How to Fix a Lighter
A high-quality cigar lighter is one of those little luxuries that make life a lot more fun. The elegant finishes, environmentally-friendly nature of a reusable device and the reliable service make them as practical as they are indulgent. They will have trouble, however, from time to time. A lighter is such an inherently simple device that it’s generally very easy to figure out what is causing the difficulty.
Most lighter problems will be traceable to a few specific areas. There may be debris in the fuel jet, there may be an air bubble in the fuel line or there may be something physically obstructing the igniter mechanism. All of these difficulties are easily remedied.
If the wheel on a flint-style lighter doesn’t turn, first check for any obstructions. One may gently roll the wheel backwards to dislodge most items. If this doesn’t work, remove the flints and see if anything falls out. The spring device that holds in the flint, unfortunately, oftentimes has the same gold color as do high-end lighter flints. Make certain that one is striking the wheel against a flint and not simply grinding it on the retainer spring. This sounds obvious, but is frequently the cause of problems.
If there is no spark at all, either the electronic ignition or flint wheel is obstructed or there is no flint left in the lighter. On a flint wheel model, remove the retaining spring and verify that there is flint. Be aware that the last few millimeters of flint sometimes become lodged against the flint wheel and prevent it from turning. Tap the lighter to dislodge it.
On an electronic lighter with no spark, the affair is a bit more complex. If any obstructions have been removed and there is still no spark, there may be a problem with the igniter itself. Most often, this will require the intervention of a qualified service person to fix. The lighter may either be brought to a shop or sent back to the company. Most companies warranty their products for quite a while and there is usually little or no difficulty in securing a repair. Don’t attempt to remove the igniter one’s self. Doing so incorrectly can damage the lighter permanently and will almost certainly void the warranty. These problems need to be fixed by someone with the right tools and knowledge.
Brian is a business consultant for an online windproof butane lighter store and has expert knowledge of cigar humidors.