MTFCA Forum

I have an E&J carbide generator. I don't know if it is an original or a reproduction.

Today I removed the top tank and filled it with water over the kitchen sink. I turned on the valve, but I didn't see any water dripping out of the center tube on the bottom of the tank. What should the drip rate be?

I have heard that the reproduction tanks are intentionally made not to function to avoid liability. If mine is a repro, how can I make it function?

----------------------- UPDATE ---------------------------

Update - Never mind, I just wasn't patient enough. After 30 seconds or so, water started dripping out the center tube at a rate of one drop every 5 seconds or so.

I bought some carbide, along with some lamp oil for the side and tail lamps and plan to test them with some friends some evening when the weather is warm enough.

The drip rate is pretty slow. Using distilled water isn't necessary, but doing so might help prevent problems with the water metering by preventing mineral deposition. Be careful around acetylene gas. It's highly flammable and, unlike most flammable gases, acetylene is capable of exploding even when not in a confined space. Be careful not to let gas escape and accumulate. Be wary of stray sparks from static electric discharge, and avoid handling acetylene where there is no air movement, such as inside a garage or outddors on a still day. I would want to have a lit source of ignition present in an acetylene lamp before turning on the gas so as to prevent gas accumulating inside the fixture.

Mark

be sure to check that your piping system does not contain any copper fittings.

An internet search or "MTFCA" search will provide more detail on the subject.

I remember when a person turned the water on in a carbide generator and talked to someone explaining what he was doing. He then opened the headlight and lit a match. Blew the headlight apart.

Always open the door on each headlight before starting up the generator.

Thank you all for the tips!

My piping system is all brass (not copper) tubing. I see the vendors offer clamps for the ends of the red rubber hose, but I have heard that original systems did not use clamps, is that correct?

Another question - is the carbide residue hot after it is used? I wonder if I could put a plastic tub in the bottom of the lower tank to catch as much of the residue as possible, or would the residue melt the tub, making an even bigger mess?

Operating acetylene headlamps will move your car three rungs up on the "cool" scale.

I always open the headlamp doors before starting the gas and just before lighting the burner, blow inside the headlamp (think of blowing out the candles on a birthday cake) to purge it of any accumulated acetylene.

We are expecting pictures...

: ^ )

I'm certainly not an expert here but couldn't keep from throwing in my 2 cents. Most everyone that has chimed in is correct, but don't let anyone scare you too much. Once you get started just stay focused and you'll be fine. I use mine at least once a year in our 1906 Locomobile, on our drive to San Francisco, leaving at 3:15 AM or so each year on April 18th for the ceremony in downtown San Francisco commemorating the great 1906 earthquake. The ceremony begins, at the same time that the earthquake struck, at 5:12 AM in the morning. I think it's important to make sure we're all talking about the same thing. There's acetylene powered lights and carbide powered lights. Acetylene is more dangerous than carbide (in my book). With acetylene, you turn the valve on and almost immediately gas is at the lamp because it's coming from a compressed tank. Carbide is much slower. I turn the water valve on and taking my time go around and open the doors or I may already have them open, and then in around 30 seconds to two minutes, waiting with a lighted match (it varies) the burner will light. Very small flame at first and it grows as more gas enters. I strike a match right away but at first I get nothing. then a small pop! tiny flame, once it grows to full flame (pretty quick) , close the doors and drive away. The un fun part is cleaning the carbide tank immediately after words. As you can see in the picture, they get pretty bright and actually, at least in the old Loco. the rougher the road the brighter the lights. I think the rough road shakes a little more water down, so more gas.

Ed aka #4