Kiribi Kabuto - How is Yours Holding Up?

[Ryan]

One of the online retailers had a sale on the Kiribi Kabuto and I bought a full size model yesterday. I have a question for Kiribi lighter owners. (Last paragraph is the actual question for those that like to get to the point)

I know these lighters have been discussed several times in the past, and I have read those threads. It seems the most commonly mentioned flaw was the screw that acts as a fulcrum for the lift arm becoming loose over time. I already plan on using a little loctite for that issue.

As I read through the threads I noticed the majority of them are from 2013-2015 when the lighter was relatively new. There have only been a handful threads since then, and none for a while.

As usual, it took a long time to get to my question(s): Now that these lighters have been in service for several years and they have been out in the field being used for much longer than they were at the time of the old threads, are they holding up well? Still working as they should? Warranties being honored? Are you happy with yours or did you end up wishing you had purchased an IM Corona Old Boy or some other lighter?

 

[PA Piper Mike]

Unfortunately, I can't comment on this, since I don't own one, however, I have been contemplating picking 1 up. It's a beautiful lighter and I love the flame setup. Is the sale still going on? If so, which retailer?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I bought mine in 2017. I liked it but never loved it. They just don't perform outdoors.

Sent it in for servicing in 2019.. wasn't charged so that was nice.
Worked well for another year or so but ...
I haven't used it now for about 2 years. It won't light. I've cleaned it thoroughly, tried various flints (it sparks fine), even tried multiple butanes (it dispenses gas just fine).

If I pop the cap I can hear gas coming out of the nozzle. I can light it with a separate lighter and it keeps the flame.

But it WILL NOT spark and light on its own.
Funk that thing.

 

[agnosticpipe]

I bought mine in 2017. I liked it but never loved it. They just don't perform outdoors.

Sent it in for servicing in 2019.. wasn't charged so that was nice.
Worked well for another year or so but ...
I haven't used it now for about 2 years. It won't light. I've cleaned it thoroughly, tried various flints (it sparks fine), even tried multiple butanes (it dispenses gas just fine).

If I pop the cap I can hear gas coming out of the nozzle. I can light it with a separate lighter and it keeps the flame.

But it WILL NOT spark and light on its own.
Funk that thing.

This has been my experience too, but I've only had it since 2019. I"m not sure what is going on but I just stopped using it. My 28 yo. Corona (not the old boy) just keeps on working.

 

[trouttimes]

I have two Kiribi. A Kabuto and a mini. The mini has been flawless. The Kabuto had to be replaced for a leaking tank after two years. Smoking Pipe was great to deal with the problem. The replacement is still going strong. Sucks in any wind, just fyi. I also have an Old Boy. You can feel the quality difference. The Old Boy has had no problems in 10 years. It sucks in the wind too. For the price difference, buy once, cry once.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I had two. Initially liked them but they crappie out after about two years. I have two IM Corona, they are worth the extra money.

 

[mingc]

I bought mine in 2017. I liked it but never loved it. They just don't perform outdoors.

Sent it in for servicing in 2019.. wasn't charged so that was nice.
Worked well for another year or so but ...
I haven't used it now for about 2 years. It won't light. I've cleaned it thoroughly, tried various flints (it sparks fine), even tried multiple butanes (it dispenses gas just fine).

If I pop the cap I can hear gas coming out of the nozzle. I can light it with a separate lighter and it keeps the flame.

But it WILL NOT spark and light on its own.
Funk that thing.

I had an Old Boy that did exactly that. It sparked, gas came out audibly, but no ignition unless lit with another flame.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I had an Old Boy that did exactly that. It sparked, gas came out audibly, but no ignition unless lit with another flame.

I've tinkered with the nozzle.. tried to turn it in different directions.. doesn't seem to make sense.
Someone's gotta know the solution.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Mine (a mini) has been great for 3 years, but now has something going on with the nozzle. May just need a cleaning, can only get a tiny flame out of it.

 

[sjohnston0311]

I've been using a Kabuto since around 2017 (I think) with no issues. It's been a great lighter for me, aside from the fact that it kinda sucks in the wind, but that's expected with that type of lighter. I know a lot of other people have had some problems though, so I figure it will crap out on me eventually. I'll probably just replace it with an Old Boy when that happens, since the Old Boy really isn't that much more expensive in the long run.

 

[craig61a]

I had two, bought several years ago.

One stopped working at the 1.5 year mark. Cracked fuel tank. SP replaced it, and then it was lost by me outdoors somewhere.

The other one crapped out after 2.5 years, leaky valve. I threw it in a drawer and forgot about it.

 

[NomadOrb]

I've had one for almost 4 years now, no complaints with mine. It holds a ton of butane and is great as long as there is no wind.

 

[olkofri]

No issues with my Kabuto.

My Mikazuki, aside from a tendency for the screw that holds the flint in place to loosen a bit, has given me flawless service since AD 2018 even though it's been dropped on ice and pavement several times. I've been bad to a lighter that's been good to me.

 

[JackOrion]

I couldn’t decide between the Kiribi and Corona Old Boy so I bought both at the same time. I keep the Old Boy at home and the Kiribi at my shop. When I travel I take the Kiribi not because it’s a better lighter but because it’s a bit more rugged than the Old Boy.
The tactile feel of the Kiribi is a bit more stout. that’s not to say the Corona is delicate, it’s not. It just feels like a finer lighter. It fires up with very little effort. Where the Kiribi may take a few swipes of the flint wheel, which also takes a more sure swipe of the thumb.
The hinge screw does need to be retightened and as long as you keep up on it it’s not an issue. Both lighters should be cleaned regularly at which time it’s easy to tighten the screw.
If I had to choose one over the other it would easily be the Corona Old Boy. It’s just a nicer lighter. That said I’m glad to have both as I use the kiribi more often and don’t mind putting it through its paces.
Neither lighter works well outside if it’s windy.

 

[MarcosEZLN]

I bought mine in 2017. I liked it but never loved it. They just don't perform outdoors.

Sent it in for servicing in 2019.. wasn't charged so that was nice.
Worked well for another year or so but ...
I haven't used it now for about 2 years. It won't light. I've cleaned it thoroughly, tried various flints (it sparks fine), even tried multiple butanes (it dispenses gas just fine).

If I pop the cap I can hear gas coming out of the nozzle. I can light it with a separate lighter and it keeps the flame.

But it WILL NOT spark and light on its own.
Funk that thing.

Same here. The gas comes out, the flint sparks, it just won't actually catch a flame consistently. I might have to give it 10-15 strikes of the flint wheel for every 1 time I get a flame going. It worked fine for a good year before that, but now I haven't used it reliably in at least a year.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Laudisi should give us all a partial refund or credit in exchange for these malfunction ridden things.

 

[irishearl]

I discovered the existence of pipe discussion forums many years ago while googling pipe lighter problems. Used to have a drawer full of lighters which stopped working til I tossed them. None worked more than 6 months regardless of brand/type. That's why I've used nothing but wooden matches for many years.

 

[bullet08]

Very well. I never use it.

 

[olkofri]

Laudisi should give us all a partial refund or credit in exchange for these malfunction ridden things.

Hahahaha!

Class action?

 

[sjohnston0311]

I've been using a Kabuto since around 2017 (I think) with no issues. It's been a great lighter for me, aside from the fact that it kinda sucks in the wind, but that's expected with that type of lighter. I know a lot of other people have had some problems though, so I figure it will crap out on me eventually. I'll probably just replace it with an Old Boy when that happens, since the Old Boy really isn't that much more expensive in the long run.

And I spoke too soon. Just crapped out on me the other day.

Old Boy here I come