Cant fill propane tank

[f.flujan]

Hi everyone. new to the forum. just bought 1992 fleetwood pace arrow. Well went to fill propane tank and the guy filling it said nothing was going in. there were people behind me so didnt do much to try to figure it out. later went to rv parts place and asked and one of the guys mentioned something about changing a valve and something about 10%. He was busy so really didnt want to keep asking about it. Does any one have any input or ideas of why or what the fix might be. thanks so much.

[tswms]

I had a similar problem with my 1990 Newmar.  The tank valve has a float which shuts off at 80% full, and makes it slow down to almost nothing.  I checked with Amarigas where I usually fill and they said they could replace the valve, but they did not have the right tool to remove the valve so they sent me to my RV tech.  (Catch 22, he could replace the valve but would evacuate the tank) I had to take the coach home and blow the tank then go back to get it replaced. Only cost about $50 for the valve and labor.

Tony

[RV Roamer]

Yes, the Overfill Protection device (OPD) inside the tank can stick and prevent propane from going in. Often a good hard rap on a concrete floor with the tank can jar it loose. If that fails, you may have to replace the valve. I've even had a brand new tank stick like that.

[scottydl]

Often a good hard rap on a concrete floor with the tank can jar it loose.

How do you accomplish this on a permanently mounted tank in a motorhome?  I'm about to have my propane tank filled for the first time since I've owned the coach, so I'm trying to anticipate any potential problems.

[John From Detroit]

I recall the first time I went to fill the tank on my rig.. No joy.. 

Turns out the tech had snagged the emergency shut off cable pulling the hose out of the cabinet and shut it off..   (had nothing to do with my rig)

I would say, try again.... This time however go to a professional propane supplier. not a camp ground or filling station but the kind of place that sends truck loads of propane out to gas stations or camp grounds to re-fill their tanks.

Just google PROPANE and your current zip code

[RV Roamer]

How do you accomplish this on a permanently mounted tank in a motorhome?

Never heard of it happening on a fixed mount tank, but probably it has (in my years of listening here, I've figured that everything has happened to somebody at some time!).   I guess I'd try a rap on the side with a heavy rubber mallet.

[f.flujan]

Thanks everyone for your help. Happily it had nothing to do with my tank. It was the guy filling my tank. I now know the valve has to be off, not on. feel like a klutz. I should know better. thanks everyone. you guys will hear from me again. im new.   

[John From Detroit]

You mean I hit it (As I said above, when I had the same problem... it was the guy (park employee) filling the tank who had snagged the safety valve and shut off the pump... Of course I don't have nice things to say about the guy who designed the safety system on that pump either.. I'd have done it better and that would have indicated to the technician that the pump was off)

[RV Roamer]

I think he meant the valve on the motorhome tank.

[John From Detroit]

Where as I don't know about his tank,,, On mine the fill valve is "Automatic" the only valve the techinican has to open to fill it is the spitter that tells him when to stop.

Though he normally turns off the valve to the motor home... And in fact, the #1 cause of "I just filled the tank and now nothing works on propane" is... The technician turns it off.. it's up to YOU to turn it back on

However.. I do gather that some tanks may well have a cut off valve on the fill port too.. Been a long, long time since I dealt with older propane tanks. (Let's see, I was a teen then, I"m pushing sixty now (2 years). soooooooo  over fifty years.

[cjensen91910]

I have filled a lot of propane tanks in my workamping time on new and older units.  Some of the older tanks have a spitter valve (10% valve) that must be COMPLETELY open before tank will fill.  As said, some valves do hang up, for whatever reason, and a good solid tap will get them to open SOME TIMES.  We used to use a dead blow mallet on them but if that did not work we would send unit to a shop we new of.  They would replace valve.

[SCR]

Transporting your portable tank in a horizontal position will sometimes cause the float to stick.

Always transport them vertical to avoid this problem. (unless it is specifically a horizontal tank)

[John From Detroit]

There is another reason to transport the tank "Right Side Up" as well

If, the pressure in the tank gets so high it needs to vent as a safety feature

It vents VAPOR... 

If it is "on it's side" (other then proper side up) then it may vent liquid.

The liquid, very quickly becomes vapor when released from the tank, Lots and Lots and Lots of vapor... So instead of venting say 1 cubic foot of gas.. You may well vent 100 cubic feet.

[rdenofio]

I had an OPD valve stick on one of my portable pancake propane tanks that I use for my portable lantern and barbecue. One of the RV park owners where we frequent in the Adirondacks told me it sometimes happens if you store the tank for a long period of time, say during winter storage, empty. Not sure if there is any validity in this but since then I have topped my tanks off before winter storage with no issues.

[Lou Schneider]

Lots and Lots and Lots of vapor... So instead of venting say 1 cubic foot of gas.. You may well vent 100 cubic feet.

More like 270 cubic feet.   That's the ratio - 1 gallon of liquid = 270 gallons of gas.

[BrotherBear]

More like 270 cubic feet.   That's the ratio - 1 gallon of liquid = 270 gallons of gas.

don't you mean 270 cu. ft.? 

[Lou Schneider]

No, I think I said it correctly.   

The ratio of liquid to gaseous propane is 1:270.
 
Vent one gallon of liquid and you'll get 270 gallons of gaseous propane.

One cubic foot = 7.48 gallons, or about the capacity of one tongue mounted DOT tank.   Let it's contents vent to the atmosphere and you'll get 270 cubic feet or 2020 gallons of propane gas.