SWIM was in exactly the same boat as you, OP. He got a Colibri Firebird which are notorious for being shit (but cheap). When he turned it on, there would be an orange flame, and it would immediately be followed by the hissing butane and extinguished flame. SWIM tried everything: leaking the butane, replacing parts, adjusting the height of the flame, refilling, and what eventually made it work was
(1) leaking the butane (supposedly presence of air causes this kind of problem)
(2) refilling butane
(3) adjusting height to medium-high
(4) pressing down the button very slowly*. Almost a month after purchase, SWIM got it to work that way.
*
I hold the gas/ignition button down to the point where it is just prior to engaging the pizoelectric igniter. This allows the butane to begin flowing out of the nozzles. After about a second or two (it doesn't have to be long, just long enough to make sure when the igniter sparks, there's already gas flowing) I depress it all the way, spark the igniter, and the flame catches and lasts for as long as I need it.
This is EXACTLY what SWIM did in (4). It works great!
Now,
this guide is only for electro-flame quantum, electro-quartz, and flint lighters, but it's pretty helpful.
SWIM would advise you NOT to waste you time like he did, and just throw down for a different quality lighter if money isn't a problem. It's a hit or miss deal with some of these cheaper lighters. SWIM would have done that, and it would have saved him a lot of frustration. SWIM now uses the Jet 1300-C Butane Lighter because it's so cheap and it works like a charm.