Several Lantern Generator Questions

[Moho]

Ok since I am basically a newb here in this section, I have a question and can't find much info on it.

The way I understand it from just common sense, a generator is basically just a vaporizer. The gas tip is a pretetermined orifice size for vaporizing the fuel for the necessary fuel:air ratio for combustion. The needle assembly is nothing more than a device for removing carbon build up from the gas tip. The fuel remains liquid until it hits the gas tip and vaporizes.

Is this correct or is there more to it?

The reason I ask is I have a lantern which won't start. I can conclude this is due to the air:fuel ratio being off and not being able to combust. When it gets to that point everyone says replace the generator. Why not just replace the gas tip? I seems your replacing uneeded parts. Maybe it's just a matter of blam-o, all the parts are new it will cause no more problems?

When I disassembled the lantern in question, the thing I don't understand is how there was carbon buildup on the needle and spring in the middle of the tube area. Carbon is typically left behind from the impurities in burnt fuel.

Also I have read some generator tubes have "paper" in them, what for?

I don't mind replacing the entire generator at all, just more curiousity as to why I am replacing 4-5 parts.

[Wolffarmer]

Beats me.

Big help I am



The only problem I have had with a generator is a R55 generator in my L227. Then I just sprayed carburetor cleaner into it, then blew it out with compressed air. repeat, several times. Seemed to work.

I have yet to replace any Coleman generators including the one in the 425 stove I have used a whole lot over the years. But then maybe I do not know what a properly functioning generator is like.

Randy

[Dave A]

In a nutshell, the cardboard slows down the fuel flow so the fuel can vaporize in the remaining portion of the generator.
The black "gunk " is fuel impurities that are lefl from vaporization and baked into carbon like material.

[Mark72]

The fuel vaporizes all through the generator. The "paper" stabilizes the fuel so it doesn't boil and cause surging. Debris in the fuel valve assembly can cause failure also.

Mark

[starleen2]

Moho - really the only thing that CAN wear out on a generator is the orifice on the tip. Sometimes the tip clearer - over time - enlarges the hole in the orifice. This leads to a richer burning lantern (a yellowing of the light). Also in some generators, there is a small ball of screen close to the tip - this also acts as a filter and becomes clogged over time. Removal of the screen will also render a generator back into service. What I do is give the whole generator a good cleaning with a wire brush in the inside bore. The let soak in some carb cleaner for a while to make sure it's clean. I take some stainless steel cleaning scrubs (not steel wool - it rusts!) and clean up the tip cleaner. If the cardboard tube is too gunked up or the spring is missing i go to plan B

There is a tip to replacing the cardboard and spring by using the wire wrap method below. I have done this several times and it works quite well.


full instructions here


one of these lanterns is running on a wire wrapped generator - can you tell which one?



If your lantern refuses to start - pressurize the tank. Then loosen the generator nut and crack the valve to check to see if fuel is bubbling up to the generator base. if it is - then it's a good guess that the generator is clogged!

[Moho]

Thanks for all the info. I assumed that replacing the generator was just to have a quick fix. Gonna spend some time with that problem generator tomorrow and see what i come up with.