Light Up: Petromax Rapid

[@gerrycastlemanwarde5933]

Best description relating to the Petromax I have seen!

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Thanks Gerry! I looked around and found a several bad Petromax videos, but not one that was comprehensive. I might look into making a much shorter condensed one...a "quick start guide" if you will.

[@baginatora]

Great tip about the pump adapter. I have a Petromax 826 and had trouble starting it. Now I just have to find that pump adapter.

[@TonyM540]

That vid is a great help. I just got a rapids 828 & going to try it out. That info about the spacing is good as I haven’t come across it before.

[@TonyM540]

I got mine running……with your help and advice. Thanks. I think the one I bought hadn’t been lit ( properly )before although there was some soot in the chimney and some soot on the outside at the very top. Very little. I think the previous owner tried to light it and had a fireball hence the soot on top and on the outside of chimney. The bowl or dish for the white spirit is missing so the option for a soft start isn’t there. Mine came with original box, tools & spares and brochures. It’s dated as 1966 as far as I can tell and lit fairly easily once I read the brochure and followed your advice ie to turn the pressure down a little…….all good advice and really helped. Once again…thanks.

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Hey, that's great to hear! I saw that most of the Petromax videos online were missing important info, so that's why I made the video. It's long, but should answer just about every question you might have. The preheat cup is available from britelyt, if you really want one. I just use the torch. :)

[@bigferd4534]

Those Petromax 829’s and Aida Record 1500’s are a treat to work on and light up!! If you don’t receive the fuel knob/wheel, let me know. I’ve got a spare laying around. I’m on the CCF and can contact you there. Cool video and I enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@bigferd4534]

PM sent to you on the CCF.

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Thank you very much!

[@michaelhoffman7970]

Great video

[@The762x39mm]

Pre-burning a new mantle is easy with the pre-heater torch, you just turn on the torch 1 or 2 seconds to ignite the mantle and turn it off,then you let the mantle slowly burn by itself.

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Ah yep, I sure have done that before. Thanks for bringing it up!

[@i.lynott9919]

The mantel can be burned in during pre heating, it doesn't need to removed and lit separately. Also, the better method of pre heating is with Alcohol, known as a Soft Start. It's a lot more considerate towards the mantel.

[@gasunderpressure9131]

I've found that burning the mantle in during preheating can lead to a mantle that shrinks more. Pre-burning seems to help keep them at a larger size? Yeah, totally aware of the alcohol pre-heat, but then I have to carry alcohol with me. I've used the rapid torch for years and have yet to wreck a mantle as a result of preheating, but YMMV of course!

[@AIM54A]

thanks for the video.. Remember that those old Petromax mantles are radioactive so avoid breathing the dust from old mantles if possible.

[@user-zm4yg9xv8q]

Do you think the ceramic diffuser is nessesary? I have a ceramic bulb socket that fits perfectly, but with no diffusor holes, but will that work? Seems like it would as the plume of diesel vapor seems to stream out fairly straight and even. Idk. dont want to spend the money on it because i have a chinese version that almost got the sledgehammer.

[@willssmallenginerepairllc5060]

Gonna be picking up one soon and just curious where'd you pick up the bike pump adapter?

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Hmmmm. It's been a while, but I believe I got it from Britelyt.

[@willssmallenginerepairllc5060]

@@gasunderpressure9131 Thanks! I'll look into it.

[@rolandoperez1544]

Appreciate this Video just Great

[@doronron7323]

Great! Thanks for the demo. Mine is probably one of the Chinese copy's which is different to yours. It only has the gauge and pump on the tank. It doesn't have the third, which you fitted a pump valve to. When filling with fuel is the max level the bottom edge of the filler hole?The gauge has a small knob to one side; presumably to release tank pressure to shut the lamp off? The U-tube has a 'clamp' to hold its height? That's rusted up on mine....needs a little TLC. So yea, I think you told me what I needed to get started. Oh, I now each lamp will burn slightly differently, but how long do you recon they run on from a full tank? I was given this lamp at least 25 years ago and it has no signs of previous use. When I get it going I'll let you know.

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Mine only has the filler and pump. What you're seeing is that the Schrader adapter screws in place of the pump. So, unscrew the pump, screw in the adapter. I wouldn't fill it up that much, the petromax funnel has a built-in shutoff that stops it probably 1/2" below the filler. If you fill it up too much, you might end up squirting out fuel through the pressure relief valve, which is that small knob you mentioned. Yes, that's how you shut it off. There is no positive shutoff with these lanterns, so always dump the pressure to shut it off. Also, only run Kerosene in them, never gasoline/white gas. That would be extremely dangerous if the foot valve failed.

[@doronron7323]

@@gasunderpressure9131 Thanks again, I appreciate your advice; a few more essential tips always welcome. Did you adapt the pump fitting or make a new one to take the valve?

[@paulwright1196]

I always use alcohol to preheat so I don't have to mess with pumping. The mantle will pre burn well also. And pressurizing with CO2 doesn't sound like a good idea if you are going to use the blowtorch. It uses the air in the tank to burn. I do love 'em though.

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Good point on the CO2 with using the rapid torch. I've been using this lantern around the house, so I've got easy access to a bike pump (or even an air compressor). Alcohol preheat would definitely reduce the pumping for sure.

[@stephanczuray4408]

I can turn the switch slower to start. It was an Explosion man 😮 dont need

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Doing it slowly encourages a backfire up into the u tube. This could possibly melt the u tube as a result. I do not recommend your method.

[@Britcheflee]

Have not seen one of those green mozzie coils in ages - you use that?

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Found the Australian! Yep, we sure do. They're cheap and really effective. The back part of the property can get swampy at times so the skeeters here can really wreck a nice evening outside.

[@joshgilbert6560]

Is is there any adjustment to the mantle or is always full brightness?

[@gasunderpressure9131]

It's not adjustable. It's either full on or full off. There is an adjustment in the U tube that can affect the brightness, but it is supposed to be tuned for the brightest light possible.

[@joshgilbert6560]

@@gasunderpressure9131 if you move the mixture tube closer to the needle will it get whiter? Mine seems like it's more Orange.

[@joshgilbert6560]

@@gasunderpressure9131 can I make a suggestion for your videos?

[@hardtruth2039]

Are the petromax, sea anchor and Britely lanterns the same. Looking to pick up a lantern lat will burn diesel.

[@gasunderpressure9131]

Sea Anchor is garbage. Petromax is the real deal. Britelyt is someone's take on Petromax. I haven't owned one of their recent models, so I can't comment on them. I'd say they're better than Sea Anchor or Butterfly. Burning diesel is going to be a challenge. Getting it going in the torch is not easy, and you'll get diesel everywhere while you're trying. Not sure if a preheat cup would get things hot enough to run. I've got a Petromax going on diesel once, and it took dedication to get it going. After it was running, it smelled like an old school bus, which wasn't great either. Kerosene truly is the way to go.

[@albertday6952]

They will burn diesel at a push , but diesel contains lubrication additiives for injectors etc and would soon clog up the jets / nozzle / vapouriser tube ... and as aforesaid be smelly ... kerosene is the best or Jet fuel .. good luck

[@tom87pate]

Sir, do you happen to know the distance between the nozzle and the u-tube for a model 827? I think it's a 250cp. Would it simply be half of 14.2mm? Thanks for any help.

[@christianluggert9052]

It needs to be set to 12.4mm for the 250CP.

[@Tywno]

@@christianluggert9052 Looking at the standard Petromax wrench, the 250cp has the same setting as a 500cp: 14,2 mm.

[@christianluggert9052]

@@Tywno I double checked the wrench that came with the lantern. It has two adjustments, one for 350/500 and another one for 250. They are not the same. Not sure if I can attached a picture here but I can email it to you in case you are interested.

[@Tywno]

@@christianluggert9052 I double-checked on my wrech and you're right. 250 cp indeed requires a smaller gap.

[@gerrycastlemanwarde5933]

The first time I fired up my new Petromax I had problems! They are fiddley and if you don't like messing with old Morris Minors and Swiss watches at the same time then the Petromax is not for you! I suggest the non DIY people buy a gas or Electric Lantern. There are advantages to owning a petromax but you will need patients it not as simple as filling it with paraffin and away she goes!

[@gasunderpressure9131]

You'll need patience, and it'll try that at times! I've got a Aida 250 that was running just fine, and then the preheat torch decided to clog. Ugh! Pretty much have to tear the whole thing down to be able to clean that nozzle. I'm starting to see the advantages of the alcohol preheater!

[@joshgilbert6560]

Its 111 pumps to light and run it for hours. Stop being lazy.