Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 21:07:38 -0400
Reply-To: Lawrence Johnson <ljohnson@HALHINET.ON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Lawrence Johnson <ljohnson@HALHINET.ON.CA>
Subject: Re: Dometic drain plug removal; 86 Westfalia
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Rich, if the fridge has not been used for a long time, it is normal (at least
for me) to have difficulty getting the fridge propane burner to light. The
problem, I believe, is caused by having air in the propane line to the fridge
Here is a procedure that has always worked for me (eventually):
After turning on the main propane valve on the tank, light one of your
stove top burners and let it burn until the flame is pure blue (no red).
Ok, now turn the stove off and turn the fridge propane valve on (the knob
on the extreme right turned from "O" to "I").
Turn the temperature setting to MAX.
Press and hold the gas starter valve (the button on the right side of the
air pump) for about 15-20 seconds. The idea here is to let propane into the
combustion chamber and flush out any air in the line.
{%^$#&#}
Unscrew the drain cap at the bottom left hand side of the fridge; attach a
plastic hose to the drain; and blow into the hose as hard and as long as you
can stand (I cheat and use compressed air). Here, you are trying to remove the
excess propane from the combustion chamber)
Turn on the camping indicator light console so that you can watch the "*"
light which will glow when the fridge propane combustion chamber is lit.
Now take hold of the fridge air pump and give it 20 to 30 pumps. Don't push
the pump so far as to cause it to click (see the next step).
Press and hold the gas starter valve and simultaneously press the air pump
all the way in until it clicks. You should see a flash through the hole in the
lower back left corner of the fridge. Continue to hold down the gas starter
valve until the "*" light glows or for a maximum of 15-20 seconds. If you are
lucky and the "*" light starts to glow, release the gas starter valve. If the
glow begins to diminish, push the gas starter valve back in and hold it a while
longer.
If no glow then go back to step {%^$#&#} above. (I have never had this work
the first time and rarely on the second attempt)
If you have success, check the "*" light periodically over the next few
minutes. If it goes out it is usually easy to re-light using the orthodox (see
the book) procedure. (I've only had it go out on me once)
> I'm trying to remove the cap so that I can get some extra air for combustion
> when lighting the fridge on propane use per the various references in the
> archives.
I don't know of anyone who has ever suggested leaving the cap off under any
circumstances.
> When I try to light the fridge I see a yellow flash but I never get a blue
> flame
Don't worry about not seeing the blue flame, this is reserved for the chosen
few.
Larry
'86 Syncro Westfalia
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