Caution: Turn off a lantern and let it cool before starting. Never work near sparks, high heat, or fire (including a pilot light).
Fill a gasoline lantern only with the additive-free fuel sold for that purpose. Wipe off spilled fuel after filling.
When the lantern is on, turn the cleaning-needle lever frequently to remove deposits on the generator’s tip. Every couple of months, lubricate the pump through the oiling hole.
If a lantern won’t light, the pump may not be creating enough pressure.
Unlock the plunger knob, put your thumb over the knob’s hole, and pump several times. Ifyou feel little resistance, the leather or neoprene cup on the plunger’s inner end needs oiling. Unscrew the plunger and take it out. Apply oil to the cup; then wipe and reinstall it.
Replace a brittle cup.
If a lantern flickers, doesn’t burn brightly, or burns for a minute or more after it is shut off, it may need a new generator. Before installing one, close the fuel valve and release the pressure in the fuel tank byslowlyunscrewing the fuel-hole cap; hold a rag over the cap to prevent spillage. Then unscrew the ventilator nut and lift off the ventilator and globe. Turn the cleaning-needle lever up and unscrew the generator nut. Slip the needle out, and the generator will fall out. Insert the needle in a new generator. Turn the cleaning-needle lever down and tighten the generator nut. Reassemble the lantern; run it to test for leaks.
If one mantle is damaged, replace both. Brush away the old mantles’ residue. Tie on the new mantles with drawstrings; arrange the folds evenly and trim the strings. Light the mantles, and let them burn until ashy white. When camping, always carry extra mantles and a spare generator.