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AYRSTRM2 · 08-03-2004, 08:37 AM

You need to consider getting one tank that is the same size as one of the others, because the typical holding device for the tanks holds both at the top at the same time. Uneven heights would defeat that.

John

85MH325 · 08-03-2004, 11:42 AM

I have the aluminum Worthington horizontal tanks on my '94 Limited. I got the royal run-around this weekend at a Flying J while trying to get one of them refilled. According to the National Propane Gas Association there are apparently stickers available for the tanks that say they're exempt. I've emailed tech@airstream.com to find out exactly how to obtain those stickers, and find out exactly what recertification is required on the Worthington horizontal tanks to keep them in service as the 12 years will expire in '05 on mine.

I'll update this thread with the info I receive from Airstream.

Roger

pinkflamingoes · 08-03-2004, 02:40 PM

Those two tanks were just sitting inside the trailer, I'm thinking we'll just buy new ones, not sure if we'll get aluminum or not. Aluminum to match the trailer sure looks nice, maybe we'll get aluminum later on when the time comes. I think these are going to be disposed of!

TomW · 08-03-2004, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkflamingoes

...I think these are going to be disposed of!

Your comfort level with your situation comes first.

I will say that your tanks look considerably better than the tanks I had recertified, painted, and subsequently used.

FWIW,
Tom

JohnG · 08-07-2004, 02:29 PM

Does it matter how long the date on the tank is out. I have aluminum Worthingtons on my 75 that came with it from the PO.
Both tanks have a green handle on top and have the inside reverse threads for accepting the propans hose from the regulator. They are stamped with a date, one has 5 75 the other has 6 75 and the one with 5 75 has a scribed date of 7 87 on it the other does not. One tank is full and the other is empty.

Do they need to be refitted with new valves too?

Am I wasting my time trying to polish out the scuff, nicks, and deep marks inthem or what?

eubank · 08-07-2004, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

Does it matter how long the date on the tank is out. I have aluminum Worthingtons on my 75 that came with it from the PO.
Both tanks have a green handle on top and have the inside reverse threads for accepting the propans hose from the regulator. They are stamped with a date, one has 5 75 the other has 6 75 and the one with 5 75 has a scribed date of 7 87 on it the other does not. One tank is full and the other is empty.

Do they need to be refitted with new valves too?

John, take both tanks to a good propane dealer (not just a filler) and get them recertified. Most dealers will give you a "visual" recertification (worth five years) for little or no investment.

The tanks will also need OPD valves. Again, your dealer is your source.

If you can get them recertified and new values fitted, it will almost inevitably be a great deal less expensive than buying new aluminum tanks.

Lynn

JohnG · 08-08-2004, 09:51 PM

Guess I will pack them up and take them in on Monday. Funny looking now. One tank is semi polished and the other has a little polishing on its side. They are dinged with a few deep marrks here and there, but overall they will look good once I finish them. Just think I will let them do the refitting before I finish.

eubank · 08-09-2004, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

They are dinged with a few deep marrks here and there, but overall they will look good once I finish them.

THey'll look carefully at any ding in the tanks. (Presumably) a tank with any dents can't be requalified.

Lynn

JohnG · 08-10-2004, 11:22 PM

Good News, Both Tanks were recertified and new OPD valves were installed. The new valves cost 19.00 each and refilling them was 13.50 each. 65.00 total.

Now I can finish polishing them.

eubank · 08-10-2004, 11:26 PM

See there! That's peanuts in comparison to buying new ones!!!

Lynn

JohnG · 08-10-2004, 11:32 PM

Really, I thought the new valves were goning to be the expensive part, but when they said 19 each I could hardly believe it. So I told them to get right on it in case they made a mistake or something, LOL

JohnG · 08-25-2004, 01:18 PM

Okay, I may have a problem, but I'm not sure. Today I started to move my tanks out of the way and I turned on a valve on one of the tanks. I just had new OPD valves installed to come up to date. Anyway I turned on a tank and nothing happened. It didn't burst forth that smelly substance we call propane gas. So I opened the valve on the other tank too, and nothing, not even a whisper.
The tanks are both full. You can feel the propane swishing around if you swing them a little.

Are the new valves not supposed to let propane out when you open them? Is this a safety thing? If so how does the gas go into your lines when they are connected?

Should I call the place back up where I had the valves installed?

Thanks for the help here.

TomW · 08-25-2004, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

...Are the new valves not supposed to let propane out when you open them? Is this a safety thing? If so how does the gas go into your lines when they are connected?...

Bingo, Bingo, and when you screw the pigtail from your regulator onto the threads, a spring loaded, secondary valve opens to let the gas flow.

Your tanks are acting like they are supposed to.

Tom

**jcanavera** · 08-25-2004, 01:25 PM

One other word of advice is to open the valves slowly. Supposedly a sudden rush of pressure can also trigger a safety built into the valves to prevent a discharge of gas if a hose is severed.

Jack

JohnG · 08-26-2004, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcwilliams

Bingo, Bingo, and when you screw the pigtail from your regulator onto the threads, a spring loaded, secondary valve opens to let the gas flow.

Your tanks are acting like they are supposed to.

Tom

Ok, now are the old fittings going to work on these new valves. The old fitting will screw to the inside and it has a small hole in its center, but it don't look like it can press in on a spring or anything.

JohnG · 08-26-2004, 12:42 AM

Also does this mean that I won't be able to fill my small propane bottles for my grill from these new valves. I have a fittting that worked on the old valves to fill up your bottles (The disposible bottle like on a small tourch)

TomW · 08-26-2004, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

Ok, now are the old fittings going to work on these new valves...

Yes.
Although whoever set up the new rules would prefer you to use the external, right-hand Acme threads, the internal left-hand threads will still work just fine.

Although I installed a brand new regulator on my system, I chose to reuse the original, 1967, all- metal pigtails to connect the reg to the tanks. New style (neoprene?) pigtails don't appear to hold up to the sun very well if my propane BBQ grill is any indicator.

I can't speak to your bottle filler. But I don't know why it wouldn't still work.

Tom

roger n cindy · 08-26-2004, 06:49 AM

we have new aluminum tanks with the new valves on our bubble, they have a very annoying rattle to them when we walk about in the trailer ! is this an automatic shutoff , it sounds like a float of somekind ? our bubble has no fittings for shocks on the axle only leaf springs so every move is transfered to the body.
roger

TomW · 08-26-2004, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger n cindy

...very annoying rattle to them when we walk about in the trailer ! is this an automatic shutoff , it sounds like a float of somekind ? ...

Yes, I believe the heart of the Overfill Protection Device is a simple float, similar in idea to what's in a toilet tank, to keep the refill attendant from overfilling the tank.

Keeping the tank full may lessen the rattle, but I doubt you can eliminate it.

Tom

JohnG · 08-26-2004, 10:16 PM

Yes, mine have that rattle too. I did see the new valves when they installed them and your right Tom, it looks like a small tubeular type float.

LOL - we probable will only have to put up with this design for a few years more before some genius redesigns the valve and we all have to get new valves installed. Next time they will probably make the inner threads obsolete so that everyone has to change over and they can make more money out of it...........