I have just bought a Petromax and cannot get it to light apart from having flames pouring out of the top - people say there is a knack to it and obviously they ain’t kidding. I will persist and won’t give up as this beauty was not cheap. Thanks for sharing its a pity you don’t live in Wales as I am doing something wrong and could do with an experienced hand - cheers buddy 👍🏻
I have a problem I hope you will take the time to focus on: I bought a Wenzel Petromax clone. It got clogged. I removed the generator, and the rod inside it. After replacing the tip, and re-inserting the generator rod, I cannot get the rod to "catch" on the throttle, so it won't go up and down (making the wire tip go in and out of the little tiny aperture), so I cannot use it. Any ideas how to get the internal rod to "catch?" I have pushed it down, looked in to see the little indentation in the nut, etc., etc. and fiddled with it for an hour. Very frustrating.
I have a problem I hope you will take the time to review: I bought a Wenzel Petromax clone. It got clogged. I removed the generator, and the rod inside it. After replacing the tip, I cannot get the rod to "catch" on the throttle, so it won't go up and down (making the wire tip go in and out of the little tiny aperture), so I cannot use it. Any ideas how to get the internal rod to "catch?"
I have old r petromax lamp (Red heart)it,s on working condition & two antique original German two petromax lamp.Both are repairable, (one is brass) in addition to i have few spares of them,,
Cheers Seamanjive it’s nice to know that there are more aficionados out there that appreciate these old style lamps. Glad to hear you’ve managed to service your old girl, the tech is so old it’s hard to get your head round it sometimes, I had this problem at first, I was trying to apply my experience with car carburettors at first, once I’d forced those ideas out of my head things became a lot easier! I’m based under the flight path of London city airport so I have to put up with a lot of interference.
Good clear vid, thx. I just got one of these today, and old 829. Had a quick examination and clean up. Looks alright, after a bit of a fiddle I'm now getting a plume of paraffin from the jet under pressure and turning the valve. Bit of rust on the ventilator but the hood is in good nick. Couldn't get the mantle nozzle off but it looks alright. Put a drop of oil on the cup leather. This vid is really useful. Where are you based, I hear planes going over!
Another little tip I have just discovered: you know how quickly the top hat gets tarnished after cleaning and polishing it? If before you fire your lamp up you spray the top hat with ultra high temp clear gloss lacquer it will help to keep the tarnish away but it must be ultra high temp lacquer (the type used for car engine exhaust manifolds). Hey! do follow the instructions for using the lacquer before you use as it, otherwise your results will be rubbish, and it is highly flammable before it is dry, so do be sensible, I know it’s not a man thing to do, but read those instructions!! Ezee pump device! How brilliant are they! Yes, yes, I know they defer from the original, but the convenience is mind blowing especially after having spent years of having to manually pump every time you light up. I got me one of those hand held battery powered pumps (they look just like a battery powered drill), total outlay is quite a lot something like £20 for the device and £50 for the pump, a 3 or 4 second burst though and you are up to pressure! Do be aware that it is 3 or 4 seconds or you will blow your tank just an eye on the manometer!
Minute 7:37 : '' if you tie the knot on the mantle close to the carburettor the mantle will blossom towards the carburettor '' Translated for only GERMAN understanding viewers that very important hint : '' Wenn Sie den Knoten am Mantel in der Nähe des Vergasers befestigen, wird der Mantel zum Vergaser aufblühen '' .
Chockarblock , thank you for your comment, I use diesel outside because a, it is cheaper and I can pick it up when filling my car with fuel b, it produces a more yellow light as sometimes it's nice to have a little less light c, to show that there is an alternative to paraffin d, downside it takes 2 kidney bowls of meth to fire up rather than one with paraffin (I never bother to use the 'Rapid' device it uses too much fuel, so I don't know if that will work with diesel) hopefully I will get around to doing my full maintenance video this year!
If you use diesel rather than paraffin in either lamps or heaters,as diesel is ''stickier'' than paraffin,you may get a gumming up of some parts. A good tip is to mix a little Isopropyl Alcohol into the diesel fuel which apparently helps prevent this.I've never tried it myself as I have a fair bit of paraffin to use up but I've been told it's effective.Also,i don't see why the rapid preheat shouldn't work with diesel,it just may take a little longer than when using paraffin......
micky rooney . I will give the isopropanol trick a try, I would imagine we are talking about only a little mixed in with the diesel, any recommendations? I've also found that you can reduce the light output by fitting 350 nipples and needles to a 500 to reduce the light unfortunately less light means less heat and less heat means more carbon deposits and its more of a job to fit them, instead of just changing fuel, so that's another trade off again, still that's not so bad in the summertime. I personally hate that rapid lighter, all that extra pumping and fuel wastage, especially when you want one fill of fuel to last all evening, besides, for me lighting with meth is all part of my ritual, although, I have to admit lighting with the rapid is very dramatic to watch for those that haven't seen it before. As I have two Tilleys as well as my two Petromaxes I use the Petromaxes to give me light along side my barbecue when cooking and the Tilleys for table lighting. Nice to see that Tilley is now back in production.
The ratio is not exact but I believe it's between 60 and 100 ml per gallon.I use my old Hipolito and Sea Anchor for sea fishing at night and I need as much light as possible,so i'll stick with the original fittings.They've given me many years of good service....
. #mickyRooney vor #9# Monaten ... '' _A good tip is to mix a little Isopropyl Alcohol into the diesel fuel_ '' *:* _______________________________________________ Yes, a right idea , because when burning _diesel_ , the lamp needs more oxygen but don't get it : less light ( = more ' Yellow ') and more quickly carbon could occur in the mantle - The chemical reason is : Isopropyl Alcohol needs l e s s oxygen for burning , and therefore that's a good compromise to mix both together, and thus is good miscible , because Isop. A. is nearly 99 % pure . ( Alcohol containing water is not any more mixable with diesel , or petrol ... ) . 2018-01-11
