pump stems unscrew to pump, then you rescrew it to burn. Lefty loosey, righty tighty.

Yep. It's got a square rod that's threaded on the sides. It's also got a conical tip which closes the jet to the generator. That's in the 'righty tighty' position. When lefty loosey, the pressure goes around the square bit into the jet, into the generator.

 

I have just now disassembled the generator, and still can't get into the tank. But after applying some silicon oil, the pump does seem to run a bit smoother... My keyboard is now full of paraffin oil...

 

Hang on...

Posted
Yep. It's got a square rod that's threaded on the sides. It's also got a conical tip which closes the jet to the generator. That's in the 'righty tighty' position. When lefty loosey, the pressure goes around the square bit into the jet, into the generator.

 

I have just now disassembled the generator, and still can't get into the tank. But after applying some silicon oil, the pump does seem to run a bit smoother... My keyboard is now full of paraffin oil...

Hang on...

 

Reh oh! :hihi: :shrug:

Another thought too... if and when you are satisfied the pump is working, make sure the cap on the fill hole is secured airtight as well.

Posted
Another thought too... if and when you are satisfied the pump is working, make sure the cap on the fill hole is secured airtight as well.

Ten four, over.

 

My keyboard smells like a jet ready for take-off.:shrug:

Posted

HA!!!

 

Got it sorted!

 

At the bottom of the pump assembly (inside the tank), there's a little ball-bearing acting as a one-way valve. It got stuck!

 

So, after fashioning a suitable unclogging tool with a piece of baling wire and my trusty Dremel, it is now unclogged and the lamp is currently running like a beaut!

 

Problem solved!

 

Take that, you evil demons of camp ruin!

Posted
HA!!!

Got it sorted!

At the bottom of the pump assembly (inside the tank), there's a little ball-bearing acting as a one-way valve. It got stuck!

So, after fashioning a suitable unclogging tool with a piece of baling wire and my trusty Dremel, it is now unclogged and the lamp is currently running like a beaut!

Problem solved!

Take that, you evil demons of camp ruin!

Nice job Seun! Nothing finer than a Dremel to loosen a clogged ball I always say. :hihi:

Turtle: Hey Seun, is your lamp running?

Seun: Yep!

Turtle: Well you better go chase it before it gets away! :shrug:

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