Forum Discussion

groundhogy's avatar
groundhogy
Explorer
Feb 08, 2023

Propane tank valve - stuck solid

We are traveling. Just made it passed Atlanta west and at Newborn truck stop on Rt 20.
(Laid back, private owned, $10 showers, restaurant looks real good)

Wife closed off the valve this morning.
I go to open it just now, and i am NOT STRONG ENOUGH! Lol.
I call her out to try and turns out shes not strong enough either.
I got out the channel locks, no go (although you can’t get a good grip on these three point knobs). I got scared to really gorilla the knob.

Any ideas?
  • TenOC's avatar
    TenOC
    Nomad
    Feb 08, 2023
    Are you sure it is OFF and not ON. Try to turn it off before turning it on.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Feb 08, 2023
    TenOC wrote:
    Are you sure it is OFF and not ON. Try to turn it off before turning it on.
    c
    Likely the best advice.. Try turning it the other way.

    And you can get a good grip on the knob but ... Not the way you think.
    Turn pliars 90 degrees. attack from top.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Feb 08, 2023
    If the good wrong way advice does not work, then the valve can be replaced. Call around to find a local propane shop that services tanks.
  • HappyKayakers's avatar
    HappyKayakers
    Explorer
    Feb 08, 2023
    I've had a couple of valves get stuck like that on #20 cylinders. I could never get them unstuck and cylinder replacement would cost about the same as valve replacement. The last time I was lucky and the valve was open just enough to finish using the tank before I trashed it.

    agesilaus wrote:
    If the good wrong way advice does not work, then the valve can be replaced. Call around to find a local propane shop that services tanks.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Feb 08, 2023
    For bad 20# tanks, just exchange them and let the knowledgeable mechanics at the propane co. deal with them. Pick out exchange tanks with a long service life so you canget them refilled.
  • groundhogy's avatar
    groundhogy
    Explorer
    Feb 09, 2023
    I tried turning the valve either way and its stuck solid.
    Hard to understand as it is such a soft turn normally.

    Also, i thought, what if i disconnect hose and try to turn the knob...

    The propane comes whooshing out. Its stuck open even without the hose.
    Normally the propane doesnt come out until an official hose is connected, right?
  • groundhogy's avatar
    groundhogy
    Explorer
    Feb 09, 2023
    This is a 30# fancy airstream aluminum tank.
    Don’t think i can easily toss it.
  • bucky's avatar
    bucky
    Explorer II
    Feb 09, 2023
    The valve is open or defective if propane is coming out when unhooked. If it's a 2 tank setup is the switch over valve set to the problem tank and that's why the propane is coming out with the problem tank hose unhooked?
    Not to offend but when Airstream money is involved you have to step up sometimes.

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