How to rebuild Coleman Lanterns?

[bigndn]

Anyone done it? I inherited the red one (model 200A) from my grandparents, and just got the green one (model 220) from my neighbor. Both need to be rebuilt from what I can tell. I put fresh Coleman fuel into both and got the following results.

The red one starts burning at the base of the brass feed tube and then lights the mantle, but it doesn't make it bright. The mantle glows (about 50% of it), then there's a fire around it, and black smoke coming out of the top of the lantern. The cleaning spud thingy in the back of the lantern is difficult to spin. The pressure pump seems to work.

The green one works (or did), but definately could use a thorough cleaning. The mantles weren't glowing as bright as I expected. The cleaning spud thingy is easy to spin. The pressure pump is very difficult to push back in. It doesn't seem like it wants to pressurize.

Any tips/tricks/recommendations from this crowd?

 

[bigndn]

more red......



more green.....

 

[hkeller]

I've done a few. Not sure it was rationale. I spent more than I would have on new ones.

Yours may just need generator tubes, which are relatively cheap. If they need more parts, Coleman probably has most. They have a pretty good customer service line that can ship you what you need. Good luck and have fun.

By the way, the red one is seeexxxy!

 

[bigndn]

I've done a few. Not sure it was rationale. I spent more than I would have on new ones.

Yours may just need generator tubes, which are relatively cheap. If they need more parts, Coleman probably has most. They have a pretty good customer service line that can ship you what you need. Good luck and have fun.

By the way, the red one is seeexxxy!

On fleabay, I saw a couple labeled "Sunshine of the night"......

Haven't seen one with that heat shield/reflector and handle combo thingy though.

 

[lingo]

Get a new generator for them both. I have found that they have changed the design some what and it causes a rich condition with the new generators. To remedy this I have taken the inner pieces of the new generator and put them in the old brass housing. This has fixed the problems I have had. I need to take a pic of all my old Coleman stuff.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Try bass pro shops for parts. Mike

 

[lingo]

I've done a few. Not sure it was rationale. I spent more than I would have on new ones.

Have you priced a 220 lantern lately?

 

[Pighead]

Coleman sells new/replacement pressure pump gizmos...bought one off the shelf at wallyworld and put it in. Works like new.

 

[bigndn]

Get a new generator for them both. I have found that they have changed the design some what and it causes a rich condition with the new generators. To remedy this I have taken the inner pieces of the new generator and put them in the old brass housing. This has fixed the problems I have had. I need to take a pic of all my old Coleman stuff.

Coleman sells new/replacement pressure pump gizmos...bought one off the shelf at wallyworld and put it in. Works like new.

I'll check into it. Thanks!

 

[DMS1]

You can find a lot of Coleman Parts and diagrams at the [URL="http://www.oldcolemanparts.com/"]Old Town Coleman Center[/URL] website, and if you have any questions on repairing your lanterns, the old timer that runs the place is a human Coleman Stove and Lantern encyclopedia, he helped restore my dads old Coleman Stove and lantern.

 

[bigndn]

You can find a lot of Coleman Parts and diagrams at the [URL="http://www.oldcolemanparts.com/"]Old Town Coleman Center[/URL] website, and if you have any questions on repairing your lanterns, the old timer that runs the place is a human Coleman Stove and Lantern encyclopedia, he helped restore my dads old Coleman Stove and lantern.

Muchas gracias.

 

[land crusher]

Coleman sells new/replacement pressure pump gizmos...bought one off the shelf at wallyworld and put it in. Works like new.

Before replacing the pump assembly, try soaking the leather cup in oil (3 in 1 or something). If the lantern sits unused for quite a while the cup will dry out and the pump won't seal well if at all. Generators can be cleaned (carefully) so long as the needle is not damaged. The reason the generator is a consumable part is because the needle can get bent or broken, especially if the generator gets too carboned up for the need to do its job of clearing carbon. However, it's not unusual for a generator to last decades if cared for. More often than not a good cleaning is what an old lantern needs. These things are fantastic, robust pieces of equipment that will take a lot of abuse and still perform for years. Don't forget to check the filler cap--the old gaskets will dry out and you won't maintain pressure. Always good to have a spare around.

 

[bigndn]

Before replacing the pump assembly, try soaking the leather cup in oil (3 in 1 or something). If the lantern sits unused for quite a while the cup will dry out and the pump won't seal well if at all. Generators can be cleaned (carefully) so long as the needle is not damaged. The reason the generator is a consumable part is because the needle can get bent or broken, especially if the generator gets too carboned up for the need to do its job of clearing carbon. However, it's not unusual for a generator to last decades if cared for. More often than not a good cleaning is what an old lantern needs. These things are fantastic, robust pieces of equipment that will take a lot of abuse and still perform for years. Don't forget to check the filler cap--the old gaskets will dry out and you won't maintain pressure. Always good to have a spare around.

Thanks, I'll be checking those items.

 

[FJ60Cam]

I bought a mint 220 off ebay that didn't work. I took it apart, and cleaned it as best I could with carb cleaner, oiled the cup with motor oil, put it back together and it works like a champ.

I think I got all the info off that Old Town Coleman site. Lots of great info there!

 

[Ctenosaurian]

I just rebuilt a couple of Coleman 502's and found some good writeups on the forums on OldColemanParts.com. I am about to dig into a Coleman 220J but haven't had the time yet.

 

[rusty_tlc]

You might want to look at this thread
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/the-coleman-thread.406982/

 

[85badger]

I used to rebuild a lot of these when I was younger, I worked at the Yoder Hardware Store, Yoder, Ks. The Amish use the heck out of these things. Most of the time, the leather cup gets dried out, like stated above, soak the leather plunger in oil or replace if worn. The other part that gets varnished up and clogged is the generator. It is the brass tube that goes up to the mantles.