Forum Discussion

Cooter_76's avatar
Cooter_76
Explorer
Sep 03, 2019

Propane pigtails leaking

We keep our TT at my parents' house near the TX coast and use it as a guest house when we visit. The trailer is about 5 years old. Back in April, we went to visit and the propane system started leaking at the tank connections. Seemed to be coming out of the green threaded fittings that screw onto the tanks. I found some new pigtails at a local propane dealer, installed them and everything seemed to be fine. We went back this past weekend and both leaked immediately.
Is it common for these pigtails to fail, or am I missing some maintenance aspect of the system?
  • Turtle_n_Peeps's avatar
    Turtle_n_Peeps
    Explorer
    Sep 03, 2019
    The pig tails seal on the O ring in the valve of the tank. "If" the pig tails aren't leaking between the rubber hose and brass farel (rare, but it can happen) then you need new valves in your tank(s).
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Sep 03, 2019
    Cooter_76 wrote:
    The trailer is about 5 years old. Back in April, we went to visit and the propane system started leaking at the tank connections. Seemed to be coming out of the green threaded fittings that screw onto the tanks. I found some new pigtails at a local propane dealer, installed them and everything seemed to be fine. We went back this past weekend and both leaked immediately.


    A dozen years ago we bought a new 2007 RVision TrailCruiser hybrid but a couple years later had the same problem. I replaced both Acme-1 pigtails with new ones but that didn't solve the problem so I bought another set, this time with the older POL reverse thread brass connector instead of the Acme-1 plastic connector. That solved the problem entirely. :B
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Sep 03, 2019
    There are 1 versions of the TYPE I ACME Nut

    Older Version the 'thermal bushing' is fully visible
    THEY Leak


    Newer Version the 'thermal bushing' is not as visible
    They are much less prone to leaking



    ACME Nuts are designed to be 'hand-tightened' to fully seal
    They have to be tight enough to open the spring loaded chutoff vlave inside the OPD Service Valve opening
    Stub inside ACME Nut pushing the valve open when properly tightened

    When attached to OPD there should not be any leakage from the ACME Nut
    If is does....try to hand tighten more
    But shouldn't be that hard
  • BadgerMcAdams's avatar
    BadgerMcAdams
    Explorer
    Sep 03, 2019
    I know on the ORV forum that they had a Pigtail problem a while back...But, while they can dry-rot over time and prolonged exposure to the sun (just don't make them like they did years ago), I can't see the new one doing the same thing in a very short time. As others said, check the regulator, and for scientific research, make a soapy water solution and put it on the fittings, connections, and any other gas device that you may think is leaking to see what is really going on.

    Good luck and hope that you get if worked out!
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Sep 03, 2019
    Not common but not unheard of either. I recommend Cavagna brand pigtails for a superior crimp.
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Sep 03, 2019
    No this is not common and unfortunately no maintenance to them. Are you tightening them hand tight or are you using a tool to make sure they are tight? Can you determine where in the pig tail they are leaking? Could the new pigtails be fine and now the regulator is leaking?
  • Terryallan's avatar
    Terryallan
    Explorer II
    Sep 03, 2019
    Could be your tanks. Dirt on the seals. However it doesn't seem both would fail at the same time. Maybe they aren't being seated right.

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