GAUGE ON LPG TANK FOR HOB ETC HELP

[jones47]

Hi all,

OH has me posting again for him as he his at work so bear with me!

Right, the man of the house is getting the camper ready.........and has a question about the gauge for the under carrige lpg gas tank. The gauge is reading ZERO but gas is still coming out of the hob, enough to ingite it.

Therefore, is the gauge broken or is it normal to read zero for a bit but still but some gas out until it is truly empty? Is there any other way of knwoing what gas you have in there?

cheers. I am sure we will have 1001 questions to post soon as it appears a few of the interior bits and pieces are no twanting to work!!!

thanks again.

[jason k]

my gauge says full but it has run out in the past, its best to fill it once or twice a year and see how you go.

my money is on a buggered gauge!!

[jones47]

Bugger!

We are off to France in August and from our understading you are only allowed a certain % of gas in the tank to travel on Eurotunnel?????

Bugger again!

Thanks.

[jones47]

And we a have a 1989 Westy Califonia hi top too!!!!!!

[thechubbsdub]

How can they tell what % of gas you have in your tank?

[Red Westie]

WHEN the gauge works it fills to a maximum 80% state and the pump then stops automatically. Obviously yours is faulty, which is not unusual! The common cause is the internal float attached to the end of the fuel level mechanism (this is a beautiful brass rod and pinion gear afair) unfortunately they become porous and fill up with liquid gas and so stop floating.
The actual gauge is sealed and operated magnetically, just remove this (small screws) first before extracting the mechanism from the take.
I had to repair mine (89 California) by evacuating all the LPG, extracting the mechanisim (4 allen key bolts) in the side of the tank, removing the float (the flaw in the otherwise excellent design in that the pivot rod actually screws into the float instead of being silver soldered or brazed) so the liquid gas just leaks past the threads filling the float. The remedy (and still working two years on) is to reseal the threads using GAS GRADE PTFE tape (I checked mine afterwards by plundging the float and arm into hot water to check the seal)
Refit..
Martin

[Red Westie]

I would just add several points.....SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY
Disconnect both batteries leisure/starter, before you start (the auto ignition on the fridge could be a problem here, as could any static/sparks etc)
You could try burning off the remaining gas/use the BBQ take off point or slacken off a union on the tank (the later to be done with great care and in the open) Don't be surprised to see ice forming on the tank and unions.
Martin

[jason k]

WHEN the gauge works it fills to a maximum 80% state and the pump then stops automatically. Obviously yours is faulty, which is not unusual! The common cause is the internal float attached to the end of the fuel level mechanism (this is a beautiful brass rod and pinion gear afair) unfortunately they become porous and fill up with liquid gas and so stop floating.
The actual gauge is sealed and operated magnetically, just remove this (small screws) first before extracting the mechanism from the take.
I had to repair mine (89 California) by evacuating all the LPG, extracting the mechanisim (4 allen key bolts) in the side of the tank, removing the float (the flaw in the otherwise excellent design in that the pivot rod actually screws into the float instead of being silver soldered or brazed) so the liquid gas just leaks past the threads filling the float. The remedy (and still working two years on) is to reseal the threads using GAS GRADE PTFE tape (I checked mine afterwards by plundging the float and arm into hot water to check the seal)
Refit..
Martin

does that mean when i next fill mine it could go past 80% full cos the gauge is knacked martin??

[Red Westie]

No not at all.....the gauge has nothing to do with controlling the fuel cutoff point.
The fact is in use (those who do have working gauges) often report that the gauge goes a little higher than 80%, not really sure why, or how this cutoff is controlled, it could be just innacuracies in the gauge I really don't know, maybe if Steve from Gasure reads this he might add his advice.
In any case, I wouldn't worry about it, besides you haven't got any choice unless you fix your gauge.
Martin

[jason k]

cheers martin, i was a little worried there, its prob due a top up, the last time it was done with a tremendous hangover in cornwall, i stopped filling before i was sick!!!!

[Red Westie]

Hi Jason....
It's not a bad job to do, the worst part is finding a way to evacuate the gas, takes forever....unless you take shortcuts lol