Scorch torch lighter teardown, fix, repair and reassembly. Part 1 How to replace the Piezo

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This video will show how to teardown the Scorch torch and how to replace the piezo igniter when it no longer works. And, how to put it back together. It's fun, cheap and easy to do. This video was created in Corel VideoStudio Ultimate 2018.

This is my 4 year-old Scorch Torch Gabón lighter.

I find the number one (1) problem with torch lighters is the piezoelectric igniter no longer creates a spark. The piezo will wear out from use and it's plunger will not have anything to strike. Lots of times the piezo igniter is defective It will no longer "click" and or will not spark. I can buy a new lighter or fix it by replacing the piezo ignition. A cheap fix is to use an igniter from a utility lighter. And then there's the other number one (1) problem with torch lighters; it is the quality of butane being burned. Butane quality is directly proportional to the number of times it is filtered. Impurities that do not completely ignite are left behind in the form of oily carbon soot. In time this desposit will harden in to carbon buildup. Cheap butane will ruin your lighter because of the amount of unburned impurities because of lack of filtering when the butane is manufactured (South Korea).
If your torch lighter is still clogged after trying other known fixes, the micro mesh screen and/or the permeable disk inside the fuel intake valve is clogged. If you have never done this, washing the screen between your fingers will definitely improve your flame.

I have two of these torches. I tried unscrewing the burner assembly on the orange one but it will not budge. I could try to apply heat to to it and see if it will loosen up, maybe one of the days I will. To my surprise, this one, the blue one, actually unscrewed out. You can unscrew it by grabbing the body of the burner from underneath. It will come out from the top of the lighter. The ceramic cup will also come out as well. I gave the burner assembly a good wash in rubbing alcohol. The Gabon has one big single jet orifice (hole). I took a small piece of #00 steel wool and twisted it and I was able to push the piece of steel wool into the orifice and gave it a good scrub. The single jet orifice won't get clogged up because of it's size, but who knows. It would take an enormous amount of carbon buildup to clog it up. But it still needs to be cleaned.

You may ask if it only has one big jet how come when I look at the flame there is fire surrounding the entire torch head, and it appears to come from underneath the torch head. When you take out the burner assembly you will notice there are channels on the sides of the torch head. They are called "diversion channels". Butane is also funneled through these channels. Because the fuel is being jetted upwards and out the torch head, most of the fuel goes out through the single jet directly in-line with the assembly's bore hole. The channels don't get as much fuel because of their off-center position in relation to the bore hole. That's how the flame appears all the way around the torch head, making for a better, bigger and stronger blue torch flame. And with only one jet when lit, It does not burn as hot as a torch with many jets, thus you have a "soft flame". If you have a torch lighter with multiple jets around the rim of the torch head, you will notice that the jets are in-line with the diversion channels. On the Gabon and other similiar torch lighter there are no corresponding jets drilled into the top of the torch head. But the fuel is still coming out the diversion channels and the fuel emanating from them, does get lit underneath the torch head ead.

The bore hole is just above the intake valve. It has a very, very small diameter. The permeable disk goes in first It sits at the entrance of the bore. The butane is blown/forced through this disk. This increases the jet effect of the fuel. As the fuel passes through the now much narrower bore hole the butane is jetting faster than when it entered the burner's intake valve. It gets mixed with air in the mixing chamber. Butane has a low boiling point. The butane and oxygen mix is now vaporized as it continues upwards and out through the surface of the torch head, where ignition occurs. Whew!

Update: There are 3 pieces inside the fuel intake valve located on the opposite end of the torch head. You can rub them between your fingers to clean them. And they go back in as follows:

Once again, the permeable disk goes in first, followed by the spacer and finally the last to go in is the wire mesh screen.

I found this youtube video that helped me to understand the correct order the pieces go inside the intake valve of the burner assembly.

Information regarding torch lighters can be found elsewhere on the internet and in patents. For example US Patent 6,827,572 B2 Torch Lighter for Cigar, and US Patent 5741128 Hand Gas Torch.