My old Coleman 425 keeps jetting fuel after it is shut off. I have to dump the pressure to stop it from jetting out the generator. Any ideas?
Usually they'll keep jetting fuel for up to 2 minutes on those and then shutoff. The generator is full of fuel and has to vent out. Some are quicker than others. My larger 413s and 426s take a little longer. If it is any longer than that, then you have a valve closing problem. sam
I've got similar problems with my 400 that I'm hoping a new schrader valve will cure when I have the time to fettle it. At least that's the theory according to the advice that I've seen in the forum and elsewhere. Does have to be a fuel resistant one though! regards John
It depends what's wrong. It is normal for the flame to continue for 1-2 minutes after shut down. The reason is that the generator is full of fuel and it continues to vaporize and burn until empty. That's normal. On a big stove, that process can go on for several minutes. What also happens is; someone sees that, thinks it's wrong and really cranks down the valve in an attempt to shut down the flame. That puts a grove on the seating area of the valve shaft and permanently prevents it from sealing properly. It's fixable with emery paper and some commen sense, but new parts are also available.
A minute or two before closing the valve, you can turn the fuel/air lever up to introduce more air into the mix...and lessen the residual fuel in the generator. It depends on the stove, but on some, you will see the flame will start to blow out from too much air being mixed in. I've had stoves, though, that continue to burn strong flames even with the F/A lever up.
I finally took apart the regulator and the graphite packing was shot. I sent off to Coleman to get the new packing but what they sent me isn't remotely the correct packing. I had tried to make a new packing from a graphite string I bought in the plumbing section of Lowes. It was better but continued to leak. I just took it apart again and the fuel seems to have melted my new graphite packing. Any ideas?
What letter 425 is it? Graphite packing would be ideal but I've had good luck with teflon rope on a 426B stove. I think the one I bought was 1/8" diameter or close to that. Only thing to be careful with is the tightness of the valve shaft nut since the teflon rope is soft. It could squeeze out if tightened too much.
