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Only recently reconditioned the Tilley lamp (pre 1960, £12 from local Sunday market/boot sale) and, after fitting new seals, it holds the pressure and seems to work perfectly.  Will wait until I have any problems before giving it the WD40 treatment.

Breezy

OK, just been in garden to test Coleman lamp in the dark, much brighter than it was.  WD40 seems to have cured the problem.

Breezy

Quote: Originally posted by Breezeblock on 11/09/2004

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Just a thought, does the Tilley lamp suffer the same generator problems and, if so, would the same treatment be a benefit?

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Interesting point, tilley generators do die .

I suppose the best way of finding out would be to get a knackered tilley generator tube, cut it open, and see what it is that causes the problem.

Offers anyone ? 

Stu, depends on how long the generator works before 'dying'... could be a long wait... especially taking into consideration how long the lamps we have now have lasted!  Suppose it's not possible to tell if a lamp still has it's original tube.

Breezy

The inside of a Tilley generator tube (Vapouriser in Tilley-speak) does get clagged up. It is carbon, caused by the hot tube converting the paraffin as it travels through.

There are various methods of cleaning - See the "Tilley Lamps" thread in this forum from last month. One thing that definitely does work is a "sonicator" - an ultrasound bath. Jewellers and other places have these, including some garages. They literally break up the debris and allow it to fall off.

Best thing since sliced bread is a Tilley! - I suppose a Coleman might come a close second

Hi Wozzer, I've found the Coleman lamp very convenient, economical and it gives a very good light.  It's used mainly when I go night fishing.  Not yet used the Tilley since reconditioning apart from firing it up in the back garden.

Must say that comparing the two the Tilley looks and feels far more robust and even though it is 44+ years old I'm sure it will outlast the Coleman which is only two years old.  One main thing I have noticed is that the mantle looks far more substantial than the two of the Coleman.  I've had a lot of problems with the Coleman mantles this year and have used six sets already compared to only one set all last year.  I have wondered whether Coleman have shipped over a 'bad batch' this year.

Breezy

Hi Breezy,

I have never used a coleman, but can tell you that my tilley regularly goes caravanning with us, including across the continent. Only once in 5 years have I had to replace a mantle due to "travel damage" - They usually survive being rattled about either in the back of the estate car or (more usually) in the front locker of the caravan. - I carry it in it's original cardboard box!

I have two tilleys, one I bought from and "antiques shop" which is over 25 years old (and is my favourite) and another, newer one. Both are lasting well and I suspect, will outlast me!

Wozzer, I was really lucky in finding my Tilley.  Sunday morning market at Long Marston, near Stratford Upon Avon, a couple of mates of mine had already walked past this lamp but failed to notice it.  I spotted it amongst a load of other old and rusty junk from the back of some old blokes shed.... but it the base had been painted a yucky gold/brown colour and there was a lot of surface rust on the frame and handle so it was easy to miss.  It already had a new glass fitted and the asking price was £12.  Tried to knock the price down a bit obviously, but as the seller said a new glass is around £7 so it was a real bargain at £12.

Stripped it down completely, cleaned all the paint off the brass tank, and polished it back to somewhere near its former glory, and cleaned all the rust off the wire frame with wire wool and painted with hammerite (doesn't seem to be affected by the heat but may have to repaint at a later date with some heat resistant paint).  New set of seals, it now holds the pressure well, and new mantle.  Don't yet have a proper heater for it but fired it up once using a mates small blow torch on the generator tube.  Worked perfectly.  Must get a proper heater for it to do the job properly.

Well pleased.

Breezy

Sorry to come in so late but one of the best cleaning soloutions for any petrol stoves / lanterns is carb-injector cleaner, This can be found in most pound shops or halfords. Belive me it is very effective, I was always amazed at just how it dissolved the "varnish" and muck in car fule systems.

B T W I clean the fule system on our renault every montwith just a quick squirt and the on bord comp has never given mpg fig. of less than 45. when you think about it the amount of gunge that forms in stoves ect. with an anual through put of a few pints it makes you think what must build up in the car at around 500 gallons a year

Mick

Guys

4 tips for Unleaded fuel stoves

• Use the best quality fuel you can find
• Filter Filter Filter!
• Pump the recommended number of times. When you think you've put in enough pressure - put in a little more
• When the generator is blocked.......buy a new one - theyre about £10

Quote: Originally posted by Andyn999 on 20/02/2005

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4 tips for Unleaded fuel stoves

Use the best quality fuel you can find

How do you tell ?

 Filter Filter Filter!

With what, I filteed the unleaded fuel on my Coleman stove and it blocked aftrer 5 fills.

When the generator is blocked.......buy a new one - theyre about £10

Stove cost me £28, new generator after 5 fills of fuel cost me £19.

Quote: Originally posted by PaulDG on 21/02/2005

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Stuart,

Stove cost me £28, new generator after 5 fills of fuel cost me £19.

Was that a new stove, Stuart? Am I reading this right that a £28 stove needed £19 of spares after only 5 fills of fuel?

That's rather putting me off my idea of buying a Coleman!

     

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Correct, after I ran it on unleaded petrol, although I suppose I could have taken it back and complained. .

It seems that if you run it on unleaded petrol at anything less than full blast the generator tubes clog PDQ.

I posted some pictures a few weeks back, I cut the generator tube in half to see what the problem was.