Wouldn't Fill My Propane

G

george beckman

New member
Dec 4, 2008
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Out of town, it was hot, I thought I might want to run the Onan all night and it is on propane, so I went to have the propane filled. The young man
balked and said it needed to be recertified. I tried in vain to tell him motorhome tanks are not DOT but didn't get LPG. Only guy in the town.

Can someone direct me to an official booklet, document, etc. I could carry to educate the unwashed?

Thanks.
--
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
 
> Out of town, it was hot, I thought I might want to run the Onan all night and it is on propane, so I went to have the propane filled. The young
> man balked and said it needed to be recertified. I tried in vain to tell him motorhome tanks are not DOT but didn't get LPG. Only guy in the town.
>
> Can someone direct me to an official booklet, document, etc. I could carry to educate the unwashed?
>
> Thanks.
It won't help much now, but if you rig a way to connect BBQ grill tanks, and a way to switch between the OEM tank and that connection, you can pay a
deposit at a tank exchange place (like Walmart) and have a backup plan. OR, read on.

The moral of the story is what I am tempted to say every time someone hard sells Onan propane conversions: The Onan will run four times as long on the
gasoline tanks as it will on the propane tank, and GASOLINE IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE EVWEYWHERE.

Make it dual fuel and cover yourself for contingencies. Any propane conversion should have the ability to effortlessly switch between propane and
gasoline.
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Highest price does not guarantee highest quality."
 
We had this issue last year around the same time, whenI tried to get my
tank filled up.

First: We don't need an Overflow Protection Device, as our system is too
old. Read

http://rvtravel.com/publish/RVer_struggles_to_get_horizontal_lp_tank_filled.shtml

2nd: Our LPG installation is not certified by DOT, but certified for
life by ASME, therefore we do not need re-certification.

--
Best regards

Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x83E1C2EA

'76a Eleganza II, VA
 
> Out of town, it was hot, I thought I might want to run the Onan all night and it is on propane, so I went to have the propane filled. The young
> man balked and said it needed to be recertified. I tried in vain to tell him motorhome tanks are not DOT but didn't get LPG. Only guy in the town.
>
> Can someone direct me to an official booklet, document, etc. I could carry to educate the unwashed?
>
> Thanks.

George,

Such is available on line, mine is in the middle of an old NFPA code book.
Start by pointing to the big stamped tag that is welded to the tank.
Ask if he has seen one of those before and does he know what and ASME code tank is?
Ask if he knows why there is no requirement for recertification of ASME code tanks? (None - ever)

Then there is a story of an MH owner that was told his LP tank needed to be recertified. He asked if they could do it and they said he would have to
leave the coach there for a day. He agreed. He came back the next day to pick up the coach and he also had a warrant. It seems he was from the
state fire marshal's office.

I don't know how that would work in California.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
> Out of town, it was hot, I thought I might want to run the Onan all night and it is on propane, so I went to have the propane filled. The young
> man balked and said it needed to be recertified. I tried in vain to tell him motorhome tanks are not DOT but didn't get LPG. Only guy in the town.
>
> Can someone direct me to an official booklet, document, etc. I could carry to educate the unwashed?
>
> Thanks.
It won't help much now, but if you rig a way to connect BBQ grill tanks, and a way to switch between the OEM tank and that connection, you can pay a
deposit at a tank exchange place (like Walmart) and have a backup plan. OR, read on.

The moral of the story is what I am tempted to say every time someone hard sells Onan propane conversions: The Onan will run four times as long on the
gasoline tanks as it will on the propane tank, and GASOLINE IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE EVWEYWHERE.

Make it dual fuel and cover yourself for contingencies. Any propane conversion should have the ability to effortlessly switch between propane and
gasoline.
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Highest price does not guarantee highest quality.”
============
 
> Hi Mark,
> They system I will be showing and discussing at Coos Bay is a dual fuel system. Switch from propane to gas or back by simply throwing one toggle
> switch which can be mounted anywhere in your coach. Simple, easy and it really works well. I will also be showing some real world fuel consumption
> figures that may surprise a number of people. The nice thing is you don't need to fret over run times when you can switch back and forth as often
> as you wish. All you will really notice is that your Onan starts faster, runs smoother and the exhaust is far friendlier when running on propane.
>
> Jerry
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
If I had the money and was going to keep the RV, I would be all over that solution. If it works as advertised, it gets my recommendation.
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Highest price does not guarantee highest quality."
 
I have not had the problem of outright refusal but last week the attendant
at Costco said he was worried about the rust spots - two normal 5" diameter
spots where the water leaks in through the vents - and that I should get
that fixed before someone else (like him I guess) refuses to fill it.

On Wed, Sep 28, 2016 at 9:12 AM, George Beckman
wrote:

> Out of town, it was hot, I thought I might want to run the Onan all night
> and it is on propane, so I went to have the propane filled. The young man
> balked and said it needed to be recertified. I tried in vain to tell him
> motorhome tanks are not DOT but didn't get LPG. Only guy in the town.
>
> Can someone direct me to an official booklet, document, etc. I could carry
> to educate the unwashed?
>
> Thanks.
> --
> '74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
> Best Wishes,
> George
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Paint the tank. Put “Bar Keepers Friend” on the valves and the fittings.

Your problem will likely go away.

Three hours or so, and if it looks right, it likely is right.

I did so, and have not had a problem since.


Dolph

DE N8JPC

Wheeling, West Virginia

1977 26’ ex-PalmBeach
1-Ton, Sullybilt Bags, Reaction Arms, 3.70 LSD, Manny Transmission, EV-6010

“The Aluminum and Fiberglass Mistress"

>
> I have not had the problem of outright refusal but last week the attendant
> at Costco said he was worried about the rust spots - two normal 5" diameter
> spots where the water leaks in through the vents - and that I should get
> that fixed before someone else (like him I guess) refuses to fill it.
>
> On Wed, Sep 28, 2016 at 9:12 AM, George Beckman

>
>> Out of town, it was hot, I thought I might want to run the Onan all night
>> and it is on propane, so I went to have the propane filled. The young man
>> balked and said it needed to be recertified. I tried in vain to tell him
>> motorhome tanks are not DOT but didn't get LPG. Only guy in the town.
>>
>> Can someone direct me to an official booklet, document, etc. I could carry
>> to educate the unwashed?
>>
>> Thanks.
>> --
>> '74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
>> Best Wishes,
>> George
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
The original ASME tank on my coach has been punched with several test dates over the years, indicating that some sort of recertification was attempted. It is possible that there are a few poorly informed test facilities in my area, but more likely, that there are businesses who are happy to take your money with a smile, while preying on the uniformed customer.

A clear situation where the customer needs to be well informed and able to provide reputable data when necessary. IOW - Buyer be aware!

Les Burt
Montreal
'75 Eleganza 26'
The EWIP (Eternal Work In Progress)

>

>> Out of town, it was hot, I thought I might want to run the Onan all night and it is on propane, so I went to have the propane filled. The young
>> man balked and said it needed to be recertified. I tried in vain to tell him motorhome tanks are not DOT but didn't get LPG. Only guy in the town.
>>
>> Can someone direct me to an official booklet, document, etc. I could carry to educate the unwashed?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
> George,
>
> Such is available on line, mine is in the middle of an old NFPA code book.
> Start by pointing to the big stamped tag that is welded to the tank.
> Ask if he has seen one of those before and does he know what and ASME code tank is?
> Ask if he knows why there is no requirement for recertification of ASME code tanks? (None - ever)
>
> Then there is a story of an MH owner that was told his LP tank needed to be recertified. He asked if they could do it and they said he would have to
> leave the coach there for a day. He agreed. He came back the next day to pick up the coach and he also had a warrant. It seems he was from the
> state fire marshal's office.
>
> I don't know how that would work in California.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> '73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
> Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
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