Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

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GJScholz
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Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by GJScholz » Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:26 pm

Hello everyone,
I need your help on a problem with my carbide lights. Our 1914 touring has carbide lights and the flames don’t meet on three out of the four burner inserts that I have.

Is there a solution?

How can I make the flames meet?
The burners appear to be ceramic, and as such don’t appear bendable.

As always, I appreciate any help that you can give me.
Thank you,
Greg
Greg Scholz
4th Generation Caretaker
1914 Ford Touring
Survivor Class
http://personal.gregscholz.com/
Esko MN
KD0UYN ‘73

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KWTownsend
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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by KWTownsend » Tue Jun 11, 2019 1:06 am

Greg-
It sounds like a pressure issue.
The burners are set at 90 degrees and the flames hit each other to fan out.
Are you using a Prest-O-Lite tank or carbide generator?

Make sure you have no obstructions in the lines and the connections. Blow through it.

On mine the 1/8" pipe thread of the burner bass threaded down too far into the elbow fitting that the rubber tube attached to and it created a pinch point. All I had to do was cut the end of the burner pipe so it did not restrict the gas flow.

-Keith

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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by Jem » Tue Jun 11, 2019 2:27 am

They come in different sizes, the bigger the jet, the more gas flow. If only one works for you, maybe the other three are too big. If you have access to an acetylene welding cylinder you can use that to test how much flow they need - you only need to crack the regulator open slightly.


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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by Drkbp » Tue Jun 11, 2019 9:23 am

Greg,

It sounds like you have some burners that have been used with a carbide generator and have a slight lime buildup at the port opening. That will make the gas jet off center to hit the other jet on the burner. Also, check the two side ports on each tip and be sure they are clear.

I have had some success on a couple of used burners by taking a single fine strand of copper wire from a light AWG wire that will enter the tiny gas opening and spinning it in my fingers. :| The size is small but the 3/4's are a little larger than the 1/2's.

I haven't tried this yet BUT, when I find a burner that is plugged to the extent I can't use it, I am going to soak the tip in a weak acid, vinegar and water or muiratic and water, and see if I can clear it.
Has anyone tried this? :?

This is one of the reasons I use a Prest-O-Lite tank.... :)
Attachments
OPENING SIZE OF 1/2 CUBIC FOOT BURNER
OPENING SIZE OF 1/2 CUBIC FOOT BURNER
Burner Opening.JPG (30.84 KiB) Viewed 6220 times
PROBLEM IN THE DAY
PROBLEM IN THE DAY

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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by namdc3 » Tue Jun 11, 2019 1:27 pm

Oxy/acetylene torch tip cleaning files will also work well for cleaning the burner and are very cheap for a kit with several diameters. It sounds like it could be a pressure issue, too. Ensure that there are no obstructions or leaks in the line, the seal to the water tank on the generator is good, and the inner can isn't shoved over blocking the outlet. The generator will create more gas when you're driving, since it's shaking around. It's also best to let the water trickle through a tall, small pile of carbide rather than a short, large pile. IOW, you want a more vertical pack. Inserting a small hardware cloth (wire mesh) basket within the basket allows you to get more of a vertical pack without wasting so much carbide. If you fill the factory basket, it will run the lights for many hours, which you often don't need. Of course, if you're using a tank, much of what I said doesn't apply.

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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by Susanne » Tue Jun 11, 2019 2:45 pm

Actually it doesn't, because even if you don't have the settled lime from a generator, you still have the carbon build up from the extra rich flame of acetylene (which is why it's white, not yellow or blue) burning in air... The whole point behind those cleaning wires they sell in a welding shop is that same buildup from burning acetylene through a torch. Acetylene doesn't burn clean, and that carbon can eventually give you problems with the apetures if you don't clean them occasionally...

Just use extreme caution - I found (the hard way) those ceramic burners are more fragile than a spun glass sailing ship. :oops:

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GJScholz
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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by GJScholz » Tue Jun 11, 2019 4:13 pm

I am thinking the comments about lime build up may be closer to the symptoms I'm having.
The flames go past each other, as if they are being aimed in the wrong direction. So the pressure seems adequate.

I think we may be right in assuming that some build up may be happening here.
I have a set of tip cleaners, many different sizes. I'm going to try that. Specifically, I will try to clean the edge of the opening or direction that I want the flame to move to, assuming that a blockage is causing the flame to go the other way.
I will also check the vents. (I probably should check those two vents first...)

I'll let you know what I find out!

I do have an acetylene tank, its 3/4 full. Its not a prestolite tank, but the burner is a prestolite. I can use the burner with a piece of hose to test one light at a time, without needing to fire up the carbide generator, and allowing the burner valve to set the flow.

Thank you,
Greg
Greg Scholz
4th Generation Caretaker
1914 Ford Touring
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http://personal.gregscholz.com/
Esko MN
KD0UYN ‘73


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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by Drkbp » Tue Jun 11, 2019 7:38 pm

Greg,

I use a acetylene regulator to check my burners before I put them in the headlight. I put the burner in a small vise and run a hose to it, crack the regulator to about 3 psi and check that they burn correctly. A small in line valve before the burner helps when you use tank acetylene.

The burners are different than a torch in that the oxygen is introduced from the side after the acetylene leaves the port we are talking about.

I have run three Prest-O-Lite B tanks through the set of 3/4's I have in the car presently. That is about seventy-five hours of night driving and they are as clean as when I put them in. They will get some smudge on the exterior of the ceramic but nothing on the small port. I think that is from the propane lighter I use to light up.

If there are any cracks in the ceramic, I wouldn't use the burner. The headlights vibrate quite a bit driving and you can break a mirror if the burner breaks and the flame hits it.

Ken P
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RADNOR ACETYLENE VALVE
RADNOR ACETYLENE VALVE

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KWTownsend
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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by KWTownsend » Tue Jun 11, 2019 9:42 pm

Greg,
Can you post a picture of what happens?
Keith

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GJScholz
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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by GJScholz » Sun Jun 16, 2019 12:43 pm

FE49D926-E529-47FD-809B-93E0F8148A28.jpeg
The flames bypass each other.
I have three elements that do this, and one that works great.

Greg
Greg Scholz
4th Generation Caretaker
1914 Ford Touring
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http://personal.gregscholz.com/
Esko MN
KD0UYN ‘73

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KWTownsend
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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by KWTownsend » Sun Jun 16, 2019 3:56 pm

Greg-
Are the burners new? If they are, send them back!
If they are old, take them off and carefully clean them out with your tip cleaners. There should be a fine mesh on the bottom on the tip where it threads onto the burner base. Be careful and don't loose it. I believe that Ford used burners marked 3/4. The number indicates the cubic feet of gas per hour burned. So 2 burners marked 3/4 will burn 1-1/2 cuft of gas per hour.
-Keith

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GJScholz
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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by GJScholz » Sun Jun 23, 2019 2:52 pm

BCF6DB9A-0EBA-4597-93D7-C1F726C187EA.jpeg
Fixed.
So as it turns out, the ports needed to be cleaned. But - not the ones you would think. On each side of the Y, there are two air jets, and inside, a teeeny tiny port for the gas to come out of. The gas from this port mixes with the two air ports, and you get one flame.

The inner smaller gas ports were dirty.

Thank you for all your help!
Greg
Greg Scholz
4th Generation Caretaker
1914 Ford Touring
Survivor Class
http://personal.gregscholz.com/
Esko MN
KD0UYN ‘73

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KWTownsend
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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by KWTownsend » Sun Jun 23, 2019 4:43 pm

Now you're cooking with gas!


Drkbp
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Re: Carbide headlights Dash flames don’t meet!

Post by Drkbp » Sun Jun 23, 2019 7:48 pm

Very good! :D

Ken P

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