My brother found this coleman 500 in the woods. It was made in 1946. He said the stove was partially buried in the sand. It was near the ocean and the salt spray had done a number to it. I was afraid that the rust would seize it up and it wouldn't come apart. So first I tried to see if it would work as is. I soaked the pump in oil. Then I was able to get it to pump up. I opened the valve and a fine mist came out, but it wouldn't light. I emptied the tank and this is what came out. I rinsed the tank out with white gas and the white gas floated on top of what had come out of the tank. My guess is that the tank just had water in it. I was able to get the stove partially apart and I soaked the generator in vinegar. I broke a screw that holds the burner to the tank. I had to use an easy out to extract it. I replaced it with a new screw. After I put it back together it ran, but not that well. I put the burner parts in a electrolysis tank because I thought it might help stop the salt water from attacking the steel parts. I was able to get the burner apart and I was able to clean between each of the burner rings. I put the stove back together and it looks much nicer now. It also runs much better. This is the second Coleman 500 I have owned. The first one I bought 20 years ago and the members on this forum helped me get it running. I haven't been on this forum in a long time, but i appreciate all the helpful information that it contains and all the help I have received in the past.
Nice work, and a tribute to the Coleman Company. Reminds me of the Indestructible Hilux (The Indestructible Hilux)
I just got one a few weeks ago that had been sitting in a gals yard for 15 years, pretty much did just what you did, and it works great. I just break those screws and then drill and tap. Easy-outs are Easy to break and hard to get Out. Found in the woods, huh, wonder who forgot that, and when?? IF only they could talk.
Great work! I have a Coleman 200A lantern, the fount of which I purchased for $1. It had been stored outside, probably for years, and had a couple inches of water in it. I pieced it together with used parts, and it fired right up. Coleman stuff (especially older stuff) is amazingly tough. ....Arch
Thanks guys! I didn't think it would run again, but I underestimated the 500. It is amazing what these things can tolerate. It was in an abandoned encampment near the highway. My brother visited the camp twice in a year. He said none of the gear had moved between visits, but that a small landslide had covered part of the camp. He brought the stove and a knife home. He said a few weeks after his 2nd visit the road crew came and cleaned up the encampment.
I have 2 little kids so I don't dive much these days, but before kids I mostly spearfished. I did a bit of abalone diving too. I don't think they will ever open abalone in California again.
@freediver This language was adopted by the Fish and Game Commission on April 1st: (a) All ocean waters are closed to the take of abalone. Abalone may not be taken or possessed. (b) This subsection and subsection (a) shall remain in effect only until April 1, 2026, and as of that date are repealed, unless a later enacted amendment deletes or extends that date. I'll be 74 years old in 2026 so I hope the don't extend the date. With kids at home I'm sure you'll see it reopened at some point. Ben
We got the coleman 500 out camping recently. I made a wind screen for it out of a coffee can because we were camping on the beach and the wind can really blow there. This is a picture of my brother (who found the stove) cooking some halibut he caught the day before. I really like this stove. It runs great and has a fun history.
