Propane hoses

Shane826 · 09-15-2016, 05:18 PM

I just had the valve on one tank repaired and bought 2 replacement pigtail hoses. Should I put anything (pipe dope, Teflon tape) on the threads that go into the regulator?

tentcamper · 09-15-2016, 07:11 PM

The orginal hose connection to the regulator should be double flare fitting. The seal is made from compressing the copper flares to the regulator. There also is a none flared hose fitting, which requires tape.

Which hose did you get?

Shane826 · 09-15-2016, 07:18 PM

I got the 1/4" NPT thread (non-flared) as that's what the hose was that I took off...

tentcamper · 09-16-2016, 03:12 PM

I would use tefflon pip dope. I tried using tefflon tape on gas lines several times and about 50% of the time i have had leaks. Heard other people say they have had no issue. If you go the tape route, make sure you use the tape for gas fittings. It is not white, can not rember the color.

What did you have on the old fitting?

Shane826 · 09-16-2016, 03:14 PM

Not sure what was on the old fitting. It was installed before I bought it and it was pretty deteriorated

tentcamper · 09-17-2016, 02:56 PM

Check for leaks when finished. With soap water. That fitting the propane is at high pressure.

Shane826 · 09-17-2016, 07:22 PM

The hoses are good. They don't leak. But now the street side tank is doing what the curb side tank was doing before I got it fixed... It leaks at the valve only while opening and closing the valve. I'll get it fixed but of course the tank is full. And with the other tank I got whacked for a propane fill even though they had to empty the tank to replace the valve. Where does that propane go? Pretty sure they don't just vent it to the air...

**Bill** · 09-18-2016, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane826

... And with the other tank I got whacked for a propane fill even though they had to empty the tank to replace the valve. Where does that propane go? Pretty sure they don't just vent it to the air...

When I got this done in Phoenix a year ago, they set my tank upside down on a tall bench, connected it to a (presumably near-empty) 100-pound tank with a male-to-male hose, and opened both valves. I think the liquid propane in my tank flowed into the big tank. Wanna guess whether I got credit for it??

Bill

BrucePerens · 09-18-2016, 08:46 PM

I got this electronic leak detector which actually works. The user interface is a bit odd and takes some learning, but it's quite sensitive. You can test it on the stove, just let a little unlit gas out. It's nice to be able to check every time you refill a tank and reconnect it, or at the start of every trip, without having to mess with soapy water.

If you have a conventional tank, not the special tank that goes under the Trailmanor, and its valve is bad, get the Amerigas tank exchange for $20. If the store isn't busy, sometimes the salesperson will let you pick an obviously new one. Amerigas tanks are usually about 3/4 full. Home Depot states "we accept any tank, no matter the condition".

Shane826 · 09-18-2016, 08:52 PM

Bill- Yeah I found that to be kinda shady. Especially since the PROPANE DEALER charged $19.99 for the refill. I can go to Country Max or BJs and get the tank filled for $9.99.

Bruce- Sadly, I have the horizontal tanks for my 3326. But I have done that in the past with grill tanks. In fact I bought a couple old obsolete tanks at a garage sale a few years back ($5 for both) and exchanged them, no questions asked. Now I have 3 regular tanks. We grill a lot...