Community Forums

Snailbus · 10-18-2021, 05:38 PM

Hi Rexies - me again. First time RV owner, bought a '97 Aerbus used from a private seller, who told us they'd never used the propane. Filled 'er up for the first time - the gentleman who helped us at the propane station advised us that the black valve on the tank needs to be open to get propane to the coach. Get home, check pressure release valve (closed), open black valve - propane audibly & visibly hissing out. Is there something about this process that we're doing wrong; is the valve leaking & we need to replace it, or is it something else entirely? Any thoughts greatly appreciated; we have to move out of our house & into the RV for a week (in New York), & pretty badly need the heat & stove to work.

twinboat · 10-18-2021, 06:26 PM

Did you open it fully?

Most gas valves have a backseating stem. When open all the way it seals the stem from leaking.

There may also be a packing nut under the know that can be tightened some, to stop a leak.

Full-Timers · 10-18-2021, 08:35 PM

Do you smell propane around the valve?
Do you smell propane anywhere around the motorhome, inside or out?

Snailbus · 10-18-2021, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Did you open it fully?

Most gas valves have a backseating stem. When open all the way it seals the stem from leaking.

There may also be a packing nut under the know that can be tightened some, to stop a leak.

It’s possible not - so much propane came out when we started to unscrew it that we panicked a little. Will try again in the morning!

Snailbus · 10-18-2021, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full-Timers

Do you smell propane around the valve?
Do you smell propane anywhere around the motorhome, inside or out?

When it’s open? Definitely. I didn’t notice it when closed, but I’ll have to do a more thorough sniffaround to answer that one definitively.

Old-Biscuit · 10-18-2021, 10:38 PM

As posted the Service Valve should be fully open or fully closed
TRAVEL between open & close the stem packing should prevent leakage

Old, dried out packing....leakage when opening/closing

Under valve wheel one maybe able to tighten the packing gland but with that vintage if will most likely be hard to operate when tightened enough to stop the leaking around valve stem

Best case.....use pair of gloves and open the valve Fully
If it stops leaking then leave vavle open and when tank is empty take it to a Bulk Propane Vendor (Suburban, Amerigas, Ferrellgas etc) and have the Service valve replaced.
Good time to replace the Tank Pressure Relief Valve also

Snailbus · 10-29-2021, 08:03 AM

As usual.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Old, dried out packing....leakage when opening/closing
Best case.....use pair of gloves and open the valve Fully
Good time to replace the Tank Pressure Relief Valve also

We ended up running out of time & going to a truck & trailer service place, who diagnosed that the valve hadn’t been all the way open AND the packing was bad - thus it leaking so catastrophically between open & closed. We’ve been living in it this week, & the packing has been somewhat revived from use - since we’d already filled it up in preparation, the RV tech advised us to just keep the propane compartment open, run out the propane, & come back to replace the valve stem when it’s done.