I picked up a mint 3 burner that had been boxed away since '71 (that's what the newpaper inside the box was dated). Anyway, the stove pressurizes and lights, but when I unscrew the pump (as if I were going to pump it) all the pressure from the tank leaks out. My question is: what's wrong and how do I fix it? Thanks guys! Another question: Why didn't coleman put a bike nipple on these things so you could really pump it up quickly?
Hi jkline, The check valve at the bottom of the pump tube is stuck open. Try soaking the tube or spraying carb cleaner or other solvent like lacquer thinner. That should, hopefully, free it up so that it can do it's job of sealing. It's probably frozen to the bottom of the check valve with gunk. When the stove is pressurized the tiny BB in the check valve should float up and make a seal inside the check (you don't actually see this happen, but that's what happens with a healthy one.). On most of these, I've just sprayed stuff and let it soak and that usually fixes it. On rare occasions I've had to remove the check valve to free the ball and make it work properly. Hope that helps, sam P.S. Idaho, huh???? I'm near Idaho Falls!
I see there is a set of tools on eBay for Coleman . Too much for me, not sure they would work on my oldies. Duane
they do make a bike valve cap,i have one thanks to one of posters who lived out by Amish country in the East US.i don't know just where he got it but a web search might find one.
A spare cap or two can be very handy in working on a Coleman appliance. If you drill the spare cap for either a 1/8th or 1/4 pipe thread, then you can also get a pressure gauge to test the tank for leaks. When not using it for a test, you unscrew the gauge and put in the Schrader fitting for use in pressurizing the tank. Ken H.
This has happened to me with many Colemans that have sat for a while. I soak with a bit of carb cleaner for a day and that usually solves it. When the bb is free you can actually hear it rattling slightly when you shake the empty tank near your ear.
