C&L plumbers furnace won't burn (??)

Hi there
Here's what I've been fussing with for too long now. (need a smiley here for "tearing your hair out")

Before:


After:


Not sure if this one really qualifies as a stove since it's more of a giant blowtorch. But, it's classic. And, I'd thought to post the beauty shots in the stove gallery.

Sadly, I can't get the darned thing to work, so I'm missing the important (to me) burning photos. It starts off ok after a looooong preheat with meths. Runs for about a minute and a half, then blows it's flame out. The only way I can keep it running is by keeping an ignition source near the "fuel jet" (hole!). I tried keeping the coil vaporizer hot using a propane torch, but it still goes out immediately when I remove the torch. (Awesome flame while going, though!)

Any ideas? I suspect thinking along lines of a recalcitrant blowtorch is the way to approach this, but I haven't come up with any new ideas and my frustration level is burgeoning.

 

Hi Berniedawg; I can't help with your questions, but what a great fettle and beautiful restoration!

 

WOW ! 8) Like It ! ....

 

Hi Gary: C&L's are gas burners, try Coleman fuel. Works awesome for me. Be careful they have a "very" intense flame. Check flame picture on my C&L 3 burner camp stove in the reference gallery.It's not even up all the way) Your smelter flame should be even better. C&L was known for a good hot flame. Mike...

 

Thanks for the kind comments on the "appearance fettle"!

I decided to pull the coil vaporizer apart again, more completely this time. I was thinking it could be a coke problem. (No! not *that* kind of coke problem!)

Do you think this metal braided cable is supposed to be in there?



It's not seeming to want to come out easily and the lower end is definitely full of carbon. Makes a feller wish he had one of those coil-shaped drill bits.

And, Mike(flivver), not to worry, I used Coleman in the tank but meths in the preheat cup underneath the coil. I'm thinking the coil is cokey.

Stay tuned!

Cheers,
Gary

 

Gary: Don't remove wire it is the heart of the generator. Removing it will destroy it. Use heat and out board engine carbon cleaner, steam etc. Mike...

 

Woo-HOO!! Doin' the happy dance!

I followed Mike's excellent advice and have a working smelter. I think it's still underpowered according to reports I've heard of the power of these rascals. It probably needs more effort to decoke it - carb cleaner, steam, heat'n'quench.

But, it runs steady on it's own with a loud roar (Svea 123 x 1000) AND, it melts lead!



Melted lead wheel weights.




I'll have to spend some more cleaning time on the coil generator and then do some paint touch up.

Thanks again for the help Mike!

Cheers,
Gary

 

Looks great and works!!!! Nice job Gary!

 

What a beauty and a great fettle. You had better strap her down Gary she looks ready to take off.

 

Hi Gary: Not carb but carbon cleaner. There many but I use Sierra carbon free. It comes in a spray can from any marine/boat supply. It's designed to clean carbon from engines of 2 cycle outboards. Remove generator, warm the generator, spray carbon free inside let soak for 24 hr then spray out with carb cleaner let dry then soak with water then apply heat with butane torch etc, then when cool blow out well with air then reinstall. This works with generators that have non removable wire or asbestos string inside. Trying to remove the wire or string from coil or loop generators or trying to jam a wire or rod through them will destroy them. Then if a gas appliance run through a tank of Coleman fuel. Coleman fuel when used properly will not form carbon deposits. Mike...

 

I dont like such a type of fettle but in your case its fascinating! brilliant!

wire rope should be where

1) it is used for carbon cleaning (if you can move it in a tube )
2) it prevents fuel oscillations in a tube
I am practicaly sure that it will work without wire rode inside, but there will be about 1Hz vibrations.

try to clean carbon by oxidating it
heat up the tube with blow torch or another stove
and pump the tank without fuel.
Hot air will oxidate carbon inside the tube to soot which is much easier to remove.
do it for 10 minites

some times it is possiable to remove wire rope from the tube at the hot stage, then the carbon is liquid.

clogged tube with wire rope inside is a typical problem for modern multifuel stoves used on a dirty fuel(

great restoration!

 

Hi all: A bit about generators. There many types but they all do the same thing (vaporize fuel).They too can suffer the same malady(carbon buildup).Before attempting cleaning check nozzle to see if plugged. The generator works by slowing the liquid fuel and storing heat as fuel passes through so the fuel has time to get hot and vaporize. That's why most generators have some sort of "packing" be it asbestos string, wire, twisted cable, ceramic or steel rods. wire screens etc. Some generators are straight tubes which are designed to be dissembled for cleaning,(but not all) others are are made in a spiral or loop to further slow fluid for vaporization making it almost imposable to remove the internal wire or string for cleaning without destroying the generator. Unfortunately many modern generators are crimped together also making cleaning difficult .The trick is to turn carbon goo into soot as Grigoriy states in above post. I accomplish this by the method I stated in my above post. For you early quick-lite Coleman lantern collectors out there, I never met a "Q99" (Coleman loop generator for early lanterns) I couldn't save unless someone tried to clean it improperly before I got it. Remember the type of fuel you use is " unbelievably important", I don't care if your stove is multiple fuel. These stoves were originally designed for the military so they could use whatever fuel was available. Don't do it. Automobile fuel is the best way I know of to carbon clog your generator. Diesel and kerosene aren't too far behind. The cleanest carbon preventing fuel is Coleman fuel, hotter burning is cleaner burning.Look for the blue flame. Meth burns hot and clean but only use in a stove designed for meth. Do not use Coleman fuel unless your stove is a "gas" burner. Good luck ! Mike...

 

most but not all,in some cases they are full filled to avoid vibration or decrease the volume of the fuel line.
this works without any filler inside
https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/8923
this works without filler in a tubes
https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/8781
a bit vibration and thats all, and excellent cleaning oppotunities.

Primus MFS without wire rod works even beter

Coleman generator is very complicated

with respect,
Grigoriy

 

Hi Grigoriy: I quite agree, that is why I said most not all. Yes having filling inside is problematic. Unfortunately most early U.S. made generators are that way and many folks do not know that they can be cleaned, that is what I wrote my post. If all generators were like the ones you describe, Repairing stoves would be a lot simpler. Mike...

 

Fliffer, I see that you have very good experience of generatore cleaning
don't you know a simple way of modern coleman generators cleaning ?

I tried absolutly clogged one but with no success

heating, aceton, carburater cleaner- no result

most of stove productures are not interested in a simple and quick cleaning and repair

 

Hi Grigoriy: The reason I clean the early ones it that they are not available,(if I could buy new original type generators I would) also I only like working on old ones (pre 1940). If you can't find a replacement try my cleaning method in post "105572" above, Once cleaned my Colemans never clog again. Proper fuel is the key. See the bottom part of my above post 105579. I like your self designed stove, you are quite talented. Mike...

 

the problem is that there are stoves but no spares in the shops.

so I know at list 2 clogged colemans.

 

lots of great info on that post..i'll pick up a spray can of Carbon Cleaner and see if it helps any of my stoves run better.

 

Hey Gary: How about doing the cosmetics on my stoves. I can make em run but not pretty. The beautiful painted C&L just can't be the one in the first picture. Awesome job!!!! (Dave; good luck on your generator.) (Grigoriy; what model and make stove is your clogged generator out of? Grigoriy are you trying "carbon cleaner". Try that first then wash out with carb. cleaner) Mike...

 

feather 442
I tried carbURATOR cleaner(addition to fuel) ones
but I dont like how it works. I desided that most of the stoves are easier to clean mechanicaly or by heating, except coleman(
As concerns carbon cleaner, I haven't see such a spray in a shops(

Coleman stoves are not mine, I repair stoves then people ask.