Question
Why does my lantern “pop” and blow out the mantles during use or right afterwards?
Answer
There are two causes for “popping” at the mantles during the use of a Coleman® Lantern or when the lantern is shut off.
The first is the presence of water droplets in the tank of a liquid fuel lantern. Condensation can occur in the fuel can or in the tank of a lantern stored for long periods. If water droplets are in the lantern’s tank, they can be drawn up into the fuel and air tube and when they hit the hot generator and pass into the burner assembly, instantly turn to steam. This produces an increase of pressure in the burner assembly and will cause a “pop” at the ends of the burner tubes, which can break a mantle. This will occur while the lantern is running. To cure this, empty the fuel from the tank and rinse it out with clean fuel to remove all traces of water. Refill the tank with fresh fuel.
The second can occur on both liquid fuel and propane lanterns. In the end of each burner tube, where the mantles are tied on, is a screen assembly. This screen prevents the flame inside the mantle from pre-igniting the fuel inside the burner assembly. If the screen at the burner tube falls out or develops a large hole, when the lantern is turned off and the pressure inside the burner decreases, the flame in the mantle will light the fuel inside the burner causing the “pop” and usually breaks the mantle. The cure for this is to either replace the burner cap with the bad or missing screen or the entire burner assembly. Some burner assemblies do not have replaceable burner caps.
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