Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 17:45:38 -0700
Reply-To: James Jean-Woo Kim <jkim.phd@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: James Jean-Woo Kim <jkim.phd@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Back to that Auto-Stop LPG valve subject...
In-Reply-To: <f64ef9ef363b.465d9630@gci.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
In many ways, Southern California is like "Third World" with its many
poverty stricken people. We have many catering trucks (roach coaches
some call it) that have the same manual valve setup. I replaced the
Autostop valve on my 87 Westy with manual valve two years ago. I
bought parts from a propane store in Santa Ana where many many
catering trucks frequented. The guy said he replaced a few Autostop
valves in his career. He let me installed it myself. The guy also
advised that I could install T-fittings later to run other propane
devices like lanterns, heaters, and outdoor stoves. Since then I have
been filling the tank at local gas stations with propane fill-up
stations, where other catering trucks would pull up behind me. I think
the trick to non-hassle fill-up after this conversion may be to stay
away from the First World part of Southern California (e.g. gated
communities, RV centers, anywhere people with money hang out) and
staying with the working class.
Regards,
James
On 5/30/07, Mark Tuovinen <mst@ak.net> wrote:
> Mike,
>
> I am not qualified to speak to the legality of converting to the manual valve but I can say that I have done so on our `87 Westy Syncro. I purchased the parts from a local propane and parts vendor and while he said for liability reasons they were supposed to install it I instilled enough confidence in him that he sold me the parts and I did it myself. According to him there was no reason I had to purchase another Auto-Stop valve and two good reasons to switch to the manual valve, reliability and price. Cost for the parts was under $50.00 and installation took less than 20 minutes(my tank was already empty). Since then I have had no problem getting it filled and at least one place was pleasantly surprised to find the manual valve in place, of course I am in Alaska not California and we are a little more "third world" like in our operations.
>
> Mark in AK
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
> Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 2:48 pm
> Subject: Back to that Auto-Stop LPG valve subject...
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> > ...that I raised a few months ago. Those who read my words
> > breathlessly,will recall that the Charlie Manson-esque fellow at
> > my local propane
> > filler place had a lot trouble with Mellow Yellow's Auto-Stop
> > valve. And
> > that while some some on this list said that the Auto-Stop valve is a
> > common, ordinary valve that propane guys deal with all the time,
> > othersagreed that it was pretty odd.
> >
> > I just now got off the phone with a fellow who's been doing
> > propane for
> > 30 years (Roses Propane in Alpine, CA) he says that he's seen
> > maybe two
> > or three of these things in his career, which puts him in the
> > latter camp.
> >
> > But anyway, the reason I had called this fellow is because I was
> > drivingout that way in a couple of weeks and I figured that maybe
> > he could
> > drain the LPG tank so I could put on this manual fill valve + manual
> > bleeder combo that I purchased for the purpose. The fellow said he
> > could, but that he didn't think that manual valves were legal on such
> > tanks as this. He didn't say that he knew for sure, but it was
> > what he
> > understood, and that some propane guys might object to filling the
> > tankif they see such a thing.
> >
> > Is he mistaken? If he is, is there some DOT chapter and verse I could
> > download and take along to ease his concern?
> >
> > --
> >
> > Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> > 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> > 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> > 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> > KG6RCR
> >
>
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