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We inherited a Tilley lamp some years ago - forgot we had it then discovered it again in our garage some weeks ago.  We got a new service pack from Tilley and last night replaced all the springs and washers.  Put new fuel and mantle in - all ready to go.  Followed the instructions on lighting and found that it took more than 10 pumps on the initial lighting (more like about 50!), and then, despite regular pumping found that the light "pulsates".  Is this normal?  I would have hoped for a more steady light, not that it stopped us from drinking whiskey, playing cards and eating Maltesers in our back garden last night (getting in practice for first camping trip this season!).

We did continue to give regular pumps but it still pulsated.

Also - does anyone's pump plunger thing seem a bit wobbly when it is pulled out?  And what is that nipple thing on the side - a pressure release valve or something??

Any advice please - I know there are a few Tilley fans on this site (have read the previous threads)

you have probaly not allowed the vapouriser to heat up enough before you tried to ignite the paraffin, or the mantle has not seated correctly. thats two of the main reasons for the pulsing, yet they do puse a little.

We did continue to give regular pumps but it still pulsated

next time switch the lamp off then relight it using the meths to reheat the vapouriser

Also - does anyone's pump plunger thing seem a bit wobbly when it is pulled out?  And what is that nipple thing on the side - a pressure release valve or something??

yes they are as its only a shaft with a leather washer on the end to form a pump. i dont have that nipple on mine

regards als

Thanks als.  We did let the preheating torch burn until it started to go down a bit.  Then we did it agian thinking it was not preheated enough - still pulsating!  Perhaps its just how it is!

Also - something I forgot to ask on original request - what do you transport yours in - the glass seems a bit fragile to just put in the boot of the car - and there's also the risk of contaminating other stuff with the paraffin?

mine still has its original box and its kept upright at all times but hey its a pressurised unit so as long as its valves are closed it wont leak.

yes i leave the glass on and the lamp ready to use.but i do release the pressure in it

I agree with als, prime it really well before pumping.

The nipple on the side is supposed to be an indicator that pop out when the lamp has been pumped the to right pressure. They usually dont work however, and I dont think modern Tilleys have them. Tilleys dont need a pressure relief valve since they run on paraffin, but Coleman lamps, being petrol do.

There is a cleaning needle that is supposed to come out of the jet hole when the lamp is turned off, they do sometimes break off and will result in the jet getting blocked. The only way to check this is to lift the top off as if your were going to replace a mantle. The jet hole is at the top of the long thin tube that comes out of the tank.

I think you have a suspect pump leather. As you pump, the air escapes past the pump leather and by the time you finish the stroke you have lost most of it and therfore only a little bit of pressure is put into the tank, hence the amount of strokes needed to light it.

The only other thing I can think of is that has not already been mentioned is the needle in the control cock. They can sometimes become blocked which causes the light to dim, this is what you do. After you have had it alight for a while and it is nice and hot, very quickly switch it off and straight back on, it should light back up instantly, if it dont make any difference do it a couple of times in succession.

I would bet on it being the pump leather though.

Picked up an old Tilley lamp at local market/car boot this morning. It has a brown top cover and therefore, from what I can gather from other websites, it's probably a pre 1960 x246 storm lamp. It's in bits for renovation on the table in the spare room at the moment. Everything appears to be present, only problem is that it does not appear to be holding pressure (pump working effectively - little pressure button comes to top of housing after about 30 pumps, but all pressure leaks out somewhere after about 2 hours). Also needs new mantle and lighter. Will get new set of seals to hopefully cure pressure problem. If it doesn't I'll be back on here for advice.

Only paid £12 for it, so a bit of a bargain.

Breezy 

Quote: Originally posted by Breezeblock on 16/05/2004

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Picked up an old Tilley lamp at local market/car boot this morning. It has a brown top cover and therefore, from what I can gather from other websites, it's probably a pre 1960 x246 storm lamp.

The 246s can be dated roughly based on the shape and type of the wire frame (thats protecting the glass globe)

If the verticals of the wire frame are complety straight, its one of the early 60s or younger ones, then the bottom of the frame where it attaches to the tank had a slight bend, and later still they dropped the bolt fitting to the tank and welded the bottom of the frame to a plate (the modern style)

Will get new set of seals to hopefully cure pressure problem. If it doesn't I'll be back on here for advice.

Dont forget the seal on the tap stem, not unknown for those to leak, spares should be in the kit.

Only paid £12 for it, so a bit of a bargain.

For sure.

These lamps will probably run for ever. Cant think of many thing where spares are still avaialble for something that is 60 years or more old.  

Stu, no number on base, or anywhere else for that matter, just 'TILLEY' the owl emblem 'ENGLAND' on the side and 'MADE IN ENGLAND' with a letter 'T' stamped above it on the bottom. Verticals of wire frame are straight, and, as they were rusty, I've cleaned them with wire wool and sprayed them with black hammerite. Base is gold but well worn and scratched, will give that the same treatment and spray gold again. I think glass is new because, considering the state of the rest of the lamp, there are no marks/scratches or soot residue. 

The seal on the tap stem?  Which one is that?  Is it the one left over after all the obvious ones have been fitted?

Breezy

Well this is good news to me ,I didnt know people still used these lamps ,and I have two of them in my shed ones a Tilly the other is some other make ,name escapes me but will have a look tomorrow,must check them out and maybe advertise them on this site . What are they worth in good fettle?

Tone

Tone, don't think they're worth an awful lot... tend to see a few on ebay. Just that it's nice to have a piece of 'good old English' engineering... proof enough that it has stood the test of time and only needs replacement of perishable seals and a mantle and it will probably work just as good as it did over 44 years ago!

Wonder how many lamps made today will still be working in 40 years time?

Breezy 

Tone

If they've been in your shed for years, then they won't be in good fettle!

Doesn't mean you can't them running though, although you might struggle for parts for the non-Tilley one though. As someone suggested earlier Base Camp is an excellent site, and you may find some information there.

Mark