Date:         Fri, 29 Jun 2001 06:57:31 +0200
Reply-To:     Jutta & Christian Knust <knust-net@GMX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jutta & Christian Knust <knust-net@GMX.NET>
Subject:      Re: propane tank fill valve wierdness
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

On 27 Jun 2001, at 23:59, David Beierl wrote:

> At 11:12 PM 6/27/2001, Edward Maglott wrote:
> >Here's the photo link:
> >
> >http://buncombe.main.nc.us/~emaglott/trixie/VALVE.jpg
>
> Run away.  Don't even think of putting gas in that.  As near as I can
> see the DPO has put a garden-hose fitting where the fill valve should
> be.  Clean up the tank and get proper valve(s)...
>
> david
Gas tanks are, according to the manufacturer and a lot of laws, good for 10
years max, after which they have to be inspected by competent personnel (not
the average "certified mechanic" who got a certificate from "Competency
hinders freedom of work" after six weeks no drugs at the workplace, but a testing
facility for high pressure containers). This is not funny, unless you want to
die early. And I would not care a bit about all the folks who do not care
shit about their tanks since they still "look good". This is not a question of
looking good, trust in the PO, trust in good american steel or else, but a
question of engineering and mechanical strain on the metal. Have the tank
inspected and do not waste time and money in cleaning and painting it from the
outside nor put gas in it, unless someone competent (with a capital capital
capital C, ok.?) has seen it from the inside and approved further use. If these
things are left without pressure for any length of time with an open valve,
they accumulate water inside and start to rust. And no gas-fill afterwards will
ever stop that, blow the rust out or what I have heard else over the last
ten years. It justs rusts happily away. This wreck does by no means look like
it has been maintained properly. Go to your local dive shop and ask for their
testing facility, if you canīt find a propane supplier for commercial use -
they have tons of tanks and have to have them inspected. Divers know better
than to carry bombs on the back. Since a Westy is not a Stuka-bomber, you would
not want a bomb under it, right? I would certainly not park next to your gas
tank..... A new tank is about 240 bucks.

Cheers
Chris

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