Date:         Mon, 11 Nov 1996 14:00:11 +0000
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         VWnut@smus.bc.ca
Subject:      Re: Keep me from blowing myself up!

> Hey all,
> OK, here's the situation:  '81 Westy, leaky propane knob on tank.  This
> is the knob on the tank that you use to turn on the gas.  When this knob
> is turned on, it leaks propane (loud hissing).  Obviously, this is
> undesirable behavior.  I have obtained a rebuild kit from Ron Salmon for
> this valve, now all I need to know is how the heck to do it.  How do I
> get this valve apart?  Would it be easier to do if I remove the tank
> from the van?  What should I do about the propane that's already in
> there (I don't like venting it to the atmosphere, I can see someone
> tossing a cigarette my way...)?  Do the propane fill places have the
> capability to recover propane from a tank?  If anyone can give me
> specific directions as to how to go about rebuilding this valve (I'm
> having a very hard time visualizing it as I've never done anything like
> this before) I'd really appreciate it.
> 
I would definitely remove the tank - it's easy to do & makes things 
easier to get at. You only need to remove two of the four nuts 
holding the tank, then loosen the other two & drop it down. (after 
removing the two gas lines at the regulator of course). Not sure 
about recovery, since I did mine when it was empty. If you can get 
the right adapters, most of the gas could be transferred to a 20lb 
bbq tank. You can pour it in by holding one tank higher than the 
other.
 
Shawn & Janis Wright
'88 Westy (336k) '85 Jetta TD (361k)
VWnut@smus.bc.ca (swright@smus.bc.ca)
http://www.islandnet.com/~swright/vw.html