by doug hodder » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:45 pm
Jeff....the cleaning valve pushes a brass rod with a tiny whisker up through a hole in the end of the generator. I cleans out crud (carbon) that may build up in there.
I don't "fill" them. They are fairly fuel efficient and I don't like to leave an absolute full one in the trailer. I could be wrong on this, but it just seems to me that a full one will need to be pumped more during use to burn it down, since you are pressuring the air cavity.
I'm not sure on the exact purpose on the cardboard in the generator...may be to insulate the raw fuel and keep it from overheating....I'll have to ask over on the Coleman thing.
I don't think you'd need an ultrasonic machine...they clean up easily with vinegar or carb cleaner.
I'm thinking the frames were originally plated, 242's are stainless. I again could be wrong on it. After I bead blast them, I spray with high temp aluminum paint. Seems to be an accepted practice and works for me. Plating is so expensive.
I have a box of parts, ordered up some extras of the things that might be needed so I don't have to order every time I want to rebuild one, and some of the official Coleman wrenches. I always carry spare mantles, but since I got more into this, I'll carry parts along to rebuild others lanterns at the campground if needed. I've never carried them in the past. Some of the more unusual items are more difficult to locate parts for and at times, you need to be creative in finding a solution.
If you get it working correctly, they pretty much work for a long time with minimal maintenance. Get a funnel with a filter on it! I've never rebuilt my '76 220J and I bought it new and have used it every year since I got it. It will hold pressure all winter long. All those that I've rebuilt have at least 6 weeks on the pressured tanks with fuel in them...they are still holding and will fire right up.
I'm no guru at any of this, and learn a lot of things the hard way after I've sort of screwed up....I've still got a lot to learn and every different lantern has it's own little quirks, but they all operate on the same basic principal. Doug