Propane tank valve leaking (replacements for horizontal OPD valve)?

[kmcintyre]

We noticed some propane smell the other night and so I went to turn off the propane tank. I couldn't turn the knob so I am trying to decide what to do as I had the tank recertified about 6 months ago.

I can't find out (or haven't yet) if the horizontal OPD valves are the same as the vertical tank OPD valves? I'd like to just replace the valve but....

Should I replace the valve or tank?

How do faulty regulators manifest themselves and should I replace them too?

Here's my setup. Nothing special about it and I'm sure that everyone who has these horizontal tanks has the same setup?

Any info, suggestions, comments appreciated.

 

[fish more]

If the system is sealed properly you shouldn't smell any propane. Check the system with soapy water to detect leaks. If the tank was recently filled, run a burner on the stove to purge any air from system, turn off and then check with the soapy water, use a spray bottle to apply.

 

[kmcintyre]

If the system is sealed properly you shouldn't smell any propane. Check the system with soapy water to detect leaks. If the tank was recently filled, run a burner on the stove to purge any air from system, turn off and then check with the soapy water, use a spray bottle to apply.

Things get more and more strange. We did what you said but we were camping so no soapy water so that's when I decided to close the valve and it was stuck. Got home, took the tank out and after a while, the valve turned and it was in the off position. I am going to call the place that certified it. I'm not sure if they replace the OPD valve when the recertify it or if I can replace the valve. The downside is the tank is still 3/4 full. The other option is to get a new tank at about $100.

 

[kmcintyre]

Update:
I couldn't find a valve that was reasonably priced (about $60 plus propane) and I had a pretty full tank so I'd have to purge that propane, install the valve, replace the propane. Total price around $75. There was a small leak around the valve and I took it back to the place that re-certified the tank. They said they wouldn't have certified it with the leak had they seen it before. The re-certification is good for 5 years, new tanks 12 years sooooo that made the decision easier....

I bought a new tank for $90 and will have it filled when it arrives. I also replaced the regulator (the original one is about 20 years old), fittings, etc.

I'm hopeful this will resolve my issue but will report back in a week or so after I get the new tank filled and installed. I know about purging, etc. and this tank is supposed to be pre-purged and I called the propane RV place and they said they'd have no issues filling it, etc. We'll see when I get there with my new tank .

 

[Wildcat]

Where did you end up getting the new horizontal tank? I've seen them on Amazon a couple of years ago but I think it was a higher price. I've got a similar situation as my tank was recertified 2 years ago but it seems to have developed a regular gas smell that's noticeable when I open the access door to the tank. I replaced hose and regulator but I'm still getting a sniff of propane once in a while so I'm thinking about a new valve or tank if I can't track down the source of the smell. The soapy water test hasn't turned up anything and my refilling station says the valve is not leaking when they test with their commercial version of soapy water.

 

[kmcintyre]

Where did you end up getting the new horizontal tank? I've seen them on Amazon a couple of years ago but I think it was a higher price. I've got a similar situation as my tank was recertified 2 years ago but it seems to have developed a regular gas smell that's noticeable when I open the access door to the tank. I replaced hose and regulator but I'm still getting a sniff of propane once in a while so I'm thinking about a new valve or tank if I can't track down the source of the smell. The soapy water test hasn't turned up anything and my refilling station says the valve is not leaking when they test with their commercial version of soapy water.

That's what I was noticing too. Ebay. Seems like the tanks are the Flame King horizontal tanks. YSN Imports YSN201HZL Propane Tank LIQUID TRANSFER TANK I just looked and they don't have anymore in stock but I'd contact them. When I got mine, it seemed like they had 4 or 5 of them.

$96 (includes Idaho Tax). If you search that number, you'll see it's the Flame King tank (same as on Amazon).

 

[RHarries]

My tank and valve work OK, but at certain valve locations I can hear an audible leak. fortunately, there are no leaks in the fully open or closed positions, and the propane detector does not alarm. It seems that horizontal tanks are no longer made, or very difficult to find (~350 bucks) on line. i have been searching for replacement valves to fix this problem myself, but I don't know if the valves are specific to the tank orientation. It also sounds like valve replacement is not a simple DIY task and may require special tools (?). My valve is a Sherwood 4439.

i looked at the Flame King tanks, but the 3:00 orientation of the connection will require some plumbing which is tight at 9:00 (and they are not available currently)

I found this thread while researching availability of 20 pound horizontal tanks, identical to Kmcintyre's.

any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

 

[goinoregon]

in march, i picked up my atc, and also bought a horizontal tank from them. dont know what they charged.

 

[craig333]

I purchased a spare from Amazon but I just checked and now they are unavailable. Maybe they're on one of those containers ships that haven't been unloaded yet?

 

[achiral]

We have a 2006 model year (regulator location looks different than the picture in the original post), and at that time 4WC used a Manchester branded 20lb horizontal tank.

The OPD valve on our original tank started to leak; the replacement was to use a vertical, 30lb OPD valve (confirmed with Manchester, and the replacement works with no issues). It was nearly impossible to find someone to replace the valve, so we also purchased a new 20lb Manchester tank. Note that this style of tank must be filled vertically, then used horizontally to ensure no liquid draw.

Interestingly, the only place we could find the tank (model 10487TC) was on Amazon (no-one local carries horizontal tanks), and they no longer seem to carry them.

 

[Vic Harder]

I got mine (for previous camper) at a propane dealer here in Calgary. I had options back then on where to buy. Pricey, but new!

 

[RHarries]

Achiral,
it sounds like we have/had the same 20 pound Manchester tank with Sherwood valve. Thanks for info re: 30 pound valve compatibility. did you locate anyone to install the replacement valve? i have asked all propane vendors in my region without success. it seems like the cylinders are made to be disposable as nobody provides this service. frustrating!

 

[achiral]

Achiral,
it sounds like we have/had the same 20 pound Manchester tank with Sherwood valve. Thanks for info re: 30 pound valve compatibility. did you locate anyone to install the replacement valve? i have asked all propane vendors in my region without success. it seems like the cylinders are made to be disposable as nobody provides this service. frustrating!

I called a half-dozen different places to no avail (everyone just wants you to buy a new tank), then started focusing on small towns/small dealers up in the mountains or in the desert and just figured I'd stop by while on a trip.

I ended up going to a little 2-person propane shop in the middle of nowhere, where the employee swapped out the valve in 5 minutes. It's almost trivial to do the swap, but you need:
- standard OPD valve wrench & long lever (you can find them on-line)
- a couple of 2-3" wide ratchet straps
- and some type of strong post to strap the tank to. Something like a parking bollard or steel i-beam frame that are embedded in concrete would work

In any case, I didn't want to spend $100 on tools and parts to make the swap reasonably safe, and I figured people might get a bit upset if I was wrenching on a propane tank in a parking lot, so I had someone else do the replacement.