PETROMAX OWNER'S MANUAL

All outer parts of the polished lantern are covered with a transparent protecting film. The hood has to be polished before using the lantern. Otherwise the film will burn in during operation leaving brown spots.

Before Putting into Operation Optical and mechanical check

Please check whether gas mantle is damaged and whether nozzle and nipple are hand tight. If not, please use spanner (included) to tighten parts.

Filling the container:

Unscrew the filling cap/gauge and pour in kerosene (or other approved fuel). Use filling funnel (included). Fill NO MORE than 3/4 full.

Fixing the gas mantle:

Loosen screw of framer and remove hood with top and inner casing . Put mantle over nozzle and tie it up. Cut off the ends of the string. Put inner casing on frame, being careful of the needle. Make sure that the screw of the mixing tube can be seen through the upper openings of the hood and that the slit is vertical.

Pumping up air:

Turn wheel so that the arrow faces upwards, close filling cap/gauge and close tip of the preheater. Put pressure into container with pump piston until indicator reaches the red marking. If the pump does not work correctly, unscrew cap of pump barrel, remove pump piston, grease and spread leather washer. Assemble pump pistol again.

Putting Into Operation:

Burning down the gas mantle. The optimal stability of the mantle is reached by burning it down with a lighter or a match. More practical is the use of the preheater. Light match, open tip of preheater and hold flame to the opening of the flame protecting tube . Preheater catches fire. Close tip again after a few seconds. Get the mantle burned down.

Attention! If the preheater does not catch fire, repeat process. If necessary, clean nipple of preheater with cleaning needle (included) and reduce pressure.

Preheating the lantern:

After gas mantle has cooled down, use rapid preheater again and keep it open for approximately 90 seconds. There will be a fast loss of pressure during the process. Keep an eye on the indicator and make sure that pressure is above 1 bar minimum.

Preheating process without rapid preheater:

Fill the heating cup brim full with alcohol by using the filling can. Use a lighter or match to set the liquid on fire. After the cup has burnt out completely, fill with alcohol again and repeat process.

Lighting the lantern:

After preheating time turn wheel left so that arrow faces downwards and close tip of preheater. The mantle glows. Pump pressure again (2 --3 bars).

 

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Regulating the light intensity:

The light intensity can only be regulated by rising or decreasing the pressure. Never use hand wheel for this operation.Insufficient pressure. In case of insufficient atmospheric pressure or too slow turning of wheel when lit, the flame may draw back into the mixing tube which can be observed by a loud gurgling roaring and low intensity of light. In this case, the wheel should be turned fast from left to right several times until the lantern burns normally. Otherwise the lantern should be extinguished completely and relit immediately. Air must be pumped in.

Extinguishing the lantern:

Open air release screw on filling screw gauge. Turn wheel so that the arrow faces upwards. If required, the lantern can remain

Cleaning the nipple:

In case the light intensity decreases despite sufficient pressure and sufficient filling, clean the nipple by turning the hand wheel fast up and downwards.

Adjusting screw of mixing tube:

If the light flickers or appears not bright enough, turn screw of mixing tube with spanner (included) or screwdriver until the slit is vertical. Space between mixing tube & nipple. Remove hood and turn hand wheel downwards. Use distance gauge of spanner (included) between mixing tube and nipple. The lantern is correctly adjusted when there is no space between tube, spanner and nipple. In case there is too much space, loosen screw of inner casing and adjust mixing tube. Important! The distance gauge can only be used for lantern types 250, 350 and 500 CP. The space between tube and nipple of the 150 CP lantern amounts to approximately 6 - 7 mm. For adjustment, loosen hexagonal nuts of inner casing.

Tight fit of nozzle and nipple:

In case a flame appears around the mantle and the mixing tube starts glowing, extinguish the lantern immediately by turning the hand wheel upwards. Cool down vaporizer upper part. Screw nipple tight with spanner (included) or replace it.

Warning: Insufficient Preheating

The recommended preheating time is 90 seconds. In case of insufficient preheating time, the kerosene will not be gasified and this results in flames on the upper part of the lantern. Remember to be always calm! Turn the hand wheel upwards and open the valve of the filling cap/gauge to decrease pressure. Wait until kerosene is burnt out completely and start the preheating process again.

High Temperature:

While putting the lantern into operation, it develops high heat. Cool it down for at least 10 minutes before doing service or repairs.

Extinguishing the Lantern:

Open air release screw on filling screw gauge. Turn wheel so that the arrow faces upwards. If required, the lantern can remain under pressure even during transport. In case of storage for a long time, the pressure should be let off. After each use nipple, nozzle and screw have to be checked for tight fit.

After Operation:

After each operation nipple, nozzle, as well as all other screws, have to be checked and tighten if necessary. Cool down lantern

After Operation:

Replacing the gas mantle

Remove hood and inner casing as described in "Fixing the Gas Mantle". Clear away all sediments of the old mantle. Fix mantle as described in "Fixing the Gas Mantle".

Replacing the leather washer:

Remove pump piston as described in "Pumping up Air" Unscrew pump piston nut and remove old leather washer. Grease and spread new washer for optimal function.

Replacing the nipple and needle:

Loosen screws on frame. Remove hood, inner casing and glass chimney. Set inner casing on glass chimney to protect the porous mantle. Hold ring of vaporizer with one hand and unscrew nipple with spanner. Remove needle with needle key (included). Replace nipple and needle and assemble again.

Replacing the pump valve:

Drain the container. Remove pump piston as described in "Pumping up Air". Unscrew valve with long screwdriver. Tip lantern sidewards and let valve fall out. If necessary, remove valve washer from pump base. Assemble new valve with washer and screw it tight.

Replacing the check packing:

Open screw of filling cap/gauge to release pressure. Open tip of preheater. Loosen screw on top with screwdriver. Replace check packing and assemble again.

Replacing the graphite packing :

Release pressure. Unscrew nut with spanner. Remove disc for wheel and hand wheel from center shaft. Loosen sleeve nut from the nipple for the center and remove it together with the graphit packing from the center. Take graphite packing out of the sleeve nut and assemble again.

Replacing the vaporizer valve:

Release pressure. Remove hood, inner casing and glass chimney. Remove flame protecting tube and unscrew center bottom. Take out screw and center bottom plate and remove frame. Disassemble the complete center by unscrewing the nipple from the vaporizer lower part with the help of the spanner. Unscrew vaporizer lower part from container and remove lead washer. Unscrew valve washer with the help of the spanner and renew washer with shell and lead washer. Assemble again.

Important!

Before replacing the complete center, remove nipple. Push needle down by means of the key until the arrow of the center clicks place. If the center does not click into place, make sure that the wire of the needle comes out of the hole of the nipple and that the arrow of the center faces upwards.

Replacing the connecting piece:

Release pressure. Remove hood, inner casing, glass chimney, flame protecting tube and frame. Unscrew nipple for preheater and nut for nipple with the spanner. Remove the complete tip. Unscrew connecting piece with spanner and renew lead washer.

Replacing the mixing tube, mixing chamber and nozzle:

Remove hood and inner casing as described in "Fixing the Gas Mantle". Screw off nozzle from mixing chamber. Unscrew mixing chamber from mixing tube. Loosen screw and remove mixing tube. Replace the defective part.

 

Hints for the Care of your Lantern

Gas Mantles:

Damaged gas mantles have to be replaced immediately. Even little tears or rips can trigger blast flames which cause heavy damage of your lantern.

Washers:

Always replace washers when removing vaporizer lower part, preheater and pump valve.