Can anybody give me any advice on the safe operation of a Tilley lamp?

Question

I lit it for the first time today and I had some difficulties. Firstly, the preheater torch had flames coming right to the top of the lamp - was there too much methylated spirit on it? It has been soaking in the jar for several days - should I just give it a quick dip instead? Also, it was very dim when it was finally lit. I don't know how bright they are normally, but this was very dim. What was I doing wrong?

Answer 1

I spent 2 years on the road on a 750cc BMW across Europe with my faithfull Tilly. Several things you might like to bear in mind. Don't have the meths burner soaking wet damp is normally sufficient. It is almost impossible to over-pump a Tilly and it sounds like yours was under pressured. Once the mantle has been burned they don't like too much vibration so carry spares as you will often find the previous one has turned to powder.Always place Tilly on a flat surface as they are easy to knock over. NEVER use anything other than paraffin, petrol can cause them to explode.Do not use inside small tents. Don't put the Tilly underneath/near canvas as the heat that is generated is quite surprising and can cause tents to melt or if canvas  crack or even scorch. Happy (safe) Camping

Answer 2

did you pressurise it first? don't put to much Meth in it,wait till the filliment starts to go from red to white then turn it up do not soak it with the Meth

Hurricane lamp: light it whith the wick low that will stop the glass from smoking up and going black

Answer 3

It's a matter of practice.

Bear in mind these and similar Lamps are designed to run off the inflammable vapours of the fuel used- not the fuel itself. Soaking for several days is dangerous.

Poor luminosity suggests air/fuel mix is not correct. Adjust your lamps ventilation / fuel mechanisms.

Oh Yes- Keep upright at all times. Good Luck.  

Answer 4

There is some practise needed to light the lantern well and to figure out what it is doing.

If the lamp is dim then before you light it check that the mantle is OK (mantle - the white fabric bit just under the lid), and that the glass is clean (the glass can be cleaned with meths which is handy cause you have that, take the top off carefully so you don't damage the mantle and then take the glass out and clean it - do it when it is cold obviously).

How to light it?

Soak the preheater in meths - I always leave it in a bottle of meths (an old jam jar) so it is well soaked. The more meths in it the easier it is to light the lantern to be honest. Release the pressure in the lantern (open up the filling nozzle, then close it again), and turn the valve control (on the upright tube) to off or closed.

Right now you are ready to light the lantern properly. Take the preheater ring out of the meths and fasten it round the upright tube. Light it there (make sure you don't have meths on your finger. The reason to light it when it is round the tube is in case meths drips onto you which can cause a burn when lit). Now wait. The burning meths heats up the upright tube, the hotter the better. Pressure and heat makes the paraffin burn well so hot is good.

When the meths is nearly burnt out, open the control valve, and pump one or 2 pumps on the pump, this will send some parafin up the tube and onto the mantle. If it is hot enough then this will start burning with a white flame. If it isnt hot enough then the paraffin will burn with a yellow flame out the top of the lantern - which you saw happening I think. If you get the yellow flame, don't panic, turn of the valve and wait for the flames to die away, wait for the meths to heat it up a bit more and try again. If you get a white light on the mantle then pump up the pump 20 or 30 times to build up pressure. You lantern should now go OK.

Your dim burning might be that the lantern didnt have enough pressure or there was a leak in the system somewhere.

Tilly lanterns when they go are very efficient and good lanterns, however there are a few problems you might encounter.

Lantern burns dim - its running out of pressure so pump it up

Lantern burns dim - its running out of pressure but you have pumped it up recently - there might be a leak in the system - look around all the joints for wetness and thats where the leak is (its generally OK since to burn well parafin needs to be hot and under pressure, so no explosion risk from the leak)

Lantern burns dim - and you can see orange flames round the mantle we well as white - the lantern might not be quite hot enough so leave it to heat like it is for a bit and it might sort itself out or the mantle is damaged and can be changed when it is cold

Lantern burns dim - the glass is dirty

Yellow flames out the top - you have just lit it and didnt get it hot enough or pressurised it too quickly at lighting - turn off the control valve, let it heat a but more and try again

Yellow flame out the top - the mantle might be damaged

Preheater burns out before it is hot enough - this can happen on cold days or windy days - make sure it is out fully, thne put back into meths to refill, put back on lantern, relifght and continue heating. Care here that the preheater is OUT when you refil it (meths burns invisible in light so you cant always tell. Best if yo uhave 2 preheaters and alternate them)

Lantern looses pressure and no leaks. You might need to replace the seals and washers in it - these are all available in hardware shops and on the internet

You burn your self on it - stop touching the lanterns it is a controlled fire!

Hope that helps