With a number of Campingaz stoves, lanterns and a blowlamp taking pierceable gas cartridges, I've been checking them for gas-tightness and thought it'd be helpful to post up the procedure. So, if you've any or more of these ... ... you might want to consider doing the same, bearing in mind that none of those models are less than thirty years old (the Bleuet's more like forty-four) and though nitrile seals can harden and leak, the device Campingaz call the 'piercing piston' can cause trouble (again, a gas leak is in prospect) if the grease it's lubricated with has hardened and the piston's sticking in the valve bore. Here's the device in the Soudogaz blowlamp application It's removed by drifting out a securing pin and here it is equipped with new seals - though the old ones weren't too bad That rounded seal in the end of the piston that makes the seal with the dimple in the gas cartridge top isn't usually in need of replacement so much as the O-ring that seals the piston in the bore. A combination of deformation of the O-ring over time, loss of elasticity in it and old lubricant can prevent the spring-loaded piston from fully extending and failing to exert enough pressure on the gas cartridge to make a decent seal. The solution is to remove the piston, clean off the grease, replace the O-ring if necessary and put a smear of silicone grease on the piston before re-installing it. This is the stuff I use but any suitable equivalent will do fine Assembly The only other seal to check is in the one on the control valve spindle Pin drifed out to remove the spindle and back in again to limit travel Source of seals? The O-rings are more critical than the seal in the end of the piston as I've said and are from a box of O-rings of different sizes I have, sourced from a 'Machine Mart' high-street chain store (UK). Strangely (given these are French appliances) the Imperial sizes set - I've got the Metric set too - offer a better equivalent to the Campingaz originals. The 'end seal' for want of a better word is listed on the Campingaz website (I don't know how topical a website it was) as Part No. 4183 (piston washer) and indicated they were sold in packets of 20. The ones I have are old, unused stock (but still 'elastic') from a private ebay seller If you'd like to try your hand at refilling pierceable cartridges while they're in the appliance - the only way if you don't want to lose all of the refilled charge between refilling rig and appliance! - take a look at this post in the 'Frankies, Mods and Hybrids' column Refilling pierceable gas cartridges John
I'm not a "gassie," but wow - my compliments on a really well done, clear and detailed tutorial. Really excellent work! Must have taken some time to put this together. Bravo! John
Thanks John I appreciate that butane stoves tend to polarise opinion but it's not something I take a stance on myself. If it's a portable stove (as opposed to plumbed in or wired up to mains electricity) and well engineered it's of interest to me whatever the hydrocarbon fuel or form it takes, whether a gas, a liquefied gas or liquid fuel. To complicate the issue further, there are quite a few 'liquid' stoves that can be fuelled perfectly well on butane as an alternative fuel with simple and reversible modifications - Juwel 34, Coleman 500, 502, 501 are some of the ones I've featured in the 'Frankies, Mods and Hybrids' forum and I know 'Techguy' has done some more. John
Hi there Presscall. This is a great write up. I am chasing some of these piston washers now. Can you recommend whether the imperial ones are better than the metric ones? Also I'm having difficulty finding either, except from BCS who want £10 for 3. Do you have another supplier in mind that I could contact? Thanks, Terry
Okay. After re-reading the original post here properly. I have replaced my o rings. Also using imperial o rings as that is what the local hardware had that was closest in size. Using Vaseline as the sealant/lube. Replaced the mantle. Now I have my little lantern running beautifully. Because I had no access to the piston washers anytime soon. I gave mine a good clean. I will however still be on the lookout for some of the piston washers if anyone knows of another supplier other than BCS (which is the link on the Campingaz website). They charge £10 for 3. There has to be another place. I have tried eBay but to no avail.
@Terry Healey @Tony Press Hi Terry. Time Zone kicked in or I’d have replied sooner. I’m glad the post helped but sorry I can’t suggest a specific supplier in Oz. I have two boxes of assorted O-rings (one Imperial sizes, the other Metric) from a Machine Mart outlet in the UK and regardless of whether the lamp/stove I’m working on might be expected to take Metric or Imperial sizes I pick an O-ring that’s the best fit. It’s a principle that’s worked out fine. The key dimensions are the overall diameter of the O-ring and the internal diameter, which in turn determines the sectional diameter of the ring. A number of variables that straddle Imperial and Metric sizes for any given lamp or stove I’ve found in practice. Hope that helps. John
Hi, My heartfelt thanks for an excellent well illustrates tutorial, doubtless there are many of these stoves and lanterns lurking in people's sheds and garages (mine included) I also have a US made Olicamp pierced cylinder adaptor which enables a screw on stove or appliance to be fitted on the top, a similar item by Epigas also comes to mind, this must raise the question as to whether the Camping Gaz items will also fit these adaptors? Perhaps someone may have the answer. Best wishes from John (Vintagetwinshock) If in doubt, brew up.
Hi thanks for the helpful post I really need this piston washer But unfortunately, I did not find anything in my hometown. Please help me how to make it by hand.
Thanks for the quick reply! I'm attempting this exercise that you posted about nearly fifteen years ago(!) and I've joined Classic Camp Stoves especially so that I can learn and ask questions. I have been gifted a Campingaz Lumogaz c200. It works perfectly, apart from the fact that it is a wee bit leaky. I have replaced the piston washer already (I had to send away to Germany for a replacement!) and now I want to try and access the O-ring to replace it. I will persevere with trying to drift out the pin in the meantime. Thanks again for your reply!
Hi thank you for the information on the campingaz Lanterns and stoves very interesting and informative, with regards to the o’rings do you happen to know the sizes for the old Lumogaz lanterns? Also do you recommend a specific type of o ring material? I have just gotten an old lumogaz lantern from the 70s I think C200 model that i would like to get up and running again, gas lanterns are a new thing for me I’ve previously played about with oil lamps and hurricane lanterns. Thanks Regards Pat
@Patgaz Sorry, Pat, I don’t know the sizes and I’m not in the mood (!) to take one apart right now! I have several O-ring assortment boxes from ebay and elsewhere and plunder them for matching O-rings when and as required, looking at outer/inner diameter and cross-section dimension in comparison with the original. In terms of material they’re made of, I’ve a small number of viton ones in a limited range of sizes, but provided the O-rings are suitable for automotive fuel/oil applications and not merely water (plumbing) they’re my usual go-to. Regards, John
