Coleman Liquid Fuel

[Curious Hound]

Found a garage sale on marketplace, could see a dark green 80's or newer stove poking out of a box so I go check it out. Box had been wet so it had some surface rust on the outside, hardly been used and inside was clean. It had the owners manual and a 1988 Coleman catalog/brochure that goes thru everything Coleman was making then in the box too.

So I go to walk around and think about it and the guy yells "$5 for the gas, stove and lantern!" from the garage.



So anyway I have another CL2 now...

On my way home I was debating on fixing the lantern to either flip or gift.

It was mostly full of fuel so I give it a go, it starts spitting fuel. What the heck, I get a lighter and give it a try.

Don't run too bad!



And it dims better than anything else I have!?



So yeah, 6-85. While it doesn't give a super awesome first impression it might not clean up too bad either. Still haven't decided what to do with it.

The stove is a 9-88 425, I think with the lid up it will make for a pretty good display item to go with my mid 80's camping setup.





And the fuel can is half full.

So then I was waiting on my wife and trolling marketplace again and I find a red lantern kinda cheap. I notice the vent isn't right, actually read the description and it is a freaking milspec!

So I did the right thing and nabbed that too.



The thing has to be half again heavier than a normal 220 although it is a single mantle. Dual air tubes and of course the crazy gen. The "globe" is four curved panels that slide in tracks. I have heard they really are not all that great to use especially compared to a civilian lantern... I have wanted one since I got into the hobby and they are really scarce around here.



It isn't a showpiece but aside from the cap tether chains and missing funnel it is all there and should run again. Parts well had a new leather wrapped in wax paper (that I hate to use) a goofy wrench for the generator with a flip out screwdriver and maybe half a dozen Silk-Lites. Fount is dented and of course spray bombed so it kinda is what it is. Guy worked for the DNR, I shoulda asked if he got it thru them or if there was any kind of an interesting story with the red paint but didn't think of that until later.

1965 model, wonder what its military career was like... probably just sat in a box but it might have seen some duty as Vietnam obviously got started shortly after it was made.



The pumps are dried up in both the stove and the milspec, I will try to oil as I am out of leathers but that seems to be a short term fix.

Great weekend for you. I kept passing yard sales and antique/junk shops on my trip home yesterday. But knew I needed to get home and do yard work that was overdue. So I probably missed some if those kinds of deals. Out in the mountains where civilization was slow to arrive and CCC camps abounded while building the Blue Ridge Parkway and other infrastructure, there is probably a bunch of equipment like that hanging around.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Nice finds...

I'm so torn lately. I keep seeing things pop up on craigslist... I just cant' bring myself to buy any more collectibles right now. In fact I'm going to try to unload a garage full of stuff the next couple weekends.

All my heirloom things are boxed and ready to move. But I have some hard decisions to make with the rest of it. Most of it represents 40 years of picking through peoples garage sales and flea markets. I want to say I'm not attached... but I am to some of the stuff.

I know I'm going to keep a few collections...

Gun Oil tins
Fly line cleaner/float tins
Belt bait box collection
Boot grease and wader repair kit collection
Spearing decoys/tip ups/antique ice fishing poles.
I'm sure there is more... a few tonka trucks... my choice Coleman stuff...antique traps and drags... anything that says Fred Bear or Bear Archery... anything that says Sportsman on it.

My wife promises me space in the future for my man cave and a big garage... this old stuff just has a way of making me happy and I like to be surrounded by it. But even keeping what I want... I can still fill the garage with the rest. Most of it I can tell you were I found it and what I paid... but I can't keep it all. Probably someone else's time to enjoy them.

Who knows... I could even end up with a pocket full of cash.

 

[Curious Hound]

The polite camper always leaves his camp stove leveling stones for the next guy.

 

[Shran]

Found a garage sale on marketplace, could see a dark green 80's or newer stove poking out of a box so I go check it out. Box had been wet so it had some surface rust on the outside, hardly been used and inside was clean. It had the owners manual and a 1988 Coleman catalog/brochure that goes thru everything Coleman was making then in the box too.

So I go to walk around and think about it and the guy yells "$5 for the gas, stove and lantern!" from the garage.



So anyway I have another CL2 now...

On my way home I was debating on fixing the lantern to either flip or gift.

It was mostly full of fuel so I give it a go, it starts spitting fuel. What the heck, I get a lighter and give it a try.

Don't run too bad!



And it dims better than anything else I have!?



So yeah, 6-85. While it doesn't give a super awesome first impression it might not clean up too bad either. Still haven't decided what to do with it.

The stove is a 9-88 425, I think with the lid up it will make for a pretty good display item to go with my mid 80's camping setup.





And the fuel can is half full.

So then I was waiting on my wife and trolling marketplace again and I find a red lantern kinda cheap. I notice the vent isn't right, actually read the description and it is a freaking milspec!

So I did the right thing and nabbed that too.



The thing has to be half again heavier than a normal 220 although it is a single mantle. Dual air tubes and of course the crazy gen. The "globe" is four curved panels that slide in tracks. I have heard they really are not all that great to use especially compared to a civilian lantern... I have wanted one since I got into the hobby and they are really scarce around here.



It isn't a showpiece but aside from the cap tether chains and missing funnel it is all there and should run again. Parts well had a new leather wrapped in wax paper (that I hate to use) a goofy wrench for the generator with a flip out screwdriver and maybe half a dozen Silk-Lites. Fount is dented and of course spray bombed so it kinda is what it is. Guy worked for the DNR, I shoulda asked if he got it thru them or if there was any kind of an interesting story with the red paint but didn't think of that until later.

1965 model, wonder what its military career was like... probably just sat in a box but it might have seen some duty as Vietnam obviously got started shortly after it was made.



The pumps are dried up in both the stove and the milspec, I will try to oil as I am out of leathers but that seems to be a short term fix.

Great scores! Especially the milspec lantern, I would love to have one of those. FYI, my Cabela's has real leather pump parts in stock... $5.99, I keep a few on hand all the time.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/coleman-pump-cup-and-back-up-plate

I haven't found much, got skunked on a yard sale Gold Bond stove, still looking as always!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Great scores! Especially the milspec lantern, I would love to have one of those. FYI, my Cabela's has real leather pump parts in stock... $5.99, I keep a few on hand all the time.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/coleman-pump-cup-and-back-up-plate

I haven't found much, got skunked on a yard sale Gold Bond stove, still looking as always!

I snagged my last one at Bass Pro... which is kind of the same sad thing as Cabelas now. It is funny they didn't even have a propane lantern let alone anything gas but they had fuel and all the common replacement parts for the gas stuff. Assorted mantles, generators, pump assemblies, pump leathers, globes, fuel etc.

I am having stupid thoughts about putting the mil-spec back to green.

 

[Shran]

Do it, if you can figure out a way to strip the orange without taking the green with it. So far I have not had much luck with that, I am fairly sure Coleman used some sort of lacquer paint on camping equipment. I even tried some gentle orange degreaser on a stove recently and a bunch of paint just washed right off with it.

Maybe put a heat deflector on that CL-2 as well if you plan to run it - I hear it's a good idea even if they have the updated metal valve installed.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Do it, if you can figure out a way to strip the orange without taking the green with it. So far I have not had much luck with that, I am fairly sure Coleman used some sort of lacquer paint on camping equipment. I even tried some gentle orange degreaser on a stove recently and a bunch of paint just washed right off with it.

The vent is of course ceramic and the paint is already coming off on its own.

The fount... it is probably going to need repainted. The weird looking cracks are the factory decals splitting apart under the paint. Not sure about the military version paint but regular coleman paint is pretty weak stuff.

I want to get it going first and go from there.

Trying to find what is a close approximation for spray paint to match the later mil-specs too. A repop sticker kit is $7, a new teathered fuel cap is the same.

Maybe put a heat deflector on that CL-2 as well if you plan to run it - I hear it's a good idea even if they have the updated metal valve installed.

I did that on my "good" CL-2 that was made the same month my truck was built. It was "new" enough to have the metal eccentric and this one is 4 months newer yet. Easy mod and it also spring loads the globe so it doesn't rattle.

 

[JohnnyO]

Getting my stuff together for camping at the Ford Nationals next week. Are y'all aware that there is a propane shortage? Cannot find camping propane containers anywhere. Three Walmarts, Dick's Sporting Goods, Big Lots, Rural King, nuthin' nowhere. Got two of the tall ones you use for plumbing at Rural King. They fit the stove, probably cost less anyway.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

In a pinch you can run white gas stuff on pump gas.

 

[Roert42]

You can pick up an adapter to run off a 20lb bottle too.

 

[Curious Hound]

I have 5 or 6 bottles you can have. Just stop by on your way to the event.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I've been cleaning and organizing the garage... I found three full ones and the almost full one with the torch head that I use to start campfires. You're welcome to those also.

 

[Shran]

I started saving and refilling my empties for this exact reason... Between cooking and the camp shower, I use probably one or two each time we camp. More on longer trips.

Did you know there is a shortage of spray paint cans too? I went to buy a can of etch primer and had to buy the $20 can instead of the $8 one because the manufacturer can't get any cans. Weird.

 

[Roert42]

I started saving and refilling my empties for this exact reason... Between cooking and the camp shower, I use probably one or two each time we camp. More on longer trips.

Did you know there is a shortage of spray paint cans too? I went to buy a can of etch primer and had to buy the $20 can instead of the $8 one because the manufacturer can't get any cans. Weird.

How do you refill them small bottles?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It is actually illegal to refill the little Coleman ones and can be unsafe.

The valves are not really meant for multiple uses.