Problems with Zippo

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Brewdude

Brewdude

Broken Pipe
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So I have a Zippo with the pipe insert that I use virtually 100% of the time.

Lately it takes 6-10 strikes to light, despite keeping it full of fuel. Changed the flint out recently.

Figured it might be the wick, and pulled a new length out the other day and trimmed it just right.

That worked for a little while and it lit on the first or second strike.

Now back to multiple strikes and can't figure out why.

How many strikes does it take you? Or should i send it back to Zippo?

:confused:



Cheers,

RR
 
Is the wick bunched-up someplace where it isn't getting a steady supply of fuel from the cotton wadding? I've had that happen before.

Whenever I load a new wick, I take out all of the cotton, and feed the new wick down through the top of the inner works. After pulling the wick to the right height in the combustion chamber, I then pull the wick through the open bottom, and use a black paper clip (the kind that looks like a black wedge with two handles) to hold the wick at the metal edge where the screw is undone to load in a flint. I then re-stuff the cotton wadding, fold back over the felt stopper, fill up, and boom--perfect. That makes the wick able to soak up fluid at any level.

8)
 
Check the striker wheel too - if that gets crudded up it won't spark, even with a new flint.
 
Temp can be a problem as well. The liquid is less likely to go into a gas state at cold temps.
 
sonarman":h54pn39y said:
Temp can be a problem as well. The liquid is less likely to go into a gas state at cold temps.
Click to expand...
It's a FLUID lighter! No "... gas state..." is involved :p When I've had that sort of problem, my flint was worn or it was near empty of fluid. Check both and if it's still giving you problems, send it back to Zippo for a new insert. They are not "rocket science" lighters :twisted:
 
Another possibility which I have experienced (once) - a weakened tensioning spring for the flint.

Over-fueling the lighter can cause spark problems as well,
 
monbla256":yv2v07r2 said:
sonarman":yv2v07r2 said:
Temp can be a problem as well. The liquid is less likely to go into a gas state at cold temps.
Click to expand...
It's a FLUID lighter! No "... gas state..." is involved :p When I've had that sort of problem, my flint was worn or it was near empty of fluid. Check both and if it's still giving you problems, send it back to Zippo for a new insert. They are not "rocket science" lighters :twisted:
Click to expand...
Thank you; beat me to it.

It's a "vapor" state, if anything. Toothbrush soaked in said fluid cleans up dirty striker-wheels pretty good, too. If it's a really old lighter, or you habitually used the flint down to the spring, the wheel itself might be tuckered out, which would require a trip back to Zippo.

Worse case scenario? The lighter gets sent back and you get a refurbished, working insert.

8)
 
Mine have done the same lately. Replaced wick, batting, stretched the spring, new fuel and flint. All zippo products. Still can't get mine to light reliably been about 2 years of good lights before it went out. Is that normal? Oh and scrubbed it all down with old tooth brush and ever clear.
 
i.keenum":g0ltea8g said:
Mine have done the same lately. Replaced wick, batting, stretched the spring, new fuel and flint. All zippo products. Still can't get mine to light reliably been about 2 years of good lights before it went out. Is that normal? Oh and scrubbed it all down with old tooth brush and ever clear.
Click to expand...
It shouldn't be normal. I'm still using the same Zippo lighter that I have had since 1981. Still works like a charm. Unless they are not making them the same now as they did then?
 
Lots of good helpful advice here. Thank you gents.

Actually I've been wondering if there isn't something up with the spark from the wheel. Maybe it's not throwing off enough spark due to being gummed up or not enough tension on the flint, but the spring seems just fine in that regard.

I'll try cleaning off the wheel with a toothbrush and some lighter fluid and see how that works. Don't think it's anything with the wick - as I said I just pulled a new length up and trimmed it just right so it's not all carbonized up or frayed.

If all that doesn't work I have no problem shipping it back to Zippo for a fix. They sure do seem to be great on the lifetime guarantee/CS front and they stand behind their product. Might have to put up with not having it for a few weeks if that's the case. NBD.

Again, thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.


:cheers:



Cheers,

RR
 
Once, twice, max.

I pull up and cut a wick only once if it wears out[1] and then reweave/replace the next time. If you can workaround the issue with a drop of fuel on the wick you probably have a problem with the capillary action of your wick. It's could be too short, bent too tight somewhere or squeezed whilst pulling it up. Take a good look at what could possibly reduce the capillary action of your wick. A bit of fiddling with a pin might fix it. The top should have a bit of surface area, not be a point. Otherwise just get a new wick and reweave.

A fresh piece of wick never lights as well as one that's saturated with pieces of unburnt flint, so give it some time.

The flint wheel can also get dull. Even though this is because of normal wear, Zippo will be happy to replace.

As I only use my Zippo to light cigarettes I keep the wick about 2 mm below the end of the chimney for better fuel efficiency and lighting reliability.

Also, never ever underestimate the relation between rocket science and a Zippo lighter.

[1] It only seem to do that when lightening it too often on low fuel.
 
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