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Propane Leak

February 20, 2011, 10:08:23 am

Happy Sunday  Have 2  situations. First It's my turn in the barrel & my better half is about to nail the lid on. Second, we have a 94 U280 with a propane tank leak. The leak is where the fill valve connects to a valve pad made by Brown which is bolted with 4 bolts, has a gasket which is leaking. So far I can't find anybody to do repair, can't find a gasket, can't find a new tank, or even an old one. We would like to head south but I don't want my epitaph to read Terrorist Blows up Interstate 95. Help me please. Can anybody lead me in the right direction?

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Re: Propane Leak

Reply #1 – February 20, 2011, 11:23:49 am

Know about petroleum tanks, but not propane tanks.  I think you are going to have to go to a propane distributor.  He will pump off your propane so he can remove the valve and make the repair.  Have you tried to tighten up the four bolts?  Might be just loose.  At least it could slow down the leak.  The important thing - be careful and NO SPARKS!!!.  Go slow and don't overtighten them!  And if you are a smoker -  well you know the routine....

I'd be right there to help if you were not so far away.  Am 440 miles to the north west of you and still in NYS.

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Re: Propane Leak

Reply #2 – February 20, 2011, 12:08:37 pm

Whata mean you won't go the 440 miles to help a fellow Foretraveler? Thanks for the response Pat. I went out and double checked the  bolts, no such luck. I wish I knew the material that the gasket is made from? Thanks

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Reply #3 – February 20, 2011, 03:05:47 pm

Micheal, I wouldn't do anything without talking to a propane dealer.  You could make it worse, the propane will have to be removed to replace that gasket from the way it looks on my tank.  Go luck

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Reply #4 – February 20, 2011, 07:59:04 pm

Just check the phone book and call the propane dealer close by. Ask for a reference if they can't do it. It has been my experience that they are very cooperative when it comes to repairs and reasonable too.  I will do most anything to the rig but leave any job that requires evacuating the propane tank to the pros. Absolutely don't want to get the liquid on the skin or in the eyes.

Pierce & Gaylie
93' U300

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Reply #5 – February 20, 2011, 09:28:04 pm

May I inquire, regarding the procedure you used to determine the exact location of the propane leak?

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Reply #6 – February 22, 2011, 09:14:07 pm

There is good advice and there is bad advice.  In Texas last year we discovered a leak at the tank in the shut off valve.    One propane dealer told me to just unscrew the overflow valve and "let er rip."  In that case the "rip" might have meant Rest In Peace.

I set up my Weber Q as far from the coach as possible and burned it off.  I think it took close to a week.  Then Keith Risch fixed it for us by removing the tank entirely because it actually took less time to remove the entire tank and then remove and replacing the shut off valve than it would have taken had he tried to R and R the valve in the confined space.

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