I have a nice lighter (Zippo Candle Lighter) which I use for lighting a pipe.
It started doing the same thing so I took it apart to see if I could understand why.
It seems that the gas was not flowing sufficiently before the spark was struck. The spark is of very short duration, too soon, no flame.
I solved the problem by slightly bending the metal tab which opens the valve on the gas reservoir so that it opened sooner when the lighter's actuator was pushed (pulls harder on the valve).
AlanR, June 2010
