Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 08:27:48 -0500
Reply-To: Joseph Liasse <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joseph Liasse <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Subject: Re: propane leak question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Replacing the regulator is easy. One thing though, If you have a "box"
shaped regulator you will NOT be able to find another one. I know, I tried
for weeks when mine blew. They do not make them anymore and the supply is
exhausted.
No sweat though, the regulator you CAN get is functionally identical and
your system will never know the difference. Just drop into a local RV place
and pick up a "figure eight" shaped regulator. These come in two flavors one
with, one without a fitting that screws onto the end of the regulator. The
regulators themselves are identical in both cases and the price difference
between them is only a few bucks. You probably already have the fitting
installed but check to make sure (you will see what I mean when you go.)
It is a simple off with the old and on with the new along with perhaps
a little bending of the tubes (careful here, don't kink them) as the "figure
eight" regulator is a little longer than the box shape you have now. Make
sure you pick up some teflon tape to wrap the fittings with before you screw
them on. Teflon tape should be sitting there right next to the regulators in
the RV store and couple of bucks will get you a lifetime supply.
-----Original Message-----
From: DAVID MOST <most@UCLA.EDU>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, February 13, 1999 6:01 PM
Subject: propane leak question
>As I purchased an '87 westy quickly a few weeks back, I was just hoping
>that I could make it the 1000 miles to get home. The PO told me that the
>propane system had never been used, and I didn't really have time to
>check it out. Everything looked clean (blue platic still on drain sheet).
>
>Anyway, I tried opening the propane valve today, and there's a loud hiss
>sound. The sound goes away when I turn the valve completely clockwise
>(closed). I took the westy to a local propane place, and the guy tells
>me that the regulator has a leak from some kind of hole (had a name which I
>can't recall). In addition, he says that he can't fill my tank anyway
>since it's more than 12 years old (he looked at the date stamped on the
>bottom). I've never paid too much attention to the propane conversations
>here, so I'm unsure what to do to fix this.
>
>First, should I purchase a new regulator, and if so, is it easy to
>install or should I have a pro do it?
>
>Second, I've never heard about this 12 year old propane tank law.
>Perhaps this is a CA thing, and if the regulator wasn't leaking, the guy
>might have filled it anyway. Should I consider replacing the tank
>though?
>
>Thanks for the help,
>david
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