Colibri Firebird

[Treamayne]

I guess I have horrible luck. This is my third torch and I still have yet to get one to work. I finally found a merchant that would ship a Colibri overseas, and figured I'd be set (brand name and all). I get the lighter it worked for less than a day and now - poof - nothing.

As I am extremely in-experienced with torches, I'm hopeing I am just doing something stupid. Here's the dealio:

The ligher has butane
When the button is pushed I hear the gas escaping, but no flame appears -or- the flame flashes for a second and is gone. That's it.
I have tried adjusting bottom (+/- ring) hopeing that it may have been extinguishing itself with too much released fuel, but that didn't help.

Do I have to send this back? Any other ideas?

Arigato gozaimasu, minasan.

 

[Josh]

Two things: First off, make sure you are not using Ronsonol butane. To comply with your Colibri warranty terms, you should only be using Colibri triple-refined butane. The second thing, I use a Firebird as my carry around lighter, and I've found it will not work when over filled with butane. It has the exact same symptoms you're describing until I bleed off enough of the excess butane.

Hope that helps some.

 

[Maggs44]

Ive had problems with Ronson butane also. No I just use disposable butane lighters.

I like your avitar pic Josh. Great album, one of my top 3 all time.

 

[camaroon4me]

I have had one or two Colibri lighters, and have found that I cannot use the "Lava" brand butane either. Using the Colibri brand seems to work fine! Thanks for the tip on over filling, I hadn't thought of that.

Good luck Karl!

 

[bigmac]

Usually what you are describing is you have it turned up too high, also sometimes if it has recently been refilled(or filled for that matter) you have to let some gas out to purge until it is pure gas coming out.The absolutely most important thing about a torch is to use only the highest grade butane, ie triple filtered.DO NOT USE RONSON BUTANE.
One other thing you need to do before refilling these you need to turn the adjustment all the way down(-) then get a small philips screwdriver or similar instrument and purge the refill valve of the excess gas that remains in the lighter so it will accept a full charge.
Remember the difference between a good flame and one that wont burn is a very small adjustment.
I have a firebird and have just about worn the case out now, it has gone through three cans of fuel. It is the first butane that has lasted me more than two days. If these tips dont help then maybe you just got a bad one.

 

[Treamayne]

It did this before I filled it (don't know how much fuel it ships with, but it worked straight from the box, at least twice....)

Ronson, unfortunately, is the only thing we have becasue it is the only thing AAFES carries.

I'll try bleeding it off.

-K-

 

[Josh]

The absolutely most important thing about a torch is to use only the highest grade butane, ie triple filtered.

Triple filtered? Pfft. A true butane snob would only be using quintuple-refined butane. It's twice the price, and works exactly as well, but dammit, it's just cool.

 

[camaroon4me]

It did this before I filled it (don't know how much fuel it ships with, but it worked straight from the box, at least twice....)

Ronson, unfortunately, is the only thing we have becasue it is the only thing AAFES carries.

I'll try bleeding it off.

-K-

[snapback]164305[/snapback]​

Karl, is there any way we can ship you out some Colibri fuel, or is it not legal to do so?
I would be glad to get some out to you if it will make it to you.

JV

 

[bigmac]

It did this before I filled it (don't know how much fuel it ships with, but it worked straight from the box, at least twice....)

Ronson, unfortunately, is the only thing we have becasue it is the only thing AAFES carries.

I'll try bleeding it off.

-K-

[snapback]164305[/snapback]​

Karl, is there any way we can ship you out some Colibri fuel, or is it not legal to do so?
I would be glad to get some out to you if it will make it to you.

JV

[snapback]164308[/snapback]​

Me too karl, the ronsonol will ruin your torch, I would be more than happy to send you some colibri fuel.

 

[Treamayne]

It's one of those grey areas. Supposedly, flammables are not allowed to be shipped, but commercial vendors do it. (except none of them ship here!)

You can ask at the local PO and see what they say. I'd be willing to trade stick or just purchase a can if you are allowed to send it.

 

[camaroon4me]

It's one of those grey areas. Supposedly, flammables are not allowed to be shipped, but commercial vendors do it. (except none of them ship here!)

You can ask at the local PO and see what they say. I'd be willing to trade stick or just purchase a can if you are allowed to send it.

[snapback]164331[/snapback]​

I can check tomorrow. I think you are right though, they probably will not allow flamables. Maybe fed ex or ups though.
It's worth a shot. Have you been having problems with any other torch lighters?
It seems like the Colibri can be fickle sometimes. I have a cheap five buck job that doesn't care what goes in it, and it burns fine.

 

[Josh]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd ship it anyway and lie on the return address. It'll be a couple of weeks until I can pick some up, but if you don't have some by then, I'll get you a canister and ship it over.

 

[Beefcube]

Mine worked great for about 4-5 months, and with the fuel it came with as a sale pack. Now it has developed the fire-spit, relight fire-spit, fire-spit deal. And don't even think of using it in cold weather. Must turn to gel or something. Sucks I paid 45$ for a lighter to suck soo much. A friend paid 15$ for two cheap ugly things and they digest and burn any fuel ya put in them.

 

[rknicker]

Beef, I would try releasing ALL the remaining juice and then refilling it. Mine had that problem for a while, but between completely emptying it and resetting the flame it came back.

 

[Josh]

Also, blow out the torch end really well with compressed air. Helps take care of that buildup.

 

[Kento]

You can also look at the contact point where the spark ignites the fuel. The torch I got from Japan (hint hint) worked for a while, then went kaput. Seems carbon built up on the spark wire and the contact point on the gas outlet, causing the ignition spark to ground away from the gas. A little fiddling with a needle fixed it. Not sure if this would work with the Colibri.

This is mine...too big for a pants pocket tho'

 

[camaroon4me]

Hey Karl, I was at the post office today and they verified that it is not legal to ship flamables overseas thru the air.

I did however check out the Colibri website and found a distributor in Japan. Perhaps they can be of help.

Windmill Co., LTD
No. 7-, 1-Chome
Higashi-UENO
Taito-Ku Tokyo 110
Japan
Tel: +81 338 335 701
Fax: +81 338 351 822
Email: trading01@windmill.co.jp
Colibri in Japan


If you still cant get it, let me know and I will personally put some on a slow boat to Chi........awe crap, wrong Asian Country :whistling: Maybe the slow boat goes to Japan too?

JV