Fixing a very old butane lighter
July 25, 2021 12:34 PM Subscribe
I got a butane lighter that isn't working. I tried to refill it and it's still not working. I can't find online instructions for a similar lighter so I'm not sure how to fix it.
Pics are here.
When I got it, I don't think I was getting a click/spark when I flicked the top back. After trying for a while, I realized I could actually get a slight click/spark. I don't know if I was just confused before or it suddenly started clicking, but either way it didn't light, so I assumed it was out of butane. I got a butane canister and pressed it against the valve on the bottom. I could hear it going in. But when I tried to flick the top back, I didn't get a click/spark. I tried flicking it back and trying to light it with a new lighter, and it didn't work. I also tried blowing compressed air into the top and that didn't work either.
The flathead screw is, I think, to adjust the flame. I don't know what the phillips head is securing. The other hole at the bottom is the valve for the butane.
How do I tell if it needs a new flint? If it needs a new flint, what kind does it need? Any other suggestions?
Pics are here.
When I got it, I don't think I was getting a click/spark when I flicked the top back. After trying for a while, I realized I could actually get a slight click/spark. I don't know if I was just confused before or it suddenly started clicking, but either way it didn't light, so I assumed it was out of butane. I got a butane canister and pressed it against the valve on the bottom. I could hear it going in. But when I tried to flick the top back, I didn't get a click/spark. I tried flicking it back and trying to light it with a new lighter, and it didn't work. I also tried blowing compressed air into the top and that didn't work either.
The flathead screw is, I think, to adjust the flame. I don't know what the phillips head is securing. The other hole at the bottom is the valve for the butane.
How do I tell if it needs a new flint? If it needs a new flint, what kind does it need? Any other suggestions?
Actually, on re-viewing your pictures I'd guess that the center Phillips-head screw is for flame adjustment and the flat-head screw on the end is for flint access.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:12 PM on July 25, 2021
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:12 PM on July 25, 2021
I don't think there'll be a flint. That looks like a piezo mechanism. That's the extent of my knowledge and I have no idea how to fix it!
You can check whether the gas is flowing by trying to light it from another spark or flame while you're holding it open.
posted by Ted Maul at 1:13 PM on July 25, 2021
You can check whether the gas is flowing by trying to light it from another spark or flame while you're holding it open.
posted by Ted Maul at 1:13 PM on July 25, 2021
Butane lighters use piezo electric strikers - they don't wear out. Mostly.
You can go into a dark room to see if you can see a spark down the barrel.
If you hold the button down halfway, you should be able to hear a slight hiss of butane coming out (hold it up to your ear).
Old lighters like these, it's possible that the fill-hole is corroded on the inside and no butane gets into the reservoir, and/ or the reservoir itself is damaged/ leaky and won't hold a butane charge.
The flame adjustment knob - you can fail to get a flame if it's set either too low or too high. Count the turns from min-to-max and adjust to somewhere near the middle.
posted by porpoise at 1:15 PM on July 25, 2021
You can go into a dark room to see if you can see a spark down the barrel.
If you hold the button down halfway, you should be able to hear a slight hiss of butane coming out (hold it up to your ear).
Old lighters like these, it's possible that the fill-hole is corroded on the inside and no butane gets into the reservoir, and/ or the reservoir itself is damaged/ leaky and won't hold a butane charge.
The flame adjustment knob - you can fail to get a flame if it's set either too low or too high. Count the turns from min-to-max and adjust to somewhere near the middle.
posted by porpoise at 1:15 PM on July 25, 2021
Vintage Cigarette Lighters That Won’t Spark (troubleshooting straight flint tube/curved flint tube vs. piezoelectric)
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:26 PM on July 25, 2021
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:26 PM on July 25, 2021
Response by poster: Okay by unscrewing the flat head screw, I was able to take the whole thing apart (long piece of metal is the flat head screw). It does seem like it's piezo electric but I don't see a spark or hear a hiss of butane. But the reservoir is definitely holding butane, because it decompresses when I take the flat head out.
posted by quiet coyote at 2:02 PM on July 25, 2021
posted by quiet coyote at 2:02 PM on July 25, 2021
If you don't see any spark in the dark, you could try cleaning the metal points where the spark should be. It's possible that environmental crud or corrosion is preventing a spark. Fine sandpaper is the tool for that job.
posted by pipeski at 2:20 PM on July 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by pipeski at 2:20 PM on July 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
The no-hiss suggests that the release valve/ trigger mechanism is messed up. Try turning the flame adjust all the way to one way and see if you get a hiss. If no, turn it all the way the other way and see if you get a hiss. No hiss at near either extreme = not really worth fixing, but you can try fiddling with the trigger.
If there's no spark, yes, there could be some corrosion, and a bit of sandpaper or a very fine file might do. If you don't have either, a small nail file or small wire brush (like, for drinking straws?) might do.
When you depress the trigger, do you get increasing resistance until you hit an inflection point where it is supposed to go "click" if you go past the point? If not, the trigger itself is damaged.
posted by porpoise at 3:05 PM on July 25, 2021
If there's no spark, yes, there could be some corrosion, and a bit of sandpaper or a very fine file might do. If you don't have either, a small nail file or small wire brush (like, for drinking straws?) might do.
When you depress the trigger, do you get increasing resistance until you hit an inflection point where it is supposed to go "click" if you go past the point? If not, the trigger itself is damaged.
posted by porpoise at 3:05 PM on July 25, 2021
Did you hold the whole THINGS upside down when filling with the butane? You're supposed to hold it upside down, that's how you get the liquid butane into the lighter. You should be able to hear butane sloshing around on the inside of the lighter if you shake it next to your ear.
Then it's all the above sort of checking for a spark/hiss and maybe or maybe not being able to fix it.
posted by zengargoyle at 4:31 PM on July 25, 2021
Then it's all the above sort of checking for a spark/hiss and maybe or maybe not being able to fix it.
posted by zengargoyle at 4:31 PM on July 25, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:10 PM on July 25, 2021 [2 favorites]