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guavajelly Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007 Posts: 65 Location: MI>MN>CA>WI>KS>ME
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 1:18 pm Post subject: Propane troubleshooting help: UPDATE: SOLVED (smh) |
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Hello,
So I haven't had the Westy camping as much as I should for the past couple of years (kids- sheesh) but we've now been getting out a little and I'm having trouble with low propane flow. As in low flame and unable to start the fridge.I have run multiple Samba searches and have done some trouble shooting but have not gotten things up to par.
Last summer I pulled and did maintenance on the fridge and got it running nice and cool with and external propane source out side of the van. I also dropped the tanked to sand, paint, check fittings and blow out supply tubes.
I reinstalled the tank and went to the local RV propane station and got the tank filled - although I am not sure the attendant new quite what to do with the tank. after filling the empty tank flow was low.
my first thought was the regulator.
I replaced the regulator. no change.
on this and other forums there was talked of improperly filled tanks that required bleeding via the overflow valve. (seems suspect) but I nevertheless opened the valve for a while (perhaps 15 minutes). There was/is not a strong propane smell but this too had no real effect on the flow level to the stove.
Any thoughts on further with troubleshooting will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.
Adam
83 aircooled california westy. _________________ 65 Karmann Ghia Coupe
83 a/c westy
Past:
71 fastback
66 squareback
Last edited by guavajelly on Wed Jul 26, 2017 5:50 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16504 Location: Brookeville, MD
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6562 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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A guy once tried to fill our tank, but we ran out the next day.
He hadn't vented it right and didn't get any propane in at all... claiming it was "already full..."
Just sayin' it's possible you're simply low on propane... _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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guavajelly Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007 Posts: 65 Location: MI>MN>CA>WI>KS>ME
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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[quote="E1"]A guy once tried to fill our tank, but we ran out the next day.
He hadn't vented it right and didn't get any propane in at all... claiming it was "already full..."
Just sayin' it's possible you're simply low on propane...[/quote
I have been suspecting that this is the issue... I will be heading for a re-refill this weekend and will update.
thanks.
Dobryan I did find how to make a manometer pretty cool and pretty simple
thanks! _________________ 65 Karmann Ghia Coupe
83 a/c westy
Past:
71 fastback
66 squareback |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9810 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 4:45 pm Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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The bleeder valve (on mine anyway) has to be opened quite a lot before the tank will accept propane - more so on a hot day.
Usually it is me watching the gauge on big tank while the guy loosens the valve. I have him keep opening it until I see the number start to move on the gauge. |
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spitsnrovers Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2005 Posts: 924 Location: Calgary, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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Though this may not be your problem, I did find the following cause:
Before lighting the fridge, I opened the valve just about 1 and half turns, thinking that was good enough. The fridge lit, stayed for a few minutes, then went out.
Discovered I needed to open the valve fully to get sufficient flow. _________________ '88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500 |
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Tobias Duncan Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013 Posts: 1391 Location: Taos NM
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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Do you have the manual bleeder valve or that automatic monstrosity? |
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guavajelly Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007 Posts: 65 Location: MI>MN>CA>WI>KS>ME
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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Tobias Duncan wrote: |
Do you have the manual bleeder valve or that automatic monstrosity? |
I have the manual valve. and it does function: i can easily open/ close it. I do not recall the propane attendant opening it prior to filling.... _________________ 65 Karmann Ghia Coupe
83 a/c westy
Past:
71 fastback
66 squareback |
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Tobias Duncan Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013 Posts: 1391 Location: Taos NM
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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and when you open it , propane come squirting out like crazy ? |
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guavajelly Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007 Posts: 65 Location: MI>MN>CA>WI>KS>ME
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2017 4:03 am Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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Tobias Duncan wrote: |
and when you open it , propane come squirting out like crazy ? |
there is a pressurized "psshhh" noise, but it does not have the strong propane smell I would have expected and difinately no liquid comes out of the bleeder. _________________ 65 Karmann Ghia Coupe
83 a/c westy
Past:
71 fastback
66 squareback |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17153 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2017 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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Tank sounds empty. When I get ours filled, I pay attention to the counter on the propane dispenser. It always takes between 2 and 3 I assume pounds. Anyhow, If you opened the bleeder for 15 minutes, the tank is empty.
When filling, with the bleeder open, you will actually get cold liquid vapor out the bleeder during the fill. That is how you know it is full. Verify the amount put in. Nothing wrong with understanding the proper procedure and helping the attendant. I even put a rug down. During the fill, you need to have gloves on to close the bleed valve. If you don't, you can get frost bite. _________________ ☮️ |
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atomatom Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2012 Posts: 1867 Location: in an 84 Westy or Bowen Island, BC
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2017 7:48 am Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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this may be far fetched, but depending on the condition of your tank's shut off valve, if you accidentally turn it off instead of on, it may release a small amount of gas. i know this because my shut off sometimes acts like this; low flame, poor fridge performance - until i open the valve the correct direction. _________________ 84 Vanagon Westy, 1.9L, California raised but defected to Canada. |
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6562 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2017 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help |
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MarkWard wrote: |
Tank sounds empty. When I get ours filled, I pay attention to the counter on the propane dispenser. It always takes between 2 and 3 I assume pounds. Anyhow, If you opened the bleeder for 15 minutes, the tank is empty.
When filling, with the bleeder open, you will actually get cold liquid vapor out the bleeder during the fill. That is how you know it is full. Verify the amount put in. Nothing wrong with understanding the proper procedure and helping the attendant. I even put a rug down. During the fill, you need to have gloves on to close the bleed valve. If you don't, you can get frost bite. |
I watch the counter as well, and normally it displays gallons. One in Georgia (near Road Atlanta) showed it in pounds, I can't recall exactly but think it's about five pounds to one gallon.
In my case of not getting filled, the attendant was young and seemed untrained, so I offered no assistance that could bring on further issues... Gut said it wasn't right but we knew of another place to go the next day so used our camp stove that night. _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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guavajelly Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007 Posts: 65 Location: MI>MN>CA>WI>KS>ME
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2017 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help: UPDATE: SOLVED (smh) |
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With some regret I am updating this to inform and hopefully educate others.
I was convinced that I had checked and cleaned my lines properly when I had my fridge out last year.
Well, I had a propane guy stop by my work today and I asked him his thoughts on my situation. his first thought was an over-filled tank but after I explained that the bleeder did not spew liquid he changed his mind.
"something has to be in the lines"
when i got home this evening i removed the ends of the supply lines from the fridge and stove and from the T at the tank and blew them out with a bicycle pump. In both tubes I felt an initial resistance and then an easy flow of air from the pump.
hooked everything back up and viola stove is running strong and the fridge fired right up and is currently cooling at an appropriate pace.
I was pretty ready to blame the propane attendant but the moral of the story is double check your own work and clean out the lines..
Thanks for the replies. _________________ 65 Karmann Ghia Coupe
83 a/c westy
Past:
71 fastback
66 squareback |
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Jeffrey Lee Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2014 Posts: 1488 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help: UPDATE: SOLVED (smh) |
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Glad to hear it!
Curious: what do you suppose the obstruction was? Were you able to catch any debris, etc. at the other end of the lines?
In theory, assuming clean/filtered LP, it shouldn't be easy to get debris in there ... |
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guavajelly Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007 Posts: 65 Location: MI>MN>CA>WI>KS>ME
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: Propane troubleshooting help: UPDATE: SOLVED (smh) |
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Jeffrey Lee wrote: |
Glad to hear it!
Curious: what do you suppose the obstruction was? Were you able to catch any debris, etc. at the other end of the lines?
In theory, assuming clean/filtered LP, it shouldn't be easy to get debris in there ... |
you are totally correct. while i could not find the debris in the driveway after i blew out the line i can only assume that either i did not clean them well previously or more likely the teflon tape that I used (I realize I should not have used it) chunked off and created the blockage. when i undid the flare fittings there as a notable lack of the tape that I had applied.
lesson learned. _________________ 65 Karmann Ghia Coupe
83 a/c westy
Past:
71 fastback
66 squareback |
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