LPG - Horizontal Cylinder OPD Gas Valve Leak

**mjlaupp** · 04-27-2012, 07:44 AM

I have twice been notified (annual dealer 13 point check on my 3326K) that the gas valves on the horizontal cylinders leak around the valve stem. They only leak while opening and closing the valves. The valves did not leak once the valve was fully open so that is how I managed to get by until now. One was so bad that I could feel the gas flow while opening the valve.

I finally got the problem solved without buying new $200.00 cylinders: http://www.shoprvparts.com/product.do?no=11005F

Replacement OPD valves for horizontal cylinders can not be found! The valve has a bent pickup tube unlike the vertical tank valve. So the solution was to buy 2 regular OPD valves, remove the bonnets (valve stem, packing gland & other internals) and transfer them to my existing valves @ $22.00 per tank. The LPG dealer came up with this idea, thank you.

Additional reading about LPG cylinders: http://www.damouth.org/RVStuff/OPD.shtml

04-27-2012, 08:09 AM

I thought I had too replace one of my tanks when I went to fill it up ther other day. Turned out that the gas station where I went had a problem with their unit, so when I went to a gas company to have it checked out it filled just fine. Before I found out my tank was ok, I decided to check what it would cost to replace. I found this place:

http://www.propanetankstore.com/shop...er-with-gauge/

They want $140 plus shipping.

04-27-2012, 02:35 PM

Mike...One of our horizontal tanks does exactly the same thing. We have a place near us which specializes on propane tanks in all shapes sizes and applications. I talked to them and was told to use up all the propane and when the tank was empty it could easily be fixed and at that time they had all parts they need. We didn't discuss price...what it is is what it is!

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-27-2012, 04:58 PM

One of my tanks had a leak there a few years ago, and I took it to an Amerigas facility (the one with huge tanks in the back that fill trucks), and they simply replaced the valve. I hope it was the right kind (they seemed to know what they were doing), although I no longer have that tank -- it had to be replaced because the bracket weld came apart.

Good to know there is an alternative, however!

Dave

04-28-2012, 08:44 AM

Where I live it is just gas stations (just try and get a tank filled at an ARCO and in Oregon the attendant has to fill your gas tank) so they are not really familiar with filling propane bottles. So, it was necessary for me to go to a propane dealer to see if they could fill the tank. That is good info on running the bottle empty. I will keep that in mind for next time.
The guy at the propane store I went too said those valves can be hard to come by as a lot of dealers don't carry them in stock.

On another note it just amazes me what price you have to pay for a horizontal tank. They couldn't be that much more to manufacture. I mean I bought an extra upright tank for my grill the other day at Costco for $28 (including a gauge and pre purged of air) and the best price I found for a horizontal was $140 plug $25 for shipping. Seems a rip off to me. Sorry for rant...

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-28-2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragmopp

I mean I bought an extra upright tank for my grill the other day at Costco for $28 (including a gauge and pre purged of air) and the best price I found for a horizontal was $140 plug $25 for shipping. Seems a rip off to me. Sorry for rant...

I think it's all about demand. There are probably millions of those vertical tanks made every year (they're practically a commodity), but a small fraction of that are probably made horizontal. Special tanks = special price.

Dave

**mjlaupp** · 04-28-2012, 04:33 PM

For those wanting to shave tongue weight - a non metallic alternative from Lite Cylinder Company: http://www.litecylinder.com/products.aspx
Note that the horizontal cylinder has separate fill and use valves. This is most visible on the spec sheet for the 25# horizontal tank.
Take a look at their videos (including fire safety) under the Our Story tab.

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-28-2012, 04:55 PM

That is great to know. I've seen those as vertical tanks for several years now, and even called the company when I needed to replace my horizontal, but they weren't making them then.

IMHO, a major advantage to these tanks is that they are semi-transparent, so you can tell how much fuel is in them.

Dave

**Bill** · 04-28-2012, 05:36 PM

I would love to save the weight. And translucent is nice, though I don't really have a problem with the gauges on the steel tanks. But the whole idea makes me grind my teeth a bit.

Horizontal tanks are used in the slideout models such as the 2720SL. On the slideout models, the tanks are mounted in a welded steel cage that hangs below the trailer frame by about 5 inches. On two occasions, I have scraped that cage hard enough to break the welds. It is one thing to have a steel tank meet rock. But it gives me the willies to think of a fibeglass tank and a sharp rock.

I don't claim to go where PopBeavers goes. But if you go anywhere rough, be real careful about this.

Also, I don't see any mounting brackets or flanges on that tank.

Bill

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-29-2012, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

Horizontal tanks are used in the slideout models such as the 2720SL. On the slideout models, the tanks are mounted in a welded steel cage that hangs below the trailer frame by about 5 inches. On two occasions, I have scraped that cage hard enough to break the welds. It is one thing to have a steel tank meet rock. But it gives me the willies to think of a fibeglass tank and a sharp rock.

On the older SL models like mine, the tanks actually sit atop the tongue, so rock vs. tank issues aren't really a concern, except perhaps for road debris. But in any event, I agree that steel would be much more puncture resistant.

Dave