Problem with Blazer lighter!

From: Roger W. Farnsworth
Date: Sat, Nov 20 1999 12:00 am
Groups: alt.smokers.cigars

Well, after seeing the phenomenal job that Blazer Corp. did repairing Bob
Ray's PT 4000 Pencil Torch, (14" cobalt blue flame with delayed-action off
button,) when mine went tits-up I decided to forgo the $20 fee and 6 month
wait and "take matters into my own hands" so to speak. Here are a few notes
from the altogether too exciting but eventually successful venture:

The PT 4000 has a brass butane tank inside. This tank has an output valve
that is lifted by the on-off switch. The flame adjustment collar is
immediately adjacent to the tank, and then there is an extension tube that
is approximately 2" in length. This extension runs almost to the head of
the torch, where it fits neatly into a small carburetion valve assembly. It
is this assembly that is visible at the tip of the torch. On my torch this
carburetion valve had worked itself completely closed, thus cutting off all
fuel flow. It took me a while to figure this out, however, so I got to have
fun reducing my torch to individual components and thoroughly cleaning them
all.

One of the things I attempted to clean was the inside of the 2" extension
tube. This tube has an interior diameter just slightly greater than .5 mm.
After thinking for a few minutes, I came up with the idea of using a pencil
lead from a mechanical pencil. Voila! Perfect fit. Can you see where this
is going yet?

First note: Do not, under any circumstances, pull up on the valve while the
pencil lead is inserted in the tube. Ffffftttttt! Holy flechette, Batman!
The pencil lead was ejected from my torch at a speed that I can only
approximate as twice the speed of sound, firmly embedding itself in the
ceiling.

Once the problem carburetor was found and adjusted, I reassembled the torch.
Proud of my mechanical acumen, I called Stacy into the room and prepared for
test firing. Second note: Upon reassembly, please double check to make
sure that the 2" extension tube actually fits *into* the carburetion valve
and not along side of it. Snick, click, WHOOOOF! The ensuing 12" in
diameter fireball was singularly spectacular and dramatic in the extreme. I
quickly switched off the torch, salvaging precious few knuckle hairs and a
tiny bit of self esteem, and demonstrating to my gal that I am, as always,
cool under fire!

Reminds me of two old jokes: What are a redneck's last words? "Watch
this!" and How do you make a cat go woof? - With a pint of gas and a match.

Well, here I sit with naked knuckles, several pieces of pencil lead embedded
in my bulletin board (right, like you wouldn't keep doing it!) and a
perfectly functioning pencil torch. I think I'll take the $20+ bucks that
Blazer would have charged me and blow it on a nice cigar. Then I'll pop the
cork on a nice bottle of shiraz, tear the paper off a box of truffles, and
sit down to a good movie.

Have a great Saturday night, all!

R.