I wanted to pass this on to those that might not be aware of it. Yesterday I had one of my 20# tanks filled. I walked to the filling station with the tech and found out that the whole filling system is automatic. What I am saying once he connected the fill valve and turned on the pump it filled and shut its self off.
The second is that my tank is a horizontal Manchester tank and the gauge fell off and the clips that hold it in place broke. What I found out is that the gauge is magnetic The tech said just glue it babk in place and it will work. I did and it works.
Then, according to the people at my propane dealership, your tech isn't doing it right. The local folks say he should connect the adapter, open the tank valve, turn on the pump, open the line valve, open the spitter valve, and when the spitter valve starts to emit liquid OR the OPD shuts off, whichever occurs first, he should turn off the spitter valve, turn off the line valve, close the tank valve, bleed the pressure off, and disconect the adapter.
Now, before anybody gets all uppity about how it is done elsewhere, this is the procedure used by my local dealership to fill small bottles at the store, and to fill large home tanks (except the big tanks don't have an OPD.) Your local dealer may be different, and will probably say it is due to "THE LAW", either local, county, state, or Federal.
That sure is a convenient excuse for company policies and procedures, isn't it?
Editted to add "turn off the spitter valve"!
* This post was
edited 06/25/08 07:28pm by mowermech *
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, Std. cab, LB, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 273,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '06 Jeep Liberty CRD
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
mowermech wrote: The local folks say he should connect the adapter, open the tank valve, turn on the pump, open the line valve, open the spitter valve, and when the spitter valve starts to emit liquid OR the OPD shuts off, whichever occurs first, he should turn off the line valve, close the tank valve, bleed the pressure off, and disconect the adapter.
That is how they do my horizontal motor home tank except that they close the spitter valve.
Actually, I've had one person not mess with the spitter valve and let the OPD shut down things.
Just to be slightly anal, portable propane vessels, horizontal or vertical, are properly called cylinders. Permanently install vessels are called tanks.
cruiserjs wrote: Mowermech is talking about removable tanks 20 or 30 pounders. The OP has a horizontal tank and the rules/procedures are very different.
Oh. Right. Except that the tanks for my camper are HORIZONTAL tanks when in use, but the decals are VERY specific, they MUST transported and used in the HORIZONTAL position, but they MUST be filled in the VERTICAL position, and the procedure is exactly as I described it. The gauges on the tanks are calibrated to read either vertical or horizontal. I haven't looked to see who made them, or if the gauges are magnetic.
EDIT: I checked the camper tanks (cylinders, bottles, whatever) when I went out to throw hay at the horses. Yep, they are Manchester made, and the gauges are threaded into bosses welded into the ends of the tanks, I didn't attempt to remove the plastic portion of the gauge to see what was under it. It may very well be magnetic, that would make sense, no through shaft to try to keep from leaking.
* This post was
edited 06/25/08 08:19pm by mowermech *
Fulltimer50 wrote: The ONLY 100% safe method to fill a portable propane tank is by weight.
I haven't seen anybody do that in years. I no longer even see scales at propane filling stations, although my dealer has one. They never use it, though, they only sell by the metered gallon.
cruiserjs wrote: Mowermech is talking about removable tanks 20 or 30 pounders. The OP has a horizontal tank and the rules/procedures are very different.
No, the OP has removeable twenty pound horizantle tanks. Notice he said " took in ONE of my tanks".
Removeable horizantle tanks are used in truck campers and some trailers with LPG compartments.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
Yamaha IF2400isc
Yamaha EF3000iSEBC "Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It"
mowermech wrote: Then, according to the people at my propane dealership, your tech isn't doing it right. The local folks say he should connect the adapter, open the tank valve, turn on the pump, open the line valve, open the spitter valve, and when the spitter valve starts to emit liquid OR the OPD shuts off, whichever occurs first, he should turn off the spitter valve, turn off the line valve, close the tank valve, bleed the pressure off, and disconect the adapter.
This is the procedure used by those that have filled my horizontal tank and the procedure that I use when filling my horizontal tank when filling at a self serve facility.
BigRabbitMan & DiamondGal
Dixon,CADiamond Gal's T-Tapp fitness site
76 FMC #1046, Gas Pusher W/Chrysler 440-I
Edelbrock MPI fuel injection, Allison 545
Toad: Red '87 4x4 Subaru Brat, Lorance IWay 500c
DataStorm Satellite internet / I am here-click to see
Offline
Online
