Cleaning a Blazer PB-207?

[chenvt]

Ok so my Blazer went kaput on me.. I've been searching for some tips on cleaning it, but to no avail. Basically, it was working great for months.. I was originally using ronson butane and then switched to lava.. I bled the lighter dry and then put the lava in.. worked a couple times, and then the flame wouldn't go out, I'd blow it out, and there would be wheezing.. eventually it stopped letting any butane out at all.. Any idea? Bleed it again? Shoot some compressed air? I'm up for suggestions to try something since the only other way to go is spend another $50 on a lighter

[RichardW]

There are several versions (here's one):
Often the flame decreases in size after the first refill and may fail
to ignite on the high setting. I top them up with gas which affects
the pressure and usually results in a smaller flame. I then adjust
them before selling. The adjustment is made inside the torch and is
not really meant to be done by the owner but it can be done with a bit
of fiddling.

Remove the two small screws either side of the wind-shield and pull
off the top. there are no springs to jump out but the dust filter may
come off from around the fire nozzle. this is easily put back on.

There is a metal plate held down by one screw. turn the screw a couple
of turns to loosen the plate - no need to remove it completely. With
"the black flame adjustment lever at the max position, lift it off the"
"ratchet , move it back a bit then push it back down onto the ratchet."
Then push it forward to the high flame position again. Press the
plunger to release the gas and apply a light from a match or another
lighter to check the size of the yellow flame. This should be about 2
cm long.

the fiddly part is getting the top back on. The wire has to go up
inside the the hole that leads to the copper electrode that you can
"see in the top, and the valve that the gas comes out of goes inside"
the hole in the base of the nozzle. i put the wire in first and then
wriggle the top around and it goes in fairly easily. If you don't get
it right the wire bends and you get no spark.

Don't make the flame too big or it is slow to extinguish. To reduce
"the flame size push the lever backwards, lift off the ratchet, move it"
to the maximum seting then push down onto the ratchet again. It's only
"a matter of repositioning it on the ratchet, and with intelligence,"
"which i am sure you have, you will understand what you are doing."

The Pocket Torch really makes a superb lighter although for safety
reasons it is not made as such. that's what it says on the packiging
in UK but I won't light a cigar without it. Another point: there is a
filter in the fire nozzle with a microscopic hole to increase the gas
"pressure. This is easily blocked with gunge from cheap fuel, so use he"
best quality such as Ronson or Swan which is charcoal filterd.

If you get in a mess send the bits to me and I will assemble them for
you. Include a 5 dollar bill. Also if you have a torch that needs
repairing do the same. i can replace every part except the body. You
can email me and I will email back. For more info you may be able to
access my web pages on
http://www.u-net.com/~hill//

Note: This was written by David Robinson about 10 years ago. His current web page is http://www.hill.u-net.com/ and when I sent a couple lighters across the pond (one intact -- the other in pieces that I was unable to put back together again) it cost me $10 (plus shipping).

good luck!!

Good

[RichardW]

Version two -- on a different model Blazer:

Subject: Fun with Blazers - or - Don't try this at home!
Date: 11/20/1999
Author: Roger W. Farnsworth <rfarn...@cisco.com>

Well, after seeing the phenomenal job that Blazer Corp. did repairing
Bob Ray's PT 4000 Pencil Torch, (14" cobalt blue flame with delayed-
action off button,) when mine went tits-up I decided to forgo the $20
fee and 6 month wait and "take matters into my own hands" so to speak.
Here are a few notes from the altogether too exciting but eventually
successful venture:

The PT 4000 has a brass butane tank inside. This tank has an output
valve that is lifted by the on-off switch. The flame adjustment collar
is immediately adjacent to the tank, and then there is an extension
tube that is approximately 2" in length. This extension runs almost to
the head of the torch, where it fits neatly into a small carburetion
valve assembly. It is this assembly that is visible at the tip of the
torch. On my torch this carburetion valve had worked itself completely
closed, thus cutting off all fuel flow. It took me a while to figure
this out, however, so I got to have fun reducing my torch to individual
components and thoroughly cleaning them all.

One of the things I attempted to clean was the inside of the 2"
extension tube. This tube has an interior diameter just slightly
greater than .5 mm. After thinking for a few minutes, I came up with
the idea of using a pencil lead from a mechanical pencil. Voila!
Perfect fit. Can you see where this is going yet?

First note: Do not, under any circumstances, pull up on the valve
while the pencil lead is inserted in the tube. Ffffftttttt! Holy
flechette, Batman! The pencil lead was ejected from my torch at a speed
that I can only approximate as twice the speed of sound, firmly
embedding itself in the ceiling.

Once the problem carburetor was found and adjusted, I reassembled the
torch. Proud of my mechanical acumen, I called Stacy into the room and
prepared for test firing. Second note: Upon reassembly, please double
check to make sure that the 2" extension tube actually fits *into* the
carburetion valve and not along side of it. Snick, click, WHOOOOF!
The ensuing 12" in diameter fireball was singularly spectacular and
dramatic in the extreme. I quickly switched off the torch, salvaging
precious few knuckle hairs and a tiny bit of self esteem, and
demonstrating to my gal that I am, as always, cool under fire!

Reminds me of two old jokes: What are a redneck's last words? "Watch
this!" and How do you make a cat go woof? - With a pint of gas and a
match.

Well, here I sit with naked knuckles, several pieces of pencil lead
embedded in my bulletin board (right, like you wouldn't keep doing it!)
and a perfectly functioning pencil torch. I think I'll take the $20+
bucks that Blazer would have charged me and blow it on a nice cigar.
Then I'll pop the cork on a nice bottle of shiraz, tear the paper off a
box of truffles, and sit down to a good movie.

Have a great Saturday night, all!

R.

[Silound]

The short answer is the most recent production runs have had flaky valves. I've had 2-3 go out that simply needed to be adjusted.


Use the post above to adjust your flame setting inside the lighter.

If you have issues with it, take it back to your local Blazer dealer, they should have some sort of repair/replace situation set up with Blazer.

[chenvt]

Well thanks to the first post I was able to take my blazer apart and noticed what's wrong.. Basically, the top part is clogged somewhere.. Without the top, gas comes out fine.. but when it's on, nothing.. furthermore, when I take the top off after trying to get gas out, there's a gasp of butane that was trying to get out.. I'l see about getting some compressed air or something on the nozzle part to see if whatever is clogging it can be cleared up. Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Silound

The short answer is the most recent production runs have had flaky valves. I've had 2-3 go out that simply needed to be adjusted.


Use the post above to adjust your flame setting inside the lighter.

If you have issues with it, take it back to your local Blazer dealer, they should have some sort of repair/replace situation set up with Blazer.

[Silound]

Originally Posted by chenvt

Well thanks to the first post I was able to take my blazer apart and noticed what's wrong.. Basically, the top part is clogged somewhere.. Without the top, gas comes out fine.. but when it's on, nothing.. furthermore, when I take the top off after trying to get gas out, there's a gasp of butane that was trying to get out.. I'l see about getting some compressed air or something on the nozzle part to see if whatever is clogging it can be cleared up. Thanks again!

Ber very careful, there's a small fine fine fine mesh screen in there that can blow out (size of a pinhead). That's actually what gets clogged, so when you blow it out, at least make sure you blow it into a baggie or something so you don't lose the screen if it comes out.

[chenvt]

Thanks for the advice! I'll give it a try.. I dont' remember who I bought this from, it was a CS group buy and I don't have a receipt.. A couple of BOTLs have been generous enough to help me out as well