Leaky Coleman 426 stove

I have a Coleman 426 stove that has a small leak at the "up to light, down to burn" lever. Thanks to BernieDawgs excellent advice I've replaced the gasket in the 3 piece filler cap but I didn't find any info about the lighting lever. I don't want to unscrew it and risk destroying the existing gasket until I know what to expect. Can the gasket in this valve be replaced with a new O ring? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks D.

 

Try tightening the generator. Sounds crazy, fixes virtually all coleman stove valve leaks.

 

Thanks, I'll try that. After posting my question I found more info on the lighting valve & what it looks like. If all else fails I found a source for a new one. Thanks again for the help.

 

Unless there's a graphite gasket in there that needs tightening or replacing, it could be a bad seal on the threads of the nut.

I've had good luck with a product used to lubricate and seal brake line parts. It's used in high end racing cars and can stand a LOT of heat. I bought it in a little grey plastic pouch for a couple of dollars and that pouch should last me 5 years.

I now put it on all threads that I re-assemble. It keeps them easy to take apart and seals perfectly.

The stuff I use is called Counterman's Permatex Anti-Seize lubricant (5g pouch). You just use a tiny bit of the stuff, on the tip of your finger and then smeared on the threads all around.

It serves to keep me from having to wrench hard on those little brass nuts, potentially stretching the threads or worse.

There doesn't seem to be any downside to using it, and the upside is, whatever you put it on it will be easy to disassemble, and you don't have to tighten parts as hard.

Stan

 

Thanks Stan, I tried to tighten the lighting lever but didn't want to overdo it. When I tested it, it leaked less than before but still leaked. I'll see if I can find some Permatex and try that. Thanks D

 

I didn't find the Permatex that Stan recommended but I did find a solution to the leaky lighting lever. I found a pipe thread compound (TFE Paste) at Ace Hardware that can be used on connection threads for water, steam, natural & LP gas, oils, fuels, and dilute acids. It's suitable for both liquid and gaseous materials, under pressure, and at high temps. I put a small amount on the lighting lever threads and let it set up overnight. I used the stove all weekend without any leaks.

 

Thanks for the information...and update. This is good information to file away for future use.

Cheers,

Bryan

 

My head is so full of neat-o gimmicks, shop hints, work-arounds and wrinkles that remembering any specific one takes a week. I'd have been better off not to try to remember all that sh... stuff in the first place.

Getcherself a cheap composition book and write it down. Descriptions, catalog numbers, everything. Then you only need to be able to find your comp. book. Good luck with that.

Gerry