Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **DragonFire** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 6:58 pm

I started tearing into my lantern this afternoon...

So far I have the generator off and am trying to get the air intake system off...it's pretty corroded on.

This will be a user...so I'm not sure if I'll strip the paint or anything. I want to get the rust and corrosion off to prolong the life of the lantern. I discovered the globe is an oldie...no 'made in China' on it...so I may get our one of the replacement globes and acid etch the 'miC', etc off and keep the old globe for a future shelf queen of appropriate vintage.

There was old, green fuel in the lantern...I drained it into old water bottles. I assume it's no good..like old gasoline. What can I do with it? Wrong time of year to let it evaporate. Any ideas? Can I use it to clean something (besides the air filter for my scooter...and I use 'real' gasoline for that.)

Looking forward to hearing tips and such on this project. I have not investigated replacement Coleman decals, and I don't know how nicely this lantern will clean up anyway, so I'm holding off on the idea of stripping it and repainting. It could use it, but like I said, I'm going to use this lantern at camp.

by **doug hodder** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:06 pm

Save the old fuel....if the fount interior is rusted...dump a load of BB's in it with the fuel and shake it to clean it. Strain the old fuel through a paper towel folded like a cone funnel and back into a bottle or can. I always save old fuel for cleaning, and starting piles of yard stuff when I burn. Doug

by **DragonFire** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:27 pm

Thanks Doug!

Any ideas on how to get the blasted air intake system off?? That little jerk is stuck like glue!! It won't budge a bit!

by **doug hodder** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:28 pm

Watch putting any jawed type tool on it. You can crush and mark up the brass pretty easily, like Slo mentioned. Sometimes...I leave them attached to the valve body if they won't come apart. They clean up just fine. I also don't always remove the burner tubes...just pull the caps and clean out the flues on it. Doug

by **DragonFire** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:46 pm

That's what I'm talking about!!

I need to get this rust off..so I need to get the frame off the fount in order to throw it in the citric acid bath.

Suggestions besides a wrench? Don't really want to do that, unless it's Liquid Wrench.

Slow: I tried the back and forth trying to break it free. No joy. Should I try some vinegar overnight? what will get in there and free up the threads??

The more stubborn the lantern gets the more determined I am to get this little jerk apart! :twisted:

by **DragonFire** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:42 pm

There may be more than one way to skin a cat!! I'm using vinegar, Barkeeper's Friend and SOS to get this rust and corrosion off. Seems to be working somewhat....if I have to do it this way, then so be it. It won't be as nice, but it will be better that it was! :thumbsup:

by **doug hodder** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:05 pm

Here's what I do....I clamp the fount in a woodworking vise, well wrapped with foam and rubber shelf lining so it won't crush the fount and will grip it so it won't turn. Grip it low near the bottom. Then I take a large pair of channel locks, with the jaws padded with leather. Grasp the whole burner assy from the back side, so that the jaw ends are at the threads that go into the font. Set yourself up so you pull on it...much easier to control pulling than pushing in my opinion. Don't hammer it, steady pressure has always gotten mine loose and yeah...use some penetrant on it also.

Thing is...who knows just how bad it is...it is entirely possible that it may not come loose. Not all lanterns are "builders". Some are just for parts. Doug

by **DragonFire** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:49 pm

OK...got a friend who has a woodshop. I'll check with him after the holiday and see what he says...don't want him getting in trouble with 'The Boss'...

What penetrant do you find works best? I can start 'soaking' it like Slow says and maybe get it on the vise sometime this weekend (if his 'Boss' says ok! Hopefully she will be out shopping!!!)

I've scrubbed a bit more. Tomorrow I'll start with some rubbing compound on the paint after the Holy Cow (or Simple Green..I'm allergic to it but for Coleman I'll suffer!!!)

I'm probably being impatient. It's been rusting for awhile. It will probably take awhile to unrust. But even if I have to put it back together, I think it will hold pressure and light (I actually know it holds pressure. Don't ask me how. You can guess, but I turned the cap and heard the hiss...and was very careful about the cap after that...)

This lantern was never going to be a shelf queen. Always planned on using this one. I just want it to look ok and work well. It's a workhorse like me :thumbsup:

by **doug hodder** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:51 pm

I use PB blaster...some doctor up batches of acetone and ATF. Doug

by **campmaster-k** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:14 pm

Next time I take apart a 220 I will post lots of pics and show the whole process.

by **DragonFire** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:23 pm

I'm following the 'oldcolemanparts.com' lesson. It just doesn't include stubborn rust.

I just scrubbed more on the lantern. I'll get some pb blast friday and see if that works. I'm still hopeful that this lantern will work again. It probably worked fine until I took it apart. I didn't test it first.

BTW..the globes that I got at the thrift were not Made in China..they say made in the USA. So they were a good score at 99 cents each.

Just to make myself feel better I'll try to catch fire to the huge tree in front..I mean I'll try to light my 200a tomorrow. At least I'll have something working around here!!

by **Moho** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:32 am

Did you try the

method I suggested? Just curious if heat loosened it.

by **Moho** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 2:18 am

Heat works on brass just like other metals. You just have to be careful as the melting point is lower and it can be damaged if you overheat.

by **kzhorse** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 4:51 pm

So have ya had any luck as of yet?
The newer 220h that I have the cage and bail was painted black and the vent was missing a couple chips so this is going to be something to play with.I striped all the paint from the cage and cleaned the vent so it may just be painted with VHT and be a work horse.

Scott

by **DragonFire** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:15 pm

nope. I stole the torch from work today and took the lantern outside for a little warming....no joy. Blasted it again with the pb blaster. The air intake tube is not brass...so I think that's where the rust or corrosion issue is. The brass is nice and clean now..

I'll keep cleaning the frame since I may never get this one apart. I'll make it look as nice as I can, then reassemble and see if it works. I'll keep trying to get it apart for awhile, but I'm thinking it's frozen.

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Rehabbing my 220F

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