Most Common Problem With REALLY Old Zippo Lighters & How To Fix It !!! 

73 year old Zippo and this guy gets it to work, shows us how to fix the main problems with old Zippos and gives us a nice little hack (Which I'm sure I'll use at some point) to boot. Great video. This stuff is why I love youtube.

My boyfriend (now husband) gave me a Zippo when I was 18 (now 61). I recently found it again but since I quit smoking 40 years ago it wouldn't light. Thanks to your video my husband was able to restore it and it works perfectly now!! Thank you!

Great video - had this problem with my dad's circa 1955 Zippo. Now it's working like a champ. My dad would be proud!

I found an old Zippo lighter of my grandfather's and wanted to get it working again. Turns out it had the same problem of clogged old flint so I used a hex key like you said and it did the trick! Works like new, thanks!

~I have a Zippo Lighter that I bought in Vietnam in 1973 . I still use it and it works fine. I've never had to send it back to Zippo.

Thank you!! I REALLY needed this bc I found my dad's old zippo and I wanted to restore it. Then there there this thing with the flint. I it blocked it and with your help it got out! Now it works again! Thank you so much!

Great tutorial on repairing a lighter. I don’t have a zippo but I will take this knowledge and apply it to my vintage lighter and see if I can get it up and running. Before this, I would have probably thought it was toast and discarded it. Who knows, in an hour I may have a functioning vintage light. Thks for the lesson!

Brilliant channel I've got zippo with a clogged flint chamber and you've just helped me salve it thank you

READ THIS An app called FIX THE ITEM has stolen audio and used it in their ad

My oldest zippo was made this year. It’s my only zippo. I got a cheap knockoff and I was hooked immediately and had to get a real one. I got the street chrome zippo for $10 at Walmart and I think I’ll be expanding that into a collection pretty quickly.

I just did everything in this video and fully restored my Zippo I got for Christmas in 1990. Thank you thank you

That was exactly what i needed to fix my grandpas zippo he had durring the Korean war. Thank you so much for the helpful video

Well done sir! I've just used your idea to fix my friends Dad's old lighter. Should have seen all the grey dust the fell out!

Thanks for the tip on the wick ! A friend of mine gave me his dad's old zippo to fix and I've re-wicked it and everything but a couple of months later he says it stopped lighting and I'd tried everything, new flint, cleaning, checking the wick I noticed that there wasn't much material left on top for the fluid and it was just wiring, so I trimmed thoese wirring and pulled the wick out a little bit and BOOM! Works like a charm.

I appreciate this video. I had a 2000 Elvis lighter I came across in my storage and saw that the flint was all mucked up inside. I tapped and tapped just as described in the video for over 30 minutes and couldn't get it to break free. Finally I took a drill to it as another commenter commented and after about 5 minutes later it broke free. I replaced the flint and it works perfectly now. If I had continued with the tapping method; God only knows how long that would have taken.

Thank you for this tip. Had the same issue with my Zippo and now it is fixed.

Thanks this was fabulously helpful. My zippo is 20 years old and this worked perfectly. I was ready to throw it , followed every step and now works perfectly. Many thanks for taking the time to do this

I flipped mine over, took the spring out and put a little squirt of lighter fluid in the flint hole. Let it sit a couple minutes then put the jagged end of a broken toothpick in the whole and spun it with my fingers. Afterwards I lit the toothpick and it made a mini sparkler for a few seconds 😂

I have a zippo my grandpa bought in Greenland in the 50es. Thanks for the good advise

Great vide. I’ve got a 1956 on my hands, giving me the same failure to seat on the flint. Good info!

Thanks for the tutorial on repairing and maintaining Zippo lighters. I have my Dad's that he carried during the Korean Conflict and used every day. I don't think the cotton was ever replaced, although I could be wrong. I did have to replace the steel wheel, even with cleared flint channel and new flint, there was no spark. Now she's functioning like she did when I was young... Got to love a 70 year old lighter that still works. Thanks again.

Thanks for the video! I've had a really old evans lighter that i got from my grandma that never worked but after clearing the flint tube it worked like a champ

Cam springs are the first to rust and break apart after some neglects. I pay close attention to those while refurbishing my old zippo lighters

I still have the Zippo that was left behind from another cab driver almost ten years ago. Now there is only Uber.

I bought an old zippo 1970 and this was the problem with it thank God for you bro bro

Very helpful! I got 4 vintage zippos in a grab bag in a liquidation sale, couldn't figure out what was wrong with it, but it did in fact have the clogged flint dust as mentioned. Going to track down a replacement flint now, thanks for the helpful directions

I was facing the same issue with my old used Zippo..flint not able to touch the roller bcz of blockage..I cleaned the blockage ..need lots of patients though 😃..but it is functional now thanks for giving confidence and making me believe...and it worked out for me ..Zippo is functional now 👍 thank buds 👍👍🙏🥂

I just bought a Zippo off of eBay and it the wheel wouldn't turn it all yours was the first video I turn to and your video help me fix my Zippo so thank you very much great video.

I’ve viewed a few of these type of videos. This video by far is the best one I’ve seen. Very informative! Thanks.

I went thru 3 videos on how to fix my pipe tobacco zippo light until I found yours. Thanks for this video got it fixed.

Damn! I just spent £13:99 on a new brass insert, and they sent the wrong one (sent a pipe insert). So, I guess I have two. Now all I need is a pipe. Helpful video. Should have checked RU-vid last night.

I just bought a zippo slim at an antique shop it’s from 1962..it’s in perfect condition it still works perfectly

Thanks for this video. I had a very strange thing happen to me two days ago. I found my lost zippo that isn’t that old. I got it from Marlboro miles a few years ago. We moved it got lost for a few years. I found it and cleaned it up as best I could. I replaced the flint and filled it up with regular lighter fluid not the zippo brand and kept it in a bath robe made of terry cloth because it’s cold here and it’s all I had to keep me warm outside. I was sitting in a chair outside not even smoking at the time and my robe started to catch on fire. I was on fire! The front started with blue flames and I was able to put it out by hand but then it would start up again and went all the way around me. The flames went from front to back even as I was sitting in the chair before it hit me that new flames in different spots were starting up over and over. How in the world did it burn my robe in the back and not burn the chair. I put the flames out by hand as best I could, took it off and threw it across the yard. I didn’t get hurt/burned but I’m still so confused as to what exactly happened. I wish I could send a picture of that robe. Weirdest thing ever. I’m confused and everyone I show it to is also very puzzled as to how that happened. Now, I’m scared of my Zippo and I’m afraid to bring it in the house. Robe, flammable, zippo flammable I know but I don’t understand what exactly happened? Keeping it in my robe pocket? The fumes? Any theories as to what could have happened?

thank you thank you thank you i know this is a really old video but i was working on fixing my grandpa’s old lighter for my dad and was having this exact problem so this was super helpful!

I'm thinking just the right size sharp drill bit in a Dremel or drill at low speed would be easier to clean out the flint tube, but I could be wrong. Good point about the old flint & the guarantee.

My oldest Zippo is 1962. It was given to my Grandfather as a 25 anniversary gift from his coworkers. It has the company logo and an engraving of the back. I really didn't know any of the story of the Zippo until recently. My Mother found a guy who was friends and coworkers with him who was able to give us the story behind it, it's really a treasure to me!

Thank you rhus was incredibly helpful I've finaly fixed my 1962 zippo

@cutlerylover another real cheap part to replace is the wick. instead of going out buying new wicks quite often (ok not really), you can simply replace it with a electrical cable used for the inside of guitars.. it has metal and a fabric cover, it works great and you can buy a big roll of it much cheaper than the official wicks.

When I have bought old lighters that have a flint stuck in them, I have pushed a small drill bit up the shaft and given it a few twists., Works well.

When you buy baby bottles from dr brown, it comes with a couple tiny cigar cleaner type brushes that would fit that tube. Maybe that would help too. I’ve got a ton of them. I’ll try it out. I’ve got a pretty old one. It wouldn’t be strong enough to shove stuff through but it it would def clean the inside. It’s a piece of wire with scrubbing bristles. Check out dr brown bottles on amazon and you can see the small pipe cleaners.

Thanks for the vid. I have a way better idea tho.... I did just like you said on the first lighter. It took about 15 minutes with the Allen wrench. ( I was thinking to myself that it sucked and was taking to long ). That was on an old 1957 lighter. Worked great ! The second one I have been using the same method ignoring the other guys that said use a drill because I don't have one. Well guess what ! ? I took a small hammer like the one Andy Dufresne used to bust out of the Shawshank prison and smacked / beat that old flint back to the wheel ! I have lighter fluid in it now and I will use that lighter flint sideways/wrongways , or what ever ways until I need to replace it. You are welcome fellows. Just don't get too carried away with the rock hammer.

Just as a note alcohol will destroy the clear plastic on butane zippo inserts. in seconds they crack to the point where they leak butane. I haven't tested it on all brands but I destroyed 2 before I figured it out.

I have one from 38 and I just repaired it thanks to your video

I also have a 45-1946 zippo with the 1st marine division logo and “Guadalcanal” on it. Was a ww2 vets lighter who was on the canal. Has his initials and rank on it. The wheel no longer spins and doesn’t have the space between the flint and wheel. Kinda nervous to send it out to zippo but gonna have to I think

Thanks, this helped me fix an old camel lighter I picked up at a garage sale.

“I know this video is a little older now but…” I recently bought a Jack Daniels chrome zippo J 2003 that had been abused and had a broken cam spring I’ve now cleaned it thoroughly and have ordered a new cam spring myself to replace it. Im not sure if they wasn’t available 5 years ago but I can’t find any part That you can’t find to repair a zippo now?. I have even found places that sell the panel beating dolly’s for if you crush or bend them in all shapes for the insert and the case and lid. I’ve also found clamp blocks for you to remove and replace the striker wheel and cam itself. I don’t know if you have made more videos on that sort of thing as it’s my first time watching but they are all available now if you don’t want to send to zippo “I personally enjoy doing it myself and appreciate using my skill to clean and maintain them” but I really appreciate the idea for the flint tube I never thought of that wile cleaning it’s a very handy idea 👍🏻.

Also you might want to watch out for those original zippo wicks made before late 80s. If there's no copper wire in it, don't kick up the chared ashes, because zippo wicks made before 1983(?) Or 1989(?) are pure asbestos. If it has wire un the wick, then you have nothing to worry wicks. I always change the wicks in my antique lighters for that reason.

this video was amazing it helped me fix my pop pops old lighter i just want to say thanks!

Yoo I went to refuel my zippo a few days ago and I guess when I pulled it apart I didn’t pay attention and lost the flint that goes under the wheel when I went to light it I got no spark I was depressed so I’m smoking some green stuff lighting it with a regular lighter the green stuff made me think and I pulled the flint out a regular lighter which was a bic and the spring inside it also fits so you never have to actually go get new parts just pull the wheel off a regular lighter but be careful when you pull the spark wheel off you have to hold it cause the spring holding the flint shoots the flint out like a bullet

When the cam spring breaks on a 50 yr old lighter, they just put in a new insert and send the old one back.. Pity really!

Just acquired a 1938 zippo chrome is worn but still in great shape in my opinion

I just bought two zippos from a resale shop, zippo slim for 5 and USS Askari ARL 30 Zippo for 6.50. Both work good, I plan to carry the slim everyday. Slim is from 1967 and navy zippo is from 1969.

My oldest is somewhere between 1937 and 1950, unknown year exactly. It's engraved with "Seyer" inside a diamond on the case. Similar problem, just need to take the time to ream it out.

I found one in a field about 50 years ago. I took it home and gave it to my dad he was a lifelong smoker and did use it on and off! When he passed away, i found it in a draw and realised then it was a black steel type from ww2? I read they were only given to the US forces so its a long way from home here in the UK!

Exactly what happened with mine from 1969 i figured it out on my own but i'm sure it will help some people

I started collecting and using zippos back in like 2011 but must of my lighters were taken and thrown away by my dad. Now i have like 4-5. My edc lighter says " America, right to bear arms"

sometimes with old things and maybe sometimes newer i think the used ones with scratched up plates (also steel on knives) i think looks way cooler.

Hello are you aware that your videos audio has been used in an ad for a chinese mobile game?

Any time I can get an older zippo that’s probably early 80s and back I usually try to pick it up. Anything newer than that I don’t buy at all.

Thanks my grandmother pass and I was trying to fix her old Zippo up this helped thanks so much

thank you so much for directing me to what was the problem cause I was having the same problem not being able to get the wheel to strike the flint and making a comment about the old one obstructing the opening it fixed my grandmas/greatgrandmas lighter

I bought a small carbide drill bit just under the tube size and chuck it in my drill and presto it's clear...

I have a Zippo Lighter I bought in 1966 in Korea when I was in the Army, everyone carried a Zippo Lighter. Even thought I did not smoke now or then, I used it to light the Diesel Stoves we had in the Army Barracks to keep warm in the winter time when it got really cold. If it would need fuel and did have lighter fuel at the time I would soak it in gasoline from my Army Jeep in the meantime until I could get to the PX to buy lighter fuel.

the screw was desinged to be open with the case itself ^^ so u don't have to carry a multitool or a screw driver everywhere u go. cool tips anyway!

have an peak performance lighter that was bought around 1980-1990, and i also had that problem that it was klogged up and had to use an small nail too scrape away the remaining flint 😂

Useful video! How often do you refuel your zippo? Want to compare it to how often I refill mine.

Yes the thing that you are referring to as a spacer which I'm a collector of many Zippos and other vintage lighters like the Penguin and others all have that.It is not to keep even pressure on the Flint its to protect the end of the spring from getting messed up when the flint wears out an you spin the flint wheel which would bend the spring and wedge it up between the Flint wheel and body of the Zippo n also it's kind of a bearing so when you screw the spring in it doesn't twist up you know cuz you can actually hold it and twist and the spring will twist around it so it won't mess it up

@cutlerylover ....use a the vacuum-by-hand tube of a vac-clearner to get stuff out of tube area of zippo after doing ram-rod trick.

Zippo fixes it for free for life...i know, i live 2 hours from their factory in Bradford Pa.

You can make a new hinge pin with a small nail chucked in a dremal. Turn to size with a file

Newer comment but.. When I'm using a zippo, every time I open it, the "inner" zippo loves to raise up a bit. I have to push it down after a while or the zippo lid won't close properly. The zippo I'm using isn't that old or anything but I found a video about squeezing the actual outer layer of the zippo with some pliers to prevent this but it's not really working that well. Any tips?

had the same problem with a Park Lighters (Murfreesboro Tennessee). I ended up removing the wheel rivet to push the obstruction down. Now I need a flint, but a Bic lighter flint is too thick.

Hey I've got a Zippo slim I got something stuck in the flinttube I can't get it out and how do I date it

I've got a 2003 Chevrolet belar zippo with some surface fade what's the value you think

There’s this advert on RU-vid for a game about restoring zippos and they’re using cut up pieces of the audio from this video

Good video as always. Interesting failure mode that can happen, never imagined a flint could deteriorate like that. On a sidenote:will you feature the kizer roach again? Im wondering how it has faired if you've been using it after.your initial video.

get a drill bit that will fit inside the tube but a very loose fit.drill the old flint out. takes less than a minute.

You helped me a lot with this Video. Thank you so much! Greets from Germany!

i just got a brass Chevy emblem Zippo from my Dad ( he's now giving things away to to us kids, kinda know what that means 😐), i have no clue how old it is - after watching the vid I now know to refill it and put a new flint in it , thanks 😎😁 . It has Bradford , PA XV on the bottom , I think I will have to contact Zippo to get an i dea when it was made

Thx, I have same problem w old flint. Working on it now.

You could probably use a pin drill and drill through then shake it out

u can also use bore cleaner for gun it will break it lose and a sharp point wire to keep picking at it

🙏Thank You. I'm officially learnt on my Zippos🤟

I guess this is the best video about zippo, well done man i did the same all the time, it drove me crazy when i got my first old zippo, would you suggest to get the stuff out while collecting your zippos?

Had that issue with my 1986 zippo id put it away for years... Best bet is to store it with out the Flint...i had a bear of a time getting it free

What's the difference between a hippo and a zippo? Well, one is very heavy and the other one is a little lighter.

Hey, I have a Zippo only over a year old and the insert is really hard to get out, I literally have to put grip gloves on to pull it out, or keep jiggling it until it frees itself out. Do you have any ideas, for example lubing up the insert and inner part of the case, and what to use?

1965 Northland Invitational golf promotional, works great!

My grandpas zippo is still in my collection

This was awesome. This man is a genius!!!

I used a drill bit and turned by hand. Unclog about 1/4 ince buildup. Took 2 minutes.

I used a drill because it just wouldn't come out. Just put drill bit far enough in drill to make sure it didn't hit wheel

How to do I fix the little metal piece underneath the wheel to make it spark, it looks work down or chipped , it’s a vintage lighter , can that be replace or is the lighter ruined ?

I have a 1957-1958 zippo Slim it's still functional but it has the original wick is it safe to use.And the other question how can you tell the difference between 1957-1958 zippo Slim because they have the same date code.Thank you for your time

Yesterday I found I a Zippo stored in my dresser. It was a friend's gift in 2007. The lighter doesn't work since then. I tried to repair without success in those years. Today I watched this video and I understood what is going on with my zippo. My zippo is working time to smoke. Life is changing.

Vintage Zippos? Solid fuel cells installed in some 60s Zippos I guess. Felt pads from 50s and 60s Zippos are more prone to getting torn in time when not handled with finesse but seem to do a better job in preventing fuel evaporation than the new more durable felt pads. Also had a fight with a powderized 50-year old flint stuck in the tube. Just some pliers, a drill bit, and a lot of persistence and patience would do the job.

I collect lighters but I'm so new at it. If I've found a table lighter that doesn't work, is it likely that I can fix them? How difficult is it to find the parts needed usually?

Drill bit works good to clean flint tube

Replica mean a modern copy of a previous model. Some retailers on ebay make it sound like Original. But, the word REPLICA might mean the Camel Logo and not the lighter. Haven't been able to determine which.

Please sue the company that stole your audio!!!!!!