Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 21:42:23 -0700
Reply-To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Propane tank main valve
In-Reply-To: <000001c6df3c$11a2edc0$6400a8c0@OMEGA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Main Valve is a rather ambiguous term. Are we talking about the Fill Valve
or the Shut Off Valve? Any qualified propane repair or RV shop can
repair/re-seal a Shut Off Valve as they are pretty standard for horizontal
propane tanks.
If it is the Fill Valve, it would be helpful to know the YEAR of your
Westfalia to properly answer the question as there have been 3 different
fill valves on the Vanagon Westfalia 80-91.
The Fill Valve was recently addressed on this list (Aug 22 Vanagon List) by
Richard Jones with the following post:
From messages on the list:
> If you have the original AutoStop fill valve, you should
> replace it with an ordinary fill valve and a bleeder
> valve. Most propane guys do not know how to fill a tank
> with an AutoStop since one action is counter to normal.
>
> That is, with a normal setup, one opens the bleeder valve
> a little and start filling the tank. When liquid propane
> starts to squirt from the bleeder, the tank is full, one
> shuts off the filling, etc. But for the AutoStop to work,
> the valve that seems to be a bleeder valve (but isn't
> exactly) needs to be open ALL THE WAY, for the AutoStop
> to sense liquid propane and shut off. So most propane
> guys get it wrong. Plus after all these years, the AutoStop
> probably needs rebuilding, which you can't do generally.
>
> A new fill valve and bleeder valve should cost <$40-50. You
> can install them yourself or have an RV dealer do it. Then
> you are ready for any doofus to fill you tank. ;-)
>
> As for your situation now, a good RV dealer should quickly
> be able to figure it out. BUT, you need to show them the
> manual on the AutoStop, since they will make the wrong
> assumption on how to deal with it. If you keep the AutoStop,
> you should always make sure when filling that the propane
> guy understand how to "operate" the AutoStop.
>
> While you are at it, replace the shutoff valve and the
> regulator, since they are probably ready. Don't let anybody
> tell you to get a new tank. The tank is bomb-proof and
> does not have to be "re-certified", etc. Tell them it is
> an ASME tank and see the file I'm attaching. If you have to
> have anew regulator installed, make sure they check it to put out
> 11" water pressure; a good RV shop will normally do this. This
> might be the sign of a "good" RV shop....
>
> A general rule is that a full tank (2.5 gal of propane) will
> last two weeks of camping--fridge and cooking.
>
> Richard A Jones
> Boulder, Colorado
and
> Here is the message from Greg
> Potts about recertification of ASME tanks:
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> > 20 March 2006; Vanagon list
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I found the following helpful and relevant info on the National
>> > Propane Gas Association Website:
>> > http://www.npga.org/files/public/Consumers_Questions.pdf)
>> >
>>>> >> > The 2001 edition of NFPA 58 (the LP-Gas Code) recognizes that
>>>> >> > horizontally
>>>> >> > oriented cylinders that were manufactured prior to October 1,
1998,
>>>> >> > are unable to
>>>> >> > be retrofitted with the OPD's. As a result of this fact, the Code
>>>> >> > now exempts these
>>>> >> > cylinders from having to be retrofit with OPD valves. Any such
>>>> >> > cylinder must have
>>>> >> > a label affixed to it to inform the user and the refiller that an
>>>> >> > OPD valve is not
>>>> >> > installed. (Note: This provision was not contained in the 1998
>>>> >> > edition of NFPA 58.)
>> >
>> > Maybe you should contact them for some pamphlets you can share with
>> > your friendly local propane vendor.
>> > http://www.npga.org
>> >
>> >
>> > Happy trails,
>> >
>> > Greg Potts
>> > Toronto, Ontario, Canada
--
Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
**********************************
On 9/23/06, Gilles Turmel <gilles.turmel@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> My valve is leaking where can I get a replacement?
> Best regards.
> Gilles Turmel
>
| 
