Kersoene Weed Burner

Jim Arm · Feb 8, 2015

I have a had a kerosene/#1 oil weed burner torch for 40 plus years and lost the instructions 39 years ago.
It is a simple pump-up device that holds about a gallon of fuel.
The only control besides the pump is a gate type valve with very small orifices. There is no pressure gauge.
The only identifying thing on it is a small one-way valve on the bottlom of the air pump, which has "Mono Valve 151-400." This number seems to be standard on Hudson garden sprayers.
I cleaned it thoroughly and can get it to work, but not well. It should put out a serious jet of flame. Mainly it goes out when tipped at the angle used to burn weeds.
Does anyone know the settings to start with: How many pumps, how open the valve? Then how to fine tune it as you go.
Happy to provide more details if necessary.
Thanks.
Jim Armstrong
Potte Valley

pat sublett · Feb 8, 2015

Throw it away and get a propane burner.

Dick · Feb 8, 2015

I have one that may be like what you have. Mine is blue and about 4'long total length. The upper part is the tank and the lower part is the burner. It's about 2 1/2" in diameter. In the burner part at the end there's a coil. On mine, you turn on the valve a small amount to get fuel squirting out and light it. It will be a yellow flame until the fuel passing through the coil gets hot enough to atomize. Once the fuel gets hot and atomizes, then it's like a steam that is squirting out the orifice. Then you can adjust the flame to a blue flame. The hotter the flame the more it atomizes from fuel to more like a gas. It works good but can be a little difficult to get going. I seldom use it as a propane burner works so much better. I've bought one at Harbor Freight for around $20. and it works good.

Good luck,
Dick

circus · Feb 8, 2015

You'll probably have luck searching "Sheen K300 flame gun".

gtractorfan · Feb 8, 2015

I forgot those exist. Dad had one he used about 60 years ago when I was a kid. I remember him having somewhat of a hard time getting it going and when it was working it sounded like a small jet. Had tubing coils around the burner to get the kerosene hot before going out the nozzle.

Bret4207 · Feb 9, 2015

All the ones I've seen work like a gasoline torch. The coil has to get hot enough to vaporize the fuel. Usually theres a basin under the coil for that. Pump it up as much as it needs and try heating the coil with a propane torch.

Jim Arm · Feb 9, 2015

Thanks! That's the one.
How many times do you pump it at the start and do you have do do more along the way?
What is the initial valve setting and how is it fine tuned along he way?

Jim Arm · Feb 9, 2015

That was helpful. Thanks

Dick · Feb 9, 2015

I don't pump it too much to start with as it will shoot a stream of kerosene 3 feet. Just so it burns at the end where to coil is is it gets the fuel in the coil to atomize. Once it starts atomizing you can adjust the flame to your liking. If the flame starts to die down, pump it up some more to keep it going good. You might want to try standing it up on the burner end so it will burn around the coil quicker. Just play around with it and I think you'll get it figured out. They work ok but I still like the propane burner better. I have about a 1 gallon tank that works better than lugging around a big 5 gallon tank.
Hope this helps,
Dick

Charles in Aus. · Feb 10, 2015

I still use one from time to time . There is one particular pernicious weed here that takes multiple doses and forever to die if poisoned . It's deadly poisonous itself so burning is the best solution .
I preheat the coils with methylated spirit ( wood alcohol I think you call it ) a few cap fulls ignited in a jam tin , pump up the tank and hold the coils over the flame , let a small stream out once it has had time to get hot ,the spirit will ignite the stream . Once hot enough it roars like a lion and shoots a flame three foot long at maximum pressure . Don't forget to clear the nozzle with a jet needle to clear it of carbon deposits .

Jim Arm · Feb 12, 2015

I am making progress. It sounds more and more like a hot air balloon taking off.
Thanks for the input.

Kersoene Weed Burner

Jim Arm

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pat sublett

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Dick

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circus

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gtractorfan

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Bret4207

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Jim Arm

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Jim Arm

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Dick

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Charles in Aus.

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Jim Arm

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