Starting a Refleks heater

[milltech]

The instructions are brief to the point of economy with no little drawings. It says pour a little meths through the hole next to the exhaust pipe and drop in a match, or something like that. I poured half a small paper cup, is that a little?

Dropped in a match, satisfying roar, burned for about 20 seconds and went out then dead. Tried again and there was a big bang and a whoosh and me saying
"!*$% that". So I switched off the diesel fuel and left it to ask for your advice. I don't think the heater has been run since commisioned in 1990 and a bit, and anyway not since 1999.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>

 

[Althorne]

Pour some meth's into it when it's warm and watch for the fireworks.
(Only kidding a' John).
Roy

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[milltech]

Well I know I had eyebrows when we left Harwich!

<hr width=100% size=1>John
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[Trevethan]

Too much meths probably and you may not be lighting the surafce of teh fuel, just some spills/splashes.

I light my Dickinsons with the stuff, and if you put in too much the flames sort of float off and it goes out. Then when you relight it all that vapour goes pop as you have learned!

I use half a cap of meths, and let a little oil into the burner too, which seems to help witht he flame out problem.

Oh and I use one of those long handled lighters, which lets you light the surface of the meths easily so you don't just light stuff that splashed on the superheater on the way down.

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[Maurice55]

Well, I'm mighty glad I can answer this one.
I fitted a Refleks a few months ago and I agree with you the instructions for lighting are rather vague.
I tried the meth and got fed up with it as the heater got into a kind of rhythmic puffing and blew itself out.
Then I tried barbecue lighting "cubes" and this is how I did it all winter and never failed and I still have all my eyebrows !!!
1 turn regulator knob on pilot
2 break a bit of BBQ lighter the size of a small sugar cube (you can do this inside a clear plastic bag so as you do not get smelly fingers)
3 stick the lighter at hte end of a piece of wire (coat hanger type) long enough to reach the bottom of your stove
4 light it and deposit it in the burner
5 put the top of the stove back on (I have discovered that if I only put this top loosely on the top of the stove and keep it like so for a few minutes, I don't get the puffing)
Easy, no smell, no mess and never failed even in strong wind.
Good luck.
M.

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[milltech]

Thanks Maurice, sounds like really good advice and I will try it. One point is that I think you must have a side exhaust where mine comes out of the top of the heater. Consequently I have been unable to see how to get a good peak inside because the lid can't come off. All I have is a small hole, a size something like a £1 coin, with a sliding cover on it.

However I will buy some lighters and "give it a go" on the next visit, thanks muchly.


<hr width=100% size=1>John
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