What's inside a Coleman lantern?

[California]

I found a sparkling-new Coleman lantern (red, single mantle, date code 3-1975) a while back. New in the box, even had the interior box padding, with a burned mantle the only evidence it was ever lighted. Today when the power went out I fueled it up and tried it out. No joy. Fuel doesn't reach the pickup pipe unless I lay it over horizontal for a moment. Then when I right it, it runs for a minute then is starved for fuel again. (The pump, cleaning needle handle, good pressure, everything, all work like new.)

Looking into the filler cap I see the copper pickup tube but nothing more.

Isn't there supposed to be a cotton wick below the pickup tube?

This is the first time I've looked inside one in many years. My previous Coleman appliances have been dead reliable, no need to putter with them.

Does anybody know what should be inside, and how to correct this one?

 

[tommu56]

does it pump up and hold pressure?

There isn't a lot to them the generator is the usual problem and I think the new ones don't have the little crank handle to clean the orifice.

Make sure you pump it up at least 25 or 30 pumps it should get hard to pump at that point don't forget to turn the pump to close the valve in the bottom

manual
http://www.behringer24.de/downloads/coleman-200a-owners-manual.pdf

T/S link

Troubleshooting a Gas Lantern


tom

 

[California]

Thanks Tommu.

This one pumps up well. The generator and orifice are clear. Cranking the cleaning handle chokes off the sound with the handle at top but allows it at every other position, so that is working normally.

I can hear air (not fuel) go through the generator and into the mantle but it won't light. Then after tipping it for a moment I hear fuel go through (because the pickup was submerged) and it lights properly. But it will run out of fuel and go out if I don't tip it and submerge that pickup pipe again, about every 30-60 seconds.

I suspect there is a cotton wick missing between the fuel intake pipe, and the fuel in the tank.

I looked at the manual you referenced, and that's exactly how I've operated these for 50+ years.

That troubleshooting guide shows

Problem -- Culprit

Can't build good pressure -- Pump plunger assembly
Won't maintain good pressure -- Filler cap gasket
Won't light at all -- Generator
Lights, then goes right out -- Pressure, generator
Burns weak or intermittently, pulses -- Generator
Dim or yellow light -- Air system

... and the teardown procedures to remedy these problems.

BTDT. I field-stripped my stove and lanterns back in the 70's when unleaded auto fuel became available, and I tried using it. Too many additives! I cleaned and then replaced the generators in all my Coleman stuff to get them working again. I have also occasionally torn them down to clear spider nests out of the air tubes.

But none of what he mentions describes what I am experiencing - the need to tip the lantern to make it pick up fuel.


I got rid of my Coleman-fuel gear and went to propane when the Forest Service prohibited liquid fuel during high fire danger season, up where I have a mining claim. But this little model 200 was so pretty I couldn't pass it up. First time I have seen anything Coleman that doesn't work properly right out of the box.

 

[tommu56]

Ill be the pick up tube rusted through or broke off just as a guess you can pull valve out of tank and check that.

Ive made a repair to them with some model air plane fuel hose and a klunk just get the type hose for gas big enough to slide over the drop pipe and slide the klunk in the hose .

tom

 

[California]

Ill bet the pick up tube rusted through or broke off

Good idea. That is something I can check.

Looking into the tank it is immaculate, but I thought I recalled in the past seeing a wad of something to draw fuel up to the pickup tube, presumably by capillary action.

Since the pickup doesn't go down far enough to reach the top of the fuel, if there isn't a wick then maybe it just picks up vapor?

 

[Phils]

It may be that the reason it only had a burned mantle is that it actually DIDN'T work right out of the box. Therefore you may be looking to repair a manufacturing defect.

As I remember there is a hole ~halfway up the generator that does the "wicking action" you mention. Vapor would enter there and suck up some additional fuel? I've NEVER seen cotton wicking inside the gas lanterns or stoves, and I still use both.

Years ago, I had (still have) a lantern that didn't work (one of the old chrome ones). I didn't understand how they worked but during experimentation, closed off the hole I mentioned above. DON'T DO THAT. Yes, you'll get "light" from the flames that appear when pure gas starts being forced up the generator tube. ;-)

Phil

 

[California]

It may be that the reason it only had a burned mantle is that it actually DIDN'T work right out of the box. Therefore you may be looking to repair a manufacturing defect.

That's what I suspect.

 

[jayste]

It may be that the reason it only had a burned mantle is that it actually DIDN'T work right out of the box. Therefore you may be looking to repair a manufacturing defect.

As I remember there is a hole ~halfway up the generator that does the "wicking action" you mention. Vapor would enter there and suck up some additional fuel? I've NEVER seen cotton wicking inside the gas lanterns or stoves, and I still use both.

Years ago, I had (still have) a lantern that didn't work (one of the old chrome ones). I didn't understand how they worked but during experimentation, closed off the hole I mentioned above. DON'T DO THAT. Yes, you'll get "light" from the flames that appear when pure gas starts being forced up the generator tube. ;-)

Phil

I'm thinking like Phil. I've never seen one with a wick. Old oil lamps, yes but never a Coleman. I've got one of those old chrome one's myself. They were, and are, good lanterns when they work right.

 

[California]

Sounds like there isn't a wick. I must have been remembering the little Svea etc backpack stoves.

I'm still baffled. This thing runs fine laying on its side which submerges the pickup tube. (Except the mantle starts to sag after a while). Put upright again, it quits feeding fuel to the mantle and soon goes out - while the sound of air whistling through remains. This is with the tank 95% full and pumped up to full pressure.

 

[Western]

I have a 80-81 model, I looked in it today to see if in fact there was a "wick". Not in mine, appears to be just a pick up tube from what I can see.

In any case, your model is a "far out" (term of the time) show piece.

 

[California]

Ok, I'm convinced the pickup tube is all there is. And the pickup tube isn't designed to be submerged, because the bottom of the tube is higher than the filler opening.

So ... since it isn't submerged does this mean it always draws vapor, never liquid fuel?

Mine runs nice laying on its side with the intake tube submerged then goes out when I right it. So somehow the intake tube isn't working right.

Where do I go from here? I think Tommu is right, the pickup tube or maybe the generator is leaking air someplace and not sucking burnable vapor. It sounds like I need to locate a parts source then replace the pickup tube.

 

[irvingj]

Great discussion-- I've never taken these lanterns apart, great links!

Also, I just discovered the lantern I was given when my step-brother's uncle died (which works better than my "new" one, and I use the old one now all the time) was made in April of 1954! Other than a couple of chips in the enamel, it looks great.

I knew it was old, but not THAT old! All I had to do to it was replace the mantles and the broken glass, then added a flint sparker. Fires right up every time, and "comes up to temp" (glows brightly) much faster than my newer one.

I'll be watching this thread-- another learning moment; thanks, TBN!

 

[randy41]

I admit that I don't know crap about this but I remember i used to have a little camping stove that ran on white gas and it had to get pretty hot to draw the gas fumes up to the burner. I hated that thing.

 

[DanD78]

Does it look like this one. This is a model 200A. Also has 6-71 on the bottom of the tank. I can see a brass tube sticking down to the bottom of the tank. Havn't used this in years sense we got a camper and a generator for home.

Dan

 

[Western]

I'd try a new plunger, only a few bucks at wally world or academy sports. It may not be "atomizing" the fuel to the air properly (if this is the right process). Tipping it over may just be forcing the fuel rather than creating the vapor..

Just a thought.

 

[jayste]

I'd try a new plunger, only a few bucks at wally world or academy sports. It may not be "atomizing" the fuel to the air properly (if this is the right process). Tipping it over may just be forcing the fuel rather than creating the vapor..

Just a thought.

My thoughts as well. I think these things run on vapors. Kind of like my trucks when I was a kid!

 

[Phils]

Ok, I'm convinced the pickup tube is all there is. And the pickup tube isn't designed to be submerged, because the bottom of the tube is higher than the filler opening.

I suspect your's was manufactured with a piece missing.

It's been YEARS since I messed with my old chrome one but I'm pretty sure the bottom of the tube went nearly to the bottom of the fuel tank, with the opening I mentioned maybe 2/3 of the way up the tube. And there was an "inner" tube because that opening didn't go into the center of the tube, but just revealed a tube inside a tube.

That was at least 10 or 15 years ago that I last messed with it. I didn't understand the operation, discovered the hole in the side of the outer tube, sealed it up to "see what would happen", and immediately found out. :-o

I've made a note to find it in my garage, open it up again this weekend and explore more. I'd like to get it working. I have one gas and one propane lantern that I use a few times each year, and another would provide even more light for those evening bonfire parties.

The above comments must be tempered by more than a decade of memory degradation.

And now I gotta look to see if there's a date on the bottom!

Phil

 

[Larry Jones]

This site has parts drawings, not real good but you will get the idea.
Coleman.com - Repair and Replacement Parts -- Gas

 

[kyspartan]

Welcome to the CCF

a good site about old colemans

 

[SPIKER]

Seems we had one back in the day that did soemthing similar, I think it ended up being a spider and or rust/dirt got up into the tube, the wet fuel was enough to get into the brass tube and flood enough fuel/air gas to keep it running. if you shook it lightly (often breaking the mantle it worked for a little while... turn it on the side it worked for a min then would spit & sputter if it was left there too long and go out. either way it was a PITA...
Also how NEW/OLD is the fuel? some of them were made to run on different fuel other than white gas, kero or regular would work in the really OLD ones..

We ended up getting a propane one later after this one got worse & worse. I think it was probably Rust in ours as it set out in rain & snow as we were constantly fishing and it was in the back of the trunk/bed of truck 95% of the time.

Mark