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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 3747
Location: Vancouver B.C.
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 Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 10:46 am Post subject: Well Meaning PO & LPG lines. PICS Question for LP Guys. |
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Hi all.
Edit: for an '88 Westy though I don't think that matters. 
At time of purchase wondered why fridge didn't fire up. Noticed dent in line yesterday. Thought that was part of issue. Well that line goes to stove. Checked behind fridge. Pic says it all..... I think. So now I'm looking at line redo and possibly tank, but for sure new reg. (has what looks like OEM reg)
I suspect this is the case, and hard to say via pic online, but is it likely that the kink shown at 90º to back of fridge would limit flow of gas enough to cause fridge not to light?
Thanks and beware the well intended PO!
Neil.
Dent at stove line. Not so bad in hindsight!
Someone loved this thing. I don't think this part is OEM. Or is it?
Yetch
Edit: and just for point of reference, image of line on my '81 that was replaced by a licensed LP guy
Looking up:
_________________
1981 VanaJetta 2.0 Westy "Jaco"
1988 Westy To Be Named! :^)
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-i...irect=true
My Air Cooled Vanagon to 15º Jetta ABA swap pages:
https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/15degreeengineconversion |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 3083
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:17 am Post subject: |
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| Dang! I agree that will seriously affect fridge performance. |
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Mike Robinson
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2010
Posts: 169
Location: Nanaimo BC Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:26 am Post subject: |
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I alway love a good PO thread.
The crap that gets done by the team of Mr Cheep, and Mr know-a-better way..
Lp stuff scares me. When I had my tank replaced I had my whole system re certified by an RV propane place.
The challenge was finding someone who would work on a Westy. For some reason they assume the lp system in a westy will be old, broken, shady tree repaired and modifiied.
Mike |
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 3338
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:35 am Post subject: Re: Well Meaning PO & LPG lines. PICS Question for LP Gu |
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I doubt that kink would slow the fridge down any. The burner jet that ALL of the gas for the fridge has to flow through is so tiny that you can't even see through it without holding it up to a light. In any case with the line off the back of the fridge you can turn on the gas and see how much gas you get.
Mark
| Vanagon Nut wrote: | Hi all.
At time of purchase wondered why fridge didn't fire up. Noticed dent in line yesterday. Thought that was part of issue. Well that line goes to stove. Checked behind fridge. Pic says it all..... I think. So now I'm looking at line redo and possibly tank, but for sure new reg. (has what looks like OEM reg)
I suspect this is the case, and hard to say via pic online, but is it likely that the kink shown at 90º to back of fridge would limit flow of gas enough to cause fridge not to light?
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 3747
Location: Vancouver B.C.
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:38 am Post subject: |
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Knowing what I know now, I'm comfortable at least practicing flaring copper line. I"m not a stranger to non ferrous pipes (band instrument repair, some manufacturing experience) though with LP, it has to be absolutely right. And little details like ensuring the angles of line going to fridge or stove make reconnection easier, are important. (picture next person cross threading connection, assuming it's ok.....) Heck. The pro that did work on my '81 put protective covers on the lines. I'd go a step further. If possible, I'd add a piece of protective metal to keep road debris from harming the lines from POL.
Neil.
_________________
1981 VanaJetta 2.0 Westy "Jaco"
1988 Westy To Be Named! :^)
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-i...irect=true
My Air Cooled Vanagon to 15º Jetta ABA swap pages:
https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/15degreeengineconversion |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 3747
Location: Vancouver B.C.
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:59 am Post subject: Re: Well Meaning PO & LPG lines. PICS Question for LP Gu |
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| crazyvwvanman wrote: | I doubt that kink would slow the fridge down any. The burner jet that ALL of the gas for the fridge has to flow through is so tiny that you can't even see through it without holding it up to a light. In any case with the line off the back of the fridge you can turn on the gas and see how much gas you get.
Mark
| Vanagon Nut wrote: | .....
I suspect this is the case, and hard to say via pic online, but is it likely that the kink shown at 90º to back of fridge would limit flow of gas enough to cause fridge not to light?
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Thanks Mark. Re: jet orifice. I thought that too but then given the threads on regulator pressure and fridge performance, also thought that the kink would affect pressure thus flow through the jet orifice. But now I can see that if fuel is flowing, that kink would make it so fuel takes longer to get to combustion chamber and jet.
The tank is so old and OEM, that I just want to burn off LP by running fridge so I could either refurb tank or toss it. Given that I suspect all the tank parts are original, I really didn't want to start taking things apart, tank full. Seems I'll at least need to try a few tricks to see if fridge will light. That said, I need to ensure tank et al doesn't have any leaks. All the tank parts look OEM (see pics) and it seems to have an AutoFill valve. For me, that valve alone is cause for me to deal with the tank.
Neil.
_________________
1981 VanaJetta 2.0 Westy "Jaco"
1988 Westy To Be Named! :^)
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-i...irect=true
My Air Cooled Vanagon to 15º Jetta ABA swap pages:
https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/15degreeengineconversion |
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 3338
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Well Meaning PO & LPG lines. PICS Question for LP Gu |
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The decal is for an Autostop tank but your photos don't show one.
This Samba ad has one shown.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1301516
Mark
| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
The tank is so old and OEM, that I just want to burn off LP by running fridge so I could either refurb tank or toss it. Given that I suspect all the tank parts are original, I really didn't want to start taking things apart, tank full. Seems I'll at least need to try a few tricks to see if fridge will light. That said, I need to ensure tank et al doesn't have any leaks. All the tank parts look OEM (see pics) and it seems to have an AutoFill valve. For me, that valve alone is cause for me to deal with the tank.
Neil. |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 3747
Location: Vancouver B.C.
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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I wondered if that weren't the case as I see a manual bleeder valve.
Should have looked closer. Assumed Autofill mechanism was contained in the valve itself and that a manual bleed was included in all LP tanks. But why the PO kept the sticker on the skid plate, < shrugs > Maybe all was replaced with used parts? Meh. Doesn't matter. I'm hanging some of my ignorance out to dry! 
Seems a pidge-podge of things done to this rig. Like the honkin large Phillips screw jambed between smaller square light and what I think is the bracket. Appears to be a fix to keep light from wobbling but .....
Neil.
_________________
1981 VanaJetta 2.0 Westy "Jaco"
1988 Westy To Be Named! :^)
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-i...irect=true
My Air Cooled Vanagon to 15º Jetta ABA swap pages:
https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/15degreeengineconversion |
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WestyBob
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2004
Posts: 1305
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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Yikes ... that propane tank looks completely gonzo'ed !!
Glad I got a weekender |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 3747
Location: Vancouver B.C.
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| WestyBob wrote: | Yikes ... that propane tank looks completely gonzo'ed !!
Glad I got a weekender |
It may well be that I ditch the propane appliances. The stove is handy, and I'd have to double check, but thinking now, maybe remove burners/grill and use a portable stove in their place? If the burner holes were properly covered up, then you get an instant dish rack. Put in a TruckFridge and large dedicated 3rd battery, what's not to like?
Of course I am tempted to see how well that newer Dometic cools.
Neil.
_________________
1981 VanaJetta 2.0 Westy "Jaco"
1988 Westy To Be Named! :^)
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-i...irect=true
My Air Cooled Vanagon to 15º Jetta ABA swap pages:
https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/15degreeengineconversion |
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WestyBob
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2004
Posts: 1305
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 12:31 am Post subject: |
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| Vanagon Nut wrote: | | It may well be that I ditch the propane appliances. The stove is handy, and I'd have to double check, but thinking now, maybe remove burners/grill and use a portable stove in their place? If the burner holes were properly covered up, then you get an instant dish rack. Put in a TruckFridge and large dedicated 3rd battery, what's not to like? |
All good ideas ... especially removing the burners and replacing with a portable (Coleman ?). In times past owning full westies I rarely cooked inside (odors) anyway unless the outside had swarms of skeeters or biblical weather. |
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SteelB12
Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2010
Posts: 450
Location: Northern Virginia- PWC
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 6:28 am Post subject: |
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Is the second photo down of the water lines?? If so, it looks pretty gross.
_________________
1987 Westy |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 3747
Location: Vancouver B.C.
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 3747
Location: Vancouver B.C.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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Ok. So.....
Removed fridge. Am certain it was worked on at one point. During a quick 10 minute visual check:
Green 110 AC wire not connected to spade at rear of fridge
Bracket for LP union at rear of fridge missing. (This is an important part)
LP union to thermostat possibly not tightened enough. (while removing fridge forgot to completely disconnect LP union. Tilting fridge lifted pipe thus turning union at thermostat CCW. Still, that union easily came loose easily)
Hose clamp holding LP "safety" button (button held down when lighting fridge) to plastic part of switch body. Not saying that's bad. May be a decent "fix".
My point:
If you see what may be hinky work, check further.
Neil.
_________________
1981 VanaJetta 2.0 Westy "Jaco"
1988 Westy To Be Named! :^)
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-i...irect=true
My Air Cooled Vanagon to 15º Jetta ABA swap pages:
https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/15degreeengineconversion |
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