Lantern question

[Woodbutcher]

I am taking apart and repainting etc a 200A lantern. I had some fouls smelling black liquid in the tank. Even the around the fill hole was a dry black residue. Could this have been kerosene? Also what can I soak the tank and other parts in. Everything that moves seems to be real sticky.

[PresTx82]

Spray carb cleaner to get all the gunk out. After that if there's any rust pour some white vinegar in and leave overnight to dissolve all the rust!

[PresTx82]

In my opinion when working on any of these projects is to take your time and go slow. I like to get everything in perfect working order then I worry about painting it if I'm going to do it.

[Woodbutcher]

Thanks Mark. There did not seem to be any rust that I could see. Will Carb cleaner work on the generator etc to free up everything?

[doug hodder]

Woodbutcher...on that generator, I wouldn't soak it in Carb cleaner...it probably has the cardboard type tube in it and it will soak up the cleaner and could fall apart or do something weird. If you can get it apart, you can soak the tube and the center shaft. If you can't get it apart, they are plentiful and probably a whole lot less headache in the long run to just replace it, especially since you don't know what's been run through it. Doug

[starleen2]

My ever popular method of tank cleaning - a tube of BB's in the tank with a bit of solvent - shake, shake, shake - in a circular motion (the tank, not you) - then rinse the tank with solvent and repeat until the solvent runs clear. The black gunk is due to running a combination of fuels over time. I also take some Navel Jelly and dilute some to let the parts soak in - seems to remove carbon well.

[doug hodder]

White vinegar on brass is the bomb! Doug

[PresTx82]

I bought me a cook pot this evening and have been boiling lantern parts all evening. My wife came home and said, "You cooking dinner? Where'd the pot come from?", then she opened the lid and said, "What the heck is this stuff?"

[azmotoman]

Dinner . . . now that's funny, right there, I don't care who you are!

Playing bachelor last weekend had me in the kitchen a few times, too. Wish it had been for something as noteworthy as cleaning parts for a TD project.

[Zollinger]

What exactly is the dark hard yet kinda sticky stuff that I have seen on lanterns? I have a friend that has a 200a with it running out of the fuel cap.

[teardrop_focus]

A dark, sticky residue is an indication that there was something other than Coleman fuel in the fount.

Reason being is that anything that won't vaporize (with or without much heat) will leave deposits behind. Coleman fuel has a high vapor pressure and therefore evaporates quickly... and with but one additive only, a rust inhibitor, leaving no discernable residue.

Never use gasoline unless in an emergency situation. Always use Coleman fuel.

There were several Coleman lantern models modified in design and produced to burn kerosene... however, kero seems more likely to attract water so it should be stored and filtered with even more care.