Just back from a great weekend in North Yorkshire however one disapointment was when I tried to use my new dual fuel lantern. I followed the instructions, fitted the mantle, primed it with fuel pumping about 35 times and when it eventually lit the mantle went up in flames. Naturally I quickly turned it off as flames were licking out of the top of the lantern.
When I enquired at the local camp shop he did not know much about the lantern but said he had 3 seperate people come in and complain of this problem.
I suspect maybe I fitted the mantle wrong? But I did look ok and the same as on the instructions. Perhaps I have a faulty lantern?
Has anyone had the same problem or does anyone have any idea what I did wron?
New mantles can look a bit "interesting" when first lit. What's happening is that the excess material of the mantle is burning off, and it is also shrinking. After it has shrunk, it forms a bag to contain the vapourised fuel. Before the bag is formed, fuel vapours are all over the show, and that's why you can get a bit of a worrying fire. If the mantle is still on, chances are you've fitted it correctly.
My advice now would be to try it again, somewhere extra safe, with a fire blanket standing by, and your fastest trainers on. Try not pumping the pressure as high as usual, and give it another go. Be patient and give it, say, 30 seconds of wildfire, afterwhich it should settle down, and you can then give it some more pumps. If not, turn off, throw the blanket on and leg it..
Unfortunately after my initial experience I drained the fuel out and took the mantle off, in fact the mantle disintergrated in my hand when I touched it, is this normal? It did stay white around the main body of the mantle with the green ends turning black where they attach to the lantern.
Oh I'll give it another go for sure as it's brand new, just thought best bet on recent trip was to put it back in the box and ask the folks or here or failing that speak to coleman, will get a new mantle and try again
Did you "burn" the mantle first? I have this lantern and once the new mantle is fitted I believe you are supposed to burn it - by putting a match under and around it, before the fuel is switched on. Once the mantle is burnt (it will shrink to form a ball around the valve) you can switch on the fuel. You may find a few flames initially (until the fuel pipe has heated up ensuring the fuel is vaporised when it enters the mantle) but this should soon die down.
Also be careful not to touch the match on the mantle - I did this and created a large hole and needed to replace the mantle.
------------- Never underestimate the power of the dark side.
Someone may correct me, but, as I understand it...
... the actual mantle material proper is 'carried' in a combustible material - and this is what needs to be burnt off before the mantle can be used.
The mantle packaging should carry instructions.
Install the mantle(s). Hold a lighted match / gas lighter under the mantle (without touching it) and 'burn' it. This leaves shrunken, very sorry-looking, darkened gauze. Give the pressure pump about twenty pumps, hold lighted match or gas lighter about an inch below the mantle and open the fuel valve. The mantle should 'pop' into life and expand into a bulb-like shape. Another twenty or so pumps should have the lamp working perfectly.
i also purchased one off these lamps when they first come out,followed the instructions to the word pushed the igniter button and woosh ! towering inferno, lucky we was not in the Awning this action damaged the igniter pack melted if i remember rightly, Towsure said "You must have done somthing wrong sir"anyway the lamp went back to Colman and about three weeks later after chasing and hounding Towsure one arrived on the doorstep ? My next thought was dare i try it, anyway tonge in cheek, we tryed it and yes it does to this day still light like a flame thrower for a minute or so
I am interested to read that your lamp still lights like a flame thrower. We bought a Campingaz Lumostar M270 - followed the instructions i.e. burning the mantle etc. However, everytime we light it (its has one of those piezo self ignite buttons), it takes a few clicks before the whole thing bursts into flame! Settles down after a while but we very wary and always light it outdoors. Sometimes when you carry it back into the tent, it has another little flare up! Are we doing something wrong?
I've found that the Coleman (petrol) and the Tilley (paraffin) both flare up initially if they have been overfilled. Never have a problem if they have been filled correctly.
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Topic: Coleman Northstar Dual Fuel Lantern
