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Topic: Propane leak - 1994 U225  (Read 821 times) previous topic - next topic

Propane leak - 1994 U225

Have a propane leak in the fuel/propane compartment.  Sniffer found it to be at the regulator, the little tiny hole in the center of the top part of the regulator.  I know all about gasoline, JP8, Jet-A, AvFuel, various heavy oils and propane, but nothing about propane or propane regulators.  Anyone give me any guidance?
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Propane leak - 1994 U225

Reply #1 –
Pat,

 Just replace the regulator.  They are under $25 and have a rubber diaphragm, so they DO go bad.

They come in two STYLES-- CRITICAL.

If installed vertically, the vent (quarter sized screened vent) needs to be aligned with the long axis if the regulator.

If installed horizontally, the vent needs to be perpendicular to the long axis of the regulator.

Said another way, it is CRITICAL that the vent be FACING DOWN.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Propane leak - 1994 U225

Reply #2 –
Thanks Brett.  Will have to take a look tomorrow and get some numbers off it.  Didn't notice the vent location.  Kind of looked like the pic I posted.  There was a tiny drilled pin hole on the top round face.  Propane was leaking out of the drilled pin hold.  Was mounted vertically, not horizonally like below pic, but I don't remember seeing the vent the vent was..

1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Propane leak - 1994 U225

Reply #3 –
The vent is the screened hole facing you in the pic.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Propane leak - 1994 U225

Reply #4 –
Most likely, if you remove the screen from the regulator vent, you will find a pipe thread you can plumb a remote vent to the outside of your coach.  Have a look see,
I remoted my vent on my MCI conversion and never had a leak, but if I did, it would have been to the outside and not fill the compartment with the volotive vapors.  :o
Dave M

Re: Propane leak - 1994 U225

Reply #5 –
Quote from: PatC –
Thanks Brett.  Will have to take a look tomorrow and get some numbers off it.  Didn't notice the vent location.  Kind of looked like the pic I posted.  There was a tiny drilled pin hole on the top round face.  Propane was leaking out of the drilled pin hold.  Was mounted vertically, not horizonally like below pic, but I don't remember seeing the vent the vent was..



This is a photo of a propane regulator FOR HORIZONTAL INSTALLATION ONLY. The screen is the vent and MUST FACE DOWN.  So, if yours is mounted vertically, as I posted earlier, the screen must be along the long axis of the regulator, not perpendicular to it.

No need to mess with the vent-- the whole area below the regulator is open in your coach.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Propane leak - 1994 U225

Reply #6 –
Indeed, Point the screen DOWN if you mount it outdoors in the weather, The reason for pointing down is to prevent rain etc from filling/blocking/restricting/mud daubers restricting the diqphragm from movement AND allow escaping fuel a vent.  This is not rocket science, just an area we in the gasous fuel business must be aware of.
FWIW & Do what makes you feel all warm & fuzzy
Dave M

Re: Propane leak - 1994 U225

Reply #7 –
I smelled a tiny odor from mine and did a soap bubble test. Had a very small leak. I replaced it with a two stage regulator from the same manufacturer for just under $20. Was a tiny bit longer so I had to use a pipe wrench and make a very slight change to the angle of one of the fittings and also make a small support bracket. Just make sure you buy a model designed for your vertical installation as noted in the above posts. It will give the required direction of installation on the packaging.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)