I have a 200A I've been troubleshooting for a while now. Took everything apart and cleaned it and put a new generator in it and reassembled everything. The reason I did all this was because it seems like it is not really vaporizing the fuel, you turn the knob open with the match held by the mantle and fuel just pours out of the thing and you can imagine what happens next... a nice little camp fire. It'll eventually burn normal after 30 seconds of this excess fuel burning but im not sure what else would be causing this. Anybody have any other ideas?

Is your fuel fresh?

Yes, as fresh as I can get it. Picked it up, the White fuel from the store a few weeks ago

Check the burner tube and manifold for spider egg sacks and wasp nests. I've also encountered damaged fuel tubes in the tank, they had small cracks in the fuel tubes- would let in too much fuel.

You are on the right track with the new generator, should fire right up. I have had what you described happen a few weeks ago with my 220 in 20 deg cold. It worked fine in October and a couple days after it acted up in the cold it warmed up to 35 and it fired right up without a hitch.

In case you don't know. Those generators are rebuildable a provided the needle/ gas tip is good. The part is only a few dollars at old Coleman parts.

www.colemancollectorsforum.com

Those guys can figure out anything Coleman!

Moosetrot

Thanks guys. I'll do a bit more looking at it today

the directions for them says to open 1/4 turn then light. Even pumped up good it takes a few seconds for the gas to reach the mantle. It sounds like your opening it to far to me.
Once it warms up good and the fuel is vaporizing in that new generator, then you open it up. Those old lanterns are like starting old motorcycles. All different. Some need opened a 1/3 or a 1/2 turn to light good. You dont open it up to light it though. Some fire at first is normal for them till they get hot enough to vaporize the fuel.

You can also remove the globe. Heat the generator with a mapp gas or propane torch. Then light it. Put the globe on after its lit.

This is a double mantle version of your 200A. Made in 66. I usually just take the globe off and heat the generator with a torch . Its easier than using a match especially outside where the wind blows it out. Once its hot set the globe back in leaving the top off. Light it from the top with the torch. Inside i use needle nose pliers to hold the match so i can stick it up in there. Usually wont light on the first match so i turn it off then light another. Open it up with the match inside. When you do that there will be some fire till it warms up

I have a double mantle coleman. lantern and camp stove. You just have to play with them a bit till the generators get warmed up. My lantern has a sparker kit with a flint , can light without a match. Haven't had it going for a long time . Must get it out and try it. old243

Is it just me or is there something kind of special about lantern light?

We usually remove the glass and leave it off. Just more convenient that way. Also rather than holding the match under the mantle, hold it against the generator to preheat it.

I am sure you know the little lever should be pointing UP when you light it and then DOWN to burn.
Are you sure the little hook on the end of the needle is engaged in the eye of the tab that is controlled by the little cleaning lever ?

I didn't know that about the cleaning lever, I always just left it down while burning and never left it up for lighting and I will definitely double check that hook and make sure it is correct. I guess I never thought holding a match up to the generator to preheat it per say something I'll look into

Didn't read through all the answers , but make sure the generator cleaning crank is turned down .

UP to light. After the mantle is glowing, maybe 20-30 seconds, open the valve all the way and turn the cleaning lever to the down position

I never left it up either , but you may need to let it set a few minutes before lighting , so it settles the fuel down also .
Fuel may be splashed in to the generator , or the tank isn't level or too full .
Had it happen before , but after shutting it down , and trying again a few times it was fine .
Might be just a speck of dirt also .

I drilled out the bottom on mine so I can use a Butane barbecue lighter to light them.

The preheating of the generator with a match seemed to work well. Thank you

Yep..How does one clean their globe?..No matter what I have tried to clean my globe back to new I just can't get all the carbon residue from lantern starts off the globe