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TucsonJim's avatar
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Jan 14, 2016

Propane Problem - Finally Solved

A while back, I posted about a problem with the propane system in my 5er. I had very limited propane flow from the curb side tank, while having great flow from the street side tank. When using the curb side tank, I could just get enough flow to keep one burner lit on the stove. If I lit other burners, the furnace or the refrigerator, everything would go out.

I started working my way through the system based on some feedback and suggestions I got from this forum. First I replaced the pigtail. If anything, the problem got worse. Then I replaced the secondary (30psi - red) regulator on the curb side. That didn't work either. I moved the two propane tanks to the opposite side with zero improvement, Then I used my compressor to blow out the cross over line with no improvement. Finally, I replaced the main two stage regulator and still didn't see any improvement. I still had little or no flow from the curb side, and great flow from the street side.

This afternoon, I pulled a pigtail off of my grill and put it into the system. Viola! I had full flow from the curb side. I could run the refrigerator, all three stove burners and the furnace all at the same time.

The OEM pigtail was restricted and seriously reduced the flow. The replacement pigtail from Camping World was even worse than the original. Finally, the third pigtail I tried solved the problem.

So, the moral of the story is: Just because a part is brand new, don't trust that it works.

I threw a lot of money at the problem with parts I didn't need, but at least I have some spares with me now if they ever fail in the future.

Jim
  • Glad you found it JIM. In ridiculous efforts to idiot proof propane systems God had decreed that just about every connection has to have some sort of flow limiter. These are usually in the spuds (the male piece in a connection) but not always. Of course, the more spud restrictors, the more chance one will fail and give you the problem you experienced. I've solved the problem in my rig by drilling out the restrictors. Now I have no more problems. Some may be aghast that I've eliminated the "safety" provisions of the LP system, but I'll assume that risk to eliminate failures that are illusionary safety fixes that do not work.

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