Butane lghter: hard starts...

[gpjoe]

I've got two "nice" butane pipe lighters, and a pile of Zippos and disposables.

My first quality lighter purchase was an Old Boy. I didn't want to carry it all the time, out of fear of losing or damaging it, so I bought a similar Kiribi for knock-around use (and dropped it onto an asphalt parking lot the first day ).

Anyway, the Kiribi gets the bulk of use, by far, and it's starting to balk at firing up. Sometimes it takes 3-4 strikes to ignite. The Corona fires first time, every time.

I've only ever used quality quad-filtered fuel, and the manufacturer's flints. I periodically and carefully clean the jet with a q-tip moistened with isopropyl alcohol, and have completely purged and refilled the tank.

Still, the Kiribi has become a challenge to use while the Corona has been a delight.

Is this merely an example of "you get what you pay for"?...or a maintenance issue?

I must admit that this is the very reason I typically avoid refillable butane lighters, and now wondering if my Old Boy will also begin acting up with prolonged use.

Suggestions welcome and appreciated.

 

[Price]

As I started reading your post, I was going to suggest a purge/refill, but you've already done that. Perhaps try blowing out the jet with some canned air? That's worked for me in the past.

For the record, my Old Boy has been a champ for eight years of near daily use.

 

[gpjoe]

As I started reading your post, I was going to suggest a purge/refill, but you've already done that. Perhaps try blowing out the jet with some canned air? That's worked for me in the past.

For the record, my Old Boy has been a champ for eight years of near daily use.

Thanks.

I'm going to do another purge and clean today, and will blast the jet with compressed air...though I'm beginning to believe it may be the "quality" of the lighter. Good to know that if all else fails I can count on the "Old" reliable.

 

[DesertIguana]

Jetline make a Pipe Lighter, they are quality at fair price. FYI

 

[luvmysuper]

Have not had a single issue with my Old Boy.
Is the flint in the Kiribi spring loaded?
I've had issues with Zippos where the spring collapses and will spark, but not a robust spark. A slight pull on the spring to expand it a little solved the issue.

 

[cwright]

Have the same problem with my Kiribi, thumb gets sore trying to light. This is odd, found yesterday, if I wrap my thumb around the wheel to light, not just down the side, worked much better. Probably will not help today.....

 

[luvmysuper]

Also - look at your flow rate. A high flow rate will blow away a weak spark without igniting.
A low flow rate requires accumulation of sufficient gas to ignite.

 

[gpjoe]

Have not had a single issue with my Old Boy.
Is the flint in the Kiribi spring loaded?
I've had issues with Zippos where the spring collapses and will spark, but not a robust spark. A slight pull on the spring to expand it a little solved the issue.

I did notice improvement with a longer (new) flint, which would have increased the spring tension a bit, so I did gently stretch the spring which seemed to make the ignition more consistent, though still not perfect.

Also - look at your flow rate. A high flow rate will blow away a weak spark without igniting.
A low flow rate requires accumulation of sufficient gas to ignite.

Never considered this. I keep the flame adjusted toward the low end, so I'll try tweaking it a bit.

 

[gpjoe]

Update:

Yesterday I cleaned the jet with a pipe cleaner and alcohol, purged and refilled, tweaked the spring and installed a new flint, and it seems better and fires on the first or second try. I don't have canned air, so if it acts up again soon, I'll use my compressor to try blowing out the jet.

 

[Columbo]

If purging and cleaning doesn't work, try a different fuel for a few fills. Some lighters (particularly cheaper ones) are more prone to deposits, no matter what you run in it. A Kiribi is not necessarily a cheap lighter, but it's not a Dunhill or Dupont, either. Not that your present fuel is bad. But a slightly different mix might help clear whatever may have accumulated from the prior fuel. Yes, butane is butane, like gasoline is gasoline. But I've seen it work enough times to suggest it.

By example, I've used Newport Zero for many years, which is a high purity butane out of the UK. I've got a couple 20 year old Coronas that love the stuff. But I had a couple cheaper yard lighters eventually start choking on it. A couple fills of Xikar high altitude mix cleared them, before moving them back to the Newport (where they've been fine ever since).

Another trick is to run them 'hot' for a while, with a bigger flame, to get the fuel moving through the valve assembly a little faster.

Lighters are funny that way, especially as you move down the price ladder.

Of course, once you get below a certain price point, it's hit or miss with the internals with every refill.

 

[gpjoe]

If purging and cleaning doesn't work, try a different fuel for a few fills.

I'm going to try this on my next fill.

 

[cwright]

Used my Kiribi tonight, used my new to me method to light, worked every time, even in a light breeze. Must be the extra spark time from placing thumb on the front of the wheel instead of brushing the side.

 

[Njguy1977]

In my experience I've found that certain butanes work better for certain lighters, I have a cheap pipe lighter for outside use and always had a hard time lighting the piezo igniter and took a while to get lit. I switched to Colibri butane and it fires every time guaranteed. I also had the same issue with the zippo side flame butane insert...started using Colibri again and every time it fires. I think you just have to find what works best...for me I'm sticking with the Colibri butane as it works in just about everything and works well. YMMV of course

Larry

 

[life2short1971]

I used a needle to increase the orifice size slightly and that helped with my non Old Boy lighter then did it to my Old Boy and it seems a bit more wind resistant. I didn't man handle them just some gentle tweaks with a sturdy hand sewing needle.

 

[DrStrange]

"... and a pile of Zippos and disposables."

That might be the answer.

Bic disposables never malfunction.