Propane problems

[bonnievast]

we recently purchased a 1979 argosy and cannot seem to get the propane into the interior....we made certain the propane tanks were full...turned the tanks on and waited about 20 minutes...turned the gas burner on and tried to light but no response....we purged the tanks several times and still no result...finally replaced the 2 stage regulator and hoses and still no result....any suggestions

[eubank]

Greetings, Bonnie, and welcome to the forums!

First off is safety. Have you checked the lines to make sure you have no leaks anywhere? Soapy water does a pretty good job.

Assuming no safety issues, what kind of rig is this? A motorhome? A trailer?

If it's a trailer, a really simple way of checking to make sure the problem is not with the tanks is simply to connect one of them (then the other) to a barbeque grill and firing it up. If it fires ok, then the problem is not with the tank.

When you tested at the stove, did you leave the stove on for a minute or so to allow propane to come from the tanks, through the lines, to make it to the stove? With our rig, it always takes about that long after longer storage.

Since you replace the regulator, the problem shouldn't be there.


Lynn

[azflycaster]

There should be a valve for the stove under the lid.

[overlander63]

I had an Argosy come into the shop last week for lack of propane, and it turned out some schmoe jacked the trailer up and smashed the line at the A-frame. Yours may be similar, check for smushed lines and kinks. And naturally, check it for leaks after you get gas to everything.

[overlander64]

Greetings bonnievast!

Welcome to the Forums and the world of Vintage Argosy ownership!


There are any number of potential problems that could result in the condition that you describe.

• The simplest issue may be just locating all of the individual valves for your applicances. Each of the LP gas appliances in your Argosy has an LP shut-off valve. The main shut-off for the furnace and water heater may be under the coach on the exterior while other shut-offs may be be located near the appliance itself. Most ranges have a stove-top shut-off valve under the top cover and may also have a shut-off valve for the oven (the placement of the oven shut-off valve varies by model of range and may not be present on every model).
• The rubber LP supply hoses may be decaying internally and blocking the flow of LP gas to the coach. This was a problem that I encountered shortly after purchasing my Overlander in 1995 -- the old LP hoses looked OK on the outside but were decaying on the inside and were blocked with decayed rubber preventing the flow of gas.
• The main LP supply line may be dented or partially collapsed preventing adequate flow in adequate volume to support a pilot -- a visual inspection will usually identify a problem like this as the main LP line typically runs outside of the bellypan and is visible.
• Spiders seem to love to build their nests in the area of propane pilot lights and orifices, and cleaning each orifice may provide results as well.

If you are uncomfortable woriking with the LP gas system, it is something that is common to all brands of RVs so a reputable RV repair center would be able to examine your system and make suggestions on brining it into safe operation.

Good luck with your Argosy!

Kevin

[TG Twinkie]

The lines run under the belly pan. Check to make sure the line is not crushed under the tongue. There are at least 3 valves; one for the stove, one for the furnace and one for the water heater under the trailer in the branch lines going to the appliances. My Argosy does not have a valve for the refer.
The easiest way I have found to get the gas flowing is to light the cooktop burners first.
Be sure to check all fittings for leaks.

[bonnievast]

thank you for your information....we did get it working and it seems to be fine....very new at this and will probably have a few more glitches...luckily we have the original manual....so will start memorizing....

[Don.44]

I just bought a newer Air Stream and the hot water won't work by gas It won't lite It works on electric ,. I looked at the pipe and there were some bugs in the pipe that delivers the gas to the burner Do bugs climb in there and build nest ? What kind of bugs are they ?
Don

[Skater]

Originally Posted by Don.44

I just bought a newer Air Stream and the hot water won't work by gas It won't lite It works on electric ,. I looked at the pipe and there were some bugs in the pipe that delivers the gas to the burner Do bugs climb in there and build nest ? What kind of bugs are they ?
Don

Spiders love propane. There may be others, but spiders are the most common culprit. Definitely clean those out before trying to light it, or you could have a fire where it doesn't belong (I set my gas grill on fire this way).

[Don.44]

It had some spiders yes but it had a strange looking bug almost like a turtle with long legs I did finally get it going but it was an adjustment to the spark probe that did it This trailer has a lot of wasps nest too I vacuumed as many as I could find up .