messed up flame
 

so I have tried everything that I can think of but still have a nasty bushy flame. its almost a hissy type of flame putting off a heavy popping yellow flame out side of the candles

I suspected my propane regulator, it appears that the pure propane flame has some type of turbulence in it? so i replace it with a another I had but still the same thing
I cleaned the torch ,brushed the face, checked all lines for leaks. checked the propane hose for decay. looked at all screens and flash backs for foreign objects. then cleaned my concentrators filters and ran each separately to see if either machine was at fatal. and a big No to all. even opened up the propane tank with no regulator to purge any moister if thats possible. spent all day just walking back and forth and i'm stumped. I still think it is on the propane side of things, but? I ran the torch for some time hoping it would work it way clear of things. just one ugly flame.


I am using a Victor , probably cost around $40 or bit more. these gages really dont seem to be built for back yard exposure. i cover mine with a rubber bucket. I had the original gage sitting on my bench and noticed that two earwigs had worked their way to the front of lens in the pressure dial.

suggestions please.
thanks

Hi there, is your tank a BBQ tank? Do you exchange it at the store?

Is the tank full ( recently filled)?

Is the tank low on fuel?

Just a process of eliminations..starting here first since it seems to be fuel related.

80lb tank which i think is around 24 gallons, and yes full, and it is mine. freshly filled with propane from a place I have always used.

Which of your torches are you having the issue with? Have you tried switching to your other torch to see if you are having the same problem?

How old is your hose and have you ever hung it to see if you can drain any goop out of it? That could also cause problems. The goop they use to make propane smell bad so you notice it if it's leaking can build up in your hose.

well I am back and OMG still having the same problem. I replaced my propane regulator with a high end (taking no chances) one. I have tried three different torches and all display the same crazy flame. I talked to GTT and hmm that didn't help.

I'm confused and with nothing left to check. so as a last Hail Mary I have order a new concentrator. seems like false hope to be honest.

I have gone through everything. running straight from K tanks and propane tanks with the same results. all new hoses to boot. no foot pedals or quick connects. I'm stumped folks and flat lining.

crazy thing is. With three torches , it means just at the torch alone I have to check 14 different quick connects. never though about how much I have invested in those and that doesn't account all of them. God help those with big shops

Try slowing things down a bit. Set regs on minimum pressures and see what happens.

Three torches all have same symptoms... not the problem
Several regulators all show same symptoms.... not the problem
New hoses..... should not be the problem. Quick connects could be the problem as they have a valve inside that has a rubber seal ring. The ring could be bad and causing sticking either open or closed or in between.
Orange or yellow flame indicates lack of oxygen or incomplete gas mixing.... possible problem
Hissing flame indicates disrupted laminar gas flow.... too much pressure, or obstruction. Obstruction unlikely if there is bad flame on all candles
Yellow out the side of the candles.... Indicates gasses not mixing well. You have GTT so surface mix, sounds like crap in the torch tubes. Clean the center tubes with the little wire that GTT provides; cut a narrow strip of an aluminum can about 3/32" wide and bend it around a toothpick to form a small tube; carefully insert the strip into the channel around the outside of the center tube to clean it. Be very careful and stop if there is heavy to moderately heavy resistance; you do not want to break off the strip in the channel. I used stainless steel shim stock so there was less chance of breakage...SS is way stronger than the aluminum.
Bad outside flame...try running the torch with the blue valves closed for a minute or two... still bad? ... try with blue open and green closed...any change?

Cover the torch face open all valves and blow into each torch hose. Any feedback to the other hoses. There should be! now uncover the torch face and do it again... any feedback. There shouldn't be. It might be very slight so maybe put free hose ends in a cup of water and watch for bubbles.

Some ideas. PJH

My GTT torch has a crazy flame too. Like you, I've changed everything that can be changed. Still have the crazy flame. Someone told me they had the same problem, sent their torch in to GTT and they did something with the teflon seal rings inside the torch. Replaced or reseated them...something to that effect. One of these days I'll have the $50 it will take to get them to fix the damned thing. Either that, or I'm chucking it in the trash and buying a Minor.

this is good stuff and I talked with GTT about the cleaning of the O2 ports that they dont suggest trying ones self. however your input is good pass along material.
"Three torches all have same symptoms... not the problem"
I have ruled out the torches. one was brand spanking new.

"Either that, or I'm chucking it in the trash and buying a Minor."
throw it this way, but seriously I know your pain

Hi Bayard,
I can see that I should have read all of these replies before I sent an email to my friend, Ernie Leimkuhler, who is absolutely one of the top metal working/welding gurus on the internet.
He doesn't know anything (much) about lampworking but oh boy does he know torches and set-ups.
This was his reply (I only sent him the text from your first post because he is having problems with his internet connection at home.
He *will* however, have access to the internet at work (tomorrow and every day) until Earthlink fixes his home connection so I'll PM you his email address.
In the meantime, this was his reply to your initial post:
It seems like his regulator is blown.

The $40 Victors aren't very well made, especially if it is living outside.
For what it would cost to get it rebuilt, he should just buy another one.

What he should do is buy an actual adjustable propane regulator.
They are sold for use with crab pot cookers, and turkey fryers.
Propane regulators are intended to live outside.

Amazon should have them.
There are several vendors on Amazon who sell propane cookers, and parts.

I'll also send him your name and the text from the further posts in this thread in the meantime.

Hope it helps!

~Rachel