Coleman Lanterns : The most common problem I run into.

[@funpolice8128]

Yessssss!!!!! Once you get the bug…. Man it’s hard to stop. There is no better satisfaction than finding one of these gems for like $5 at a garage sale and getting it running again.

[@ralphh4131]

That was me today

[@stacyboots1818]

I saved two lanterns from the dump that were in one box. One is a 200a marked 8 59 and a 228d nickel tank. Both are completely full of mud wasp nests. Now I know what to do with them! I promise these neat old lanterns will live again! That 228d is about 70 years old? Not garbage!!! Thanks brother

[@515kittybear]

Thank you for teaching me how to take my 1975 lantern apart and do maintenance on it. My problem ended up being a faulty generator, but I I would never had had the nerve to tackle a flaming gas object without your video! This 60 year old lady has it working again!

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thank you! If you ever need any more help on these, just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

[@hammeredscout]

Wiggy's Wilderness Great video. I have a problem pressurizing the tank. First pump with my thumb over the hole it feels like it already has 20 or 50 psi. even with the filler cap off. With my thumb off the hole it slides in and out freely. The gasket is not torn and is oiled. Any clues?

[@fl5966]

@@hammeredscout When that happens to mine it's that I don't have the actual pump part unscrewed enough, which is one full turn. I like to try to cheat so I don't have as much to tighten after it's pumped up. I know it's an old comment, but it might help someone just seeing this video.

[@COWARTDO]

Sir, I watched half of the video and took apart my model 288…..clogged up….. Cleaned out and worked perfectly Thanks

[@jaycimbak7781]

thank you! I wanted to use my lantern last night while stacking wood but it lit but then shut right down. I am going to try what you showed and I'll let you know how I made out!

[@thomasgibbons353]

Thumbs UP for sure. I'm going thru this with my model 290 came with the red shroud cover and hasn't been out for yrs. and yrs. I'm grateful I found you, your presentation is so thorough. Thank you.

[@SCWgreg]

Very handy video. Thank you. I have the one my parents bought when I was born... 57 years ago. I’m more concerned it’s not holding pressure, but I’ll start here, and see where that gets me.

[@keithisom5557]

Outstanding job making this procedure so simple!

[@mikemorgan5015]

Good video. Damn wasps!! They're a very common problem if you have to store your lanterns where insects can get to them. I had refurbished an OLD 1940s Coleman 2 burner stove that had been in storage for decades. It had the cast iron burners. Got it looking almost like new and when I fired it up, no soup for me! Big yellow flames. I had cleaned the generator inside an out, disassembled and cleaned the valve and fuel/air tube, and derusted the outside of the burner casting, so it had to be an air obstruction. Sure enough, there were literally thousands of tiny desiccated spider skeletons in the casting. There were dirt dauber nests in the case when I got it. I was told that those little spiders are the favorite delicacy of dirt daubers and they will cache them near their nests. Wasp experts please feel free to comment on this. I've seen them in lanterns and stoves before, but not in that quantity. Love the old fuel fired camping stuff.

[@jimharrow8104]

Just got my first Colman lantern & You were right about cleaning it... Thanks a lot... Great video...

[@BKTX]

This is exactly what I was looking for to help me refurb a Coleman 220J that barely pressurized on my last trip years ago. Thank you, Wiggy.

[@Dangbo3030]

Great video! Also they need to be oiled where the pump plunger is. The packing washer will dry out and cause it to not hold pressure. Just a light 3n1 oil or penetrating oil. I found it out on my Coleman stove. Luckily I didn't have to buy a new one.

[@StinkFingerr]

White grease works well, on the leather pump seal.

[@billybrand]

I love those old lanterns. I light up the outside of the camp and it also works as a bug zapper for blackflies and muskitos. I will have a look to see if it needs cleaning.

[@MadisonImages]

Great video and thanks for sharing it! I just bought the 220J today at a garage sale for $5 and can hardly wait to pull it apart - no surprises now thanks to your great video!

[@vernonlong4936]

Thanks for this video. Our family is camping with Coleman lanterns that don't work- going now to look for bugnests.

[@ralphwatten2426]

Slotted screw. From now on every time I hear "flat head screw driver" I'm going to say "slotted screw driver" in every video I watch. And I watch a lot of videos. Nice concise video. I have that exact lantern. I haven't used it for 5 years. Thanks for posting.

[@billiewright7532]

Good video on teardown and what to look for. I bought a 1971 military lantern today. I was surprised at all the mantles ,generators, and leather pump cups that come with them

[@Ken-gk8rt]

Thank You Sir. I was given the exact model you were using in the video. I knew nothing about them and it did not function correctly at. After following your video and cleaning it. It works the way it should. Thanks for the upload and showing us how this is as simple as you made it seem. Thanks Again..

[@ArthurBrinkman-c5z]

Great video thanks! I have an old lantern from the 60's. It's been in my fathers garage for decades unused. Tried to light it and failed. I'm going to tackle it now with your help and hope I can get it to run! Thanks again! Brian

[@walieloeg3511]

And, did you get it to run again?

[@OldManJimmy1]

Thanks for the video, I have many of these and have never taken them apart this far for repairs.

[@Krankie_V]

Thanks for showing how the 220K comes apart. There aren't a lot of videos out on this specific one. I've got one that needs to come apart and be cleaned and painted because it's quite rusted.

[@brianperkins6121]

As a side note Dirt Daubers are one of core reasons aircraft experience instrument failure as they love to build nests that obstruct the Pitot tubes (Used to read the aircraft's critical air speed) those wasps "and pilot procedure error" are responsible for the crash into the ocean of Birgen Air Flight 301. Dirt wasps and spiders also love to plug up the venturi air mixing inlet tubes of just about any gas appliance.

[@jamessmith9107]

Fantastic video, thanks for sharing. I've been around Coleman products for well over 50 years, I own a couple of the series that you portrayed in the video, and have always found them to be reliable. While I have never encountered anything like you did, I now feel confident that I could tackle almost any problem that I might encounter with them. Thanks again.

[@circlet58]

Great video and really cool on how to clean and fix what was once an unusable lantern. Thanks for sharing.

[@romang9629]

I got my lamp I bought for $25 running because of this video. My problem was a stopped up generator. 09/90 was when my 288A700 lamp was made. Its burning bright again! Thank you friend.

[@WiggysWilderness]

Glad you got it running again and it was an easy fix!

[@skateness]

Thanks for the very informative video. I bought my first lantern today and have no idea how to use it. After watching your video I feel like I’m ready to give it a try.

[@jedidiah5131]

All my years in the Infantry and they never taught us the IA's and stoppages or strip and assembly of theses lanterns and we used them all the time....They actually worked very well ,no issues....I bought one last year didn't use it and yup its not working, ghost flame and there's a sweet spot for the burner knob but it will only burn good for about 30 secs.... I will go over the cleaning procedures again....Great video...

[@jamesway5707]

Great info ! I was recently given a bunch of old Colemans from a friend. Never thought to check the burner assemblies, I was more focused on just generators. Thanks for the tips and awesome play by play as you were working on the lantern !

[@oleboy4332]

Great video and very detailed! Just bought a 1966 228F. I’ll be doing the same soon now

[@jimmyr.linarez9556]

Thank you so much because of this video, my father in He died 7 years ago and left a lamp of these, was abandoned in an old house for 22 years without being used. Thanks to your video I restored it. It works great, I only have one more problem, and the light lasted 3 or 4 minutes nothing more, even after having pumped 25 or 30 times, when I removed the fuel cap, I still had air pressure. My best wishes from Honduras.

[@bendent9002]

I could not have checked out a better informative video on and exact lantern you have here! I do not understand why folk actually hit the thumbs down on video's like this one. For some reason people just cant help getting BUTTHURT on good video's! Its has to be either sellers of these items or just "professional repairmen" that do not like missing out out money from folks wanting to DIY it. Well all I can say to all them BUTTHURT whiners. Its a DIY world and get over it. Great vid. Keep up the good work.

[@phz58]

Very nice job in explaining every detail. Some videos make assumptions or skip something. You showed every step of the way. Will try and see how it works out. I replaced by generator and it still didn't work right. I see there is more to it than that.

[@randallrun]

I agree a good video, but he DID omit the insertion of the generator needle back into the generator tube. Wondering how to get that human hair sized needle back into the tiny jet. Seems easy, but mine won’t quite go, and don’t want to bend it.

[@michaelj5463]

I enjoyed that. Been around Coleman stuff all my long life, without knowing about their internal design. Well done video!

[@ashevillegeorge3316]

Nice job! Please do a video with the REASSEMBLY. To me, that is always the hardest part.

[@donaldn6734]

Wiggy excellent video! Looking forward to cleaning my lantern that has been in storage for years.

[@denisgiguere1600]

Hi , today i bought a 335 and the lamp blew up in my face 4 times before i give up and decide to Watch some utube video who can help to identify the cause and finally, i found about 20 flys stuck in the top of the burner(lol) now i am happy and the lamp, who look like new, is bright as the sun. I am very impress of the quality of the light that lantern produce, unbeliveble !!!

[@charlesmurray1220]

Excellent Sir. Exactly my lantern's problem. Hoping a clean-up will remedy the ghost flame. Thank you much.

[@Journeyman-Fixit]

I love my old Coleman lanterns, thanks for the helpful video. I guess having a nice case to keep my lantern in would be a good idea as well. Thumbs up!

[@reyscottm9]

Thank you so much for this video. I removed and cleaned the generator, but still no air flow. I am confident that there is probably some deeper cleaning ahead. We have plenty of wasps and dabbles in Texas, too. I bet that's the problem since this lantern worked flawlessly last year. Thanks again!

[@WiggysWilderness]

If you take the generator out and pump it up and crack the valve and turn the cleaning lever, and you're not getting fuel flowing out of the valve body where the generator was, then you probably have a plugged fuel air tube. If you take off the frame, burner, and knob, you can put the valve body in a vice and turn the tank like a steering wheel to get the valve body out, the fuel air tube will be on the bottom and should thread off of the valve body easily. There will be a spring and needle in there, those should drop out and then you can clean the tube with some carb cleaner and compressed air. If you get get fuel flowing from where the generator was, then the problem is probably a plugged burner assembly, probably a bug nest in the mixing chamber in the upper part of the burner tubes. Hope this helps!

[@reyscottm9]

Definitely have good flow up to generator, but alas, everything is clean. Time to replace the generator, methinks. Thanks for the hospitality thus far.

[@WiggysWilderness]

Oh yeah, if you're getting fuel from the valve body and the burner tube and mixing chamber are clean, the generator is the problem. They're good for about 100 hours of use or so. They can be rebuilt if you have the stuff, but it's usually just easier to buy another one. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@mustang774]

Very good video. Great demonstration of how to take apart and clean. I have an old lantern that I want to clean. Thanks for posting this.......Take care, Bluefin.

[@MrSIXGUNZ]

I always learn something and amazed how bugs can get in !!

[@WiggysWilderness]

Crazy all the spots they end up, huh? After all I've seen, if I stored a lantern out in a shed or barn, I'd be terrified to reach for it if I needed it, lol.

[@MrSIXGUNZ]

hahaha yah me too lol !!

[@ThomasWakefield-nj8gm]

I know this was awhile ago. Thanks so much for taking the time to explain everything. Step by step. It really helps for a newbe.. Some people just say. This is what I did and people go. What? So thanks for taking the time.

[@fl5966]

Thanks for posting this, you have a great way of presenting the information to make it interesting and clear.

[@borfishing7690]

Great video. My deceased FIL has 5 of these style lanterns. Looks like a fun project for me to do. Thanks for posting this video.

[@WiggysWilderness]

Something about these gas pressure lanterns always inspires a great sense of nostalgia. They're generally pretty easy to work on, and many parts are still available for them online.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I get mine from OldColemanParts.com up in Washington State. He has BUNCHES!

[@haledragon1]

Awesome video! Very detailed you know what you are talking about. Thanks a lot for the update! I'll try cleaning mine tomorrow, I got the same one!

[@bobvires9650]

Your videos are very helpful, thank you!

[@robertmauldin4987]

Enjoyed the video Wiggy. Had same problem with a 1987 model 288a700. Running good now!

[@HiVizCamo]

Great upload, many thanks. Id love to find an oldie like this, ours are "this century", and really not the same.

[@breaktofreedom]

Thanks Wiggy, great and helpful as ever. I'm going to go and dig my Coleman out and give it a clean - just to be sure!

[@JREACHER1954]

Great video Wiggy, thanks for posting. I have 2 - 228J's that I bought new in the late 70's and thought were a lost cause so I recently purchased a couple of dual fuel models as replacements. I decided to try and salvage them and broke mine down as you did but forgot to check the burner assembly. Doh! Got them both working but one is a bit problematic when trying to light it. Will have to double check for spiders and such. Wouldn't have thought about that one piece had I not watched your vid. Too bad I didn't run across this before my purchase. On the plus side, I now have four. :>)

[@WiggysWilderness]

I'd rather not say how many I have, lol... They have a way of multiplying.

[@tomreyes4908]

Thanks for posting. I will have to go to my lanterns and check the vent hole where the spider webs were. I rebuilt the lantern, but never checked there. Good catch..Thanks again!

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thanks for watching and commenting! The lantern videos are getting more popular at the moment, must be everyone out camping and fishing!

[@billyboy8919]

Nice tutorial. I find the gun cleaning rod too stiff for the bends in the tubes, but a plastic zip tie works well. The best tool for this, however, is an old trumpet cleaning brush.

[@lindanwfirefighter4973]

Wait! I was suppose to clean my trumpet? 😳

[@stevenjohnson5197]

Does it have to be an old one? 🙄

[@aslmx8320]

Great video. I just found a 220 in my shop that I forgot I had. Probably been in a box for 25years. Gonna clean it and get it going again.

[@mokhan4748]

Thanks for the great video. It did help and I was able to repair my 220F lantern.

[@dirtyoldman3579]

Very clear and concise. Excellent video!!

[@PapajosTraders]

Love those old lanterns, thanks for the great informative vid!

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

I wanted to add the last time I went on a long trip and I didn't have any place the store the globe I took and put silicone Sealant, just very small dabs to keep the glass from rattling around. It has worked because I've used my Lantern twice in a power outages and the silicone is still holding. The silicone can be broken away very easily.

[@youtuberAstar]

Thank you for taking the time to educate us. Very informative and well put together video. Most appreciated. AAAAA++++++. Gerard, Christchurch, New Zealand

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thanks! I always heard the older Coleman lanterns were hard to find down there, that Petromax and Tilley's were more popular.

[@youtuberAstar]

Agreed, Tilley's are the most popular, however there are lots of Coleman's here too. I prefer the Coleman. Thanks again. :)

[@jeffheigl1850]

Thanks for teaching this Ol'Dog a new trick!

[@monty2020-i5d]

My 1974 Colman lantern= no problem used almost every year, will be used next summer.

[@jimsmith5756]

I just got a 74 that needs some TLC, thanks for your video I am getting ready to tear into it now.

[@PedalBikerUK]

I have two Coleman dual fuel lanterns, a 295 model I've had for a good while which seems to work fine and I recently acquired a 290 model which is the one I'm having problems with. The issue is that I cannot seem to pressurize the tank and therefore it just doesn't light properly or if it does just about get going it soon stops! I reckoned that the likely issue was a loss of pressure at either the filler cap (losing pressure) or the pump end not working properly (not gaining pressure). To try to narrow things down with the parts being interchangeable between the lanterns I decided to swap the pump and the filler cap from the good lantern to the bad lantern to see if this cured it, if it did I could then work out which component was faulty. Yes, you've guessed, swapping these components, both of which must be good because they work on the other lantern, the second lantern will still not come up to pressure :-( Where do I go from here? Can you give me any advice, please? Thank you!

[@arwenpendragon5970]

Thanks, very informative, clear explanation and I can clean the one arriving in a few days bid won at Ebay

[@Romin.777]

:)) Have one sitting around for years, never used it. Probably a good idea to take it apart first. Thanks.

[@wyattsdad8561]

Dude this is a really good video Thank you for making it.

[@wyattsdad8561]

I’m having trouble with one of my older Coleman lanterns. I have two oldies and one newer one that is a dual fuel. One of my older ones doesn’t seem to build up the correct amount of pressure. I just changed the leather pump cup and it didn’t make a difference in building pressure. I swapped caps from my other one that works perfectly and that didn’t fix it either. Do you have any suggestions on what I could try next? Thanks man I appreciate it.

[@karyleemontour9261]

Thank you so much for this great video! I am ready to tackle the project!

[@paulcapps6909]

Very educational, People can learn so much if they want to. .?

[@OttoMatieque]

thanks for the info - I have a liquid fuel Coleman lantern that is not working well I will take it apart like you did and see if it working well again.

[@usmcscout0311]

Well, I asked a question on your newer video but after watching this one I think I can figure it out.

[@pyromaniac1491]

Pretty cool. I find all kinds of stuff in Lanterns. Spiders, webs, bees nest ect. I got quite a few myself.

[@erdh407]

thnx for the video just what i needed to clean the coleman.

[@Mikeywatches]

Cool vid really neat to have real world examples like you did nice work

[@davidhazlett5656]

Thanks! great helpful video. I just got an 80's 200A and your video really helped me out!

[@LarryGenePate]

Great video,thanks ,you showed me what was wrong with mine,Thanks a million!! Larry Gene Pate

[@MFC1029]

Great video! I just bought an used one that needs to go to the same cleaning process. The model is 228H but I can't find information about what model mantle it uses. Will appreciate some guidance here. Again, great video!

[@WiggysWilderness]

That'll be the standard #21 mantle. Sometimes called the 21A.

[@chrischiampo7647]

Thanks You Saved My Ass on The Disassembly 😀👍🏼😊

[@tsdelaney]

Thank you! I haven't had this issue, but I now know exactly where to look!!!

[@Ketterling55]

Thank you so much!!! Very informative.

[@Icanhasautomaticcheeseburger]

Had the exact same problem with my Coleman Road Trip propane grill, too.

[@infectedmonkey4827]

Great video buddy thank you saved my Coleman!

[@442olds3]

I have used hair spray on the mantles, prior to the 1st burn. This toughens them for longer life.

[@stevenjones7693]

I have a 1978 Coleman 220J. After watching your video I disassembled, cleaned and re-assembled as shown. I did have to replace the generator as the small wire pin broke off. FYI: when everything is did-assembled I can hear gas after I pumped the tank, turned on the gas and move the cleaner crank. Problem is it still will not light as if gas is not making it to the bulbs. Ideas?

[@krazmokramer]

GREAT VIDEO!!! I have a NEW, NEVER USED 10/71 220F on hold at a local antique store. Original cardboard box and all literature inside tan Coleman envelope included. The only thing wrong is that cleanout mechanism doesn't turn. Anyone have any ideas what it might be? I'm hoping it is something easy. This video will surely be helpful with the disassembly. THANK YOU for this video!!

[@geoffrobert8818]

Great video. Thanks, you'll help a lot of people

[@tnhillbillyo5695]

nice video, you would never think a spider would get in there, very interesting very informative. thanks wiggly! waiting on big buck down video lol

[@WiggysWilderness]

I guess the spiders had plenty of dirt dobbers and wasps to eat, lol.

[@tnhillbillyo5695]

why,why,why was you not in the woods this morning?? just asking lol. it's to hot and not to mention snake's🐍 and those little blood suckers👹 lol

[@WiggysWilderness]

I tried but the mosquitoes flew me back to the truck, lol. In all seriousness though, it's going to be too hot today, if you hit one and had to give it a little while to expire, it would be full of fly eggs and bacteria before you could get it back to the truck. Plus I have to work tonight. It's supposed to cool down this week though, if the temps drop about 10 degrees I'll be out there!

[@roberthodge2771]

Use the brush collection for cleaning tubes in a kitchen brush set as they go frim about 5/16- 1-1/4" for about $5.

[@roberthodge2771]

Use a old speaker magnet to hold those screws or a bar magnet.

[@roberthodge2771]

High temp exhaust paint for a car will stop rust reforming maybe?

[@danremmers9709]

WIggy, thank-you for the video. I have a lamp that is likely 60+ years old -- i remember it being used in the late 50's and 60's when my family camped. It still works, but thanks to your video it will get a good cleaning this year. I did note the top has some rust on the inside. Any suggestions for that?

[@jsjoe66]

Great Video! Just have a question about cleaning the tank and how to best store these lanterns for a long time?

[@savage_beast_sp4768]

Wiggy!!! I shot a doe yesterday opening day with my samick sage! Thank you so much for advising me to buy it. Although i never found the doe (yet) and it ducked so i hit a little high, i'm pretty sure its screweed cuz i believe i got a lung. THX AGAIN

[@WiggysWilderness]

Good job! If you didn't push the deer, you've got a good chance of finding it today. Let me know how it turns out!

[@savage_beast_sp4768]

Wiggy's Wilderness sadly right after i shot her there was a flash flood kinda storm so i never got to track the blood and where she ran there is tons of brush and a corn field and i believe i only took out one lung so a little disappointed! I feel horrible for waisting the meat but atleast i can say i killed a deer with a recurve

[@WiggysWilderness]

Man I hate to hear that about the flood but things happen. The next one will probably go smoother. Even the greats like Fred Bear lost one from time to time. I watched the video a couple times, it's hard to get a feel for the angles and how much penetration you got, but I'd say that was a deadly shot. Just like you said, a little high due to the deer ducking at the sound of the shot.

[@savage_beast_sp4768]

Wiggy's Wilderness yeah very disappointing but stuff happens- this is the first big game animal thats ever gotten away from me and oh i got my arrow back too and it got about 15 inches of blood up the shaft

[@BretChilcott]

Good job on the video! Thank you!

[@kendarnell]

I'm a new subscriber and love your videos! Please keep them coming!

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thanks for subscribing! I'm trying to film some hunting videos now, but the deer aren't cooperating yet, lol.

[@tn.timbushcraft6850]

Very helpful video brother, thank you!

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thanks bro! I appreciate it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Captain_Char]

the spider problems we have on the BBQ burners every year, I flush em out with a blowtorch and then some compressed air

[@bammbamm12]

Couldn't get that nut off the generator tube - it was so tight I was afraid of breaking something. (used the liquid wrench, etc. - no dice).

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

It's sometime in the future I want to get one of the pressurized kerosene lanterns that sounds intriguing

[@avineshsahayam9823]

Very informative. Thanks for the upload

[@williamzee7748]

Why not put your unit in plastic bag when not in use to keep insects out? 🤔

[@mattgeo1545]

Great video. I love my Colemans and use one even now that my grandfather used when I lived in Alaska from the 60's. I currently have a check valve problem and the tank won't hold pressure....suggestions?

[@WiggysWilderness]

Check valve problems are very common with old lanterns that haven't been used in many years. Usually they're just dirty and a good cleaning will bring them right back to life. Unfortunately, I've never been able to really clean one fully without using a check valve removal tool to completely take the valve out, and that tool is pretty expensive. Usually if the tank isn't holding pressure, the first culprit I look for is the fount cap gasket. Those are fairly easy to swap out and can be ordered from Old Coleman Parts (along with the check valve tool if they're in stock). If it has the old three piece fount cap, many people feel safer replacing it with a newer single piece cap to further ensure that it won't leak, but that's up to you. You might also check out the Coleman Collector's Forum, the guys on there can walk you through any repair on just about any lantern you have!

[@davidsaunders7612]

I have to many of the old lanterns,around 10 ,,,6 of which work,,,one thing I have never heard mentioned is add a little fuel injector cleaner to the fuel,I have had lanterns that were very noisy that after around 30 minutes run time with the injector cleaner are as quiet as a mouse

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

I haven't known the bugs to get in to the area of the mantles, I think the area that I was talking about screening off was the area of the air or the oxygen part of the air has to go through in order to supply because there are tubes that allow air and fuel Vapors to pass through