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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,384
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Do LP Gas Regulators Go Bad?
I have this big patio heater and I can't get it to light the pilot. It has spark from the ignitor but I can't get gas up to the top. When you hook up the regulator to the tank, there is flow through the regulator but its really really gentle flow. Putting your thumb at the end of the line can totally stop the pressure. Do those little regulators go bad or is that flow sufficient and my issue is higher up?
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05-15-2015, 06:55 AM
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1988 Carrera
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Yes they do. Buy the red ones ($70.00) they will last you for years. The cheap ones last two seasons at best.
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88' Carrera 79' SC gone (lost to Katrina) 75' Targa gone 72'914 gone 72' 914 gone too |
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05-15-2015, 07:12 AM
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Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: cutler bay
Posts: 15,136
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check the pilot burner for carbon build up blocking the burner holes
the regulator is to reduce the pressure and should not be a strong flow esp at the pilot can you lite the main burner ? |
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05-15-2015, 07:14 AM
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Detached Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: southern California
Posts: 26,964
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A trick is to unscrew both ends of the regulator and hose and let them sit for a few minutes and put back together. Don't know why, but it seems to work.
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05-15-2015, 07:49 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,384
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When I turn the gas valve to "light" and push it in to flow out to the pilot I do not get any hissing.
When I turn the knob to the running position I don't get hissing again. If the regulator should be pushing out gentle flow then I am thinking it is something upstream of the regulator. Since I don't hear or smell gas at either the pilot or the main burners should I be replacing the valve or is that something that can be cleaned? |
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05-15-2015, 08:05 AM
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Registered
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Most likely the check valve in the tank needs to be reset. The symptoms are the same as on a BBQ grille - low gas flow. This is how you do it on a BBQ grille.
To reset the check valve: Turn off everything. Turn off the grill, the side burner and the LP gas tank. Once everything is turned off disconnect the propane tank from the gas grill by unscrewing it or pulling the quick-release on older tanks. Now turn the grill control valves back on to bleed out the propane in the manifold and gas line. leave the grill, side burner etc on high for a few minutes with the lid open. (basically what Hugh said) Then turn all the valves back to the off position. With the grill turned off reconnect the propane tank, then very slowly turn the hand wheel to the open position. Then light the grille.
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05-15-2015, 09:59 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Nevada City, Ca
Posts: 2,227
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Same problem on my bar-b-que. bad regulator
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05-15-2015, 10:21 AM
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Get off my lawn!
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Look carefully at the regulator. If it says Made in China, throw it in the trash and find one made in the USA. My gas grill came with a China-crap regulator that died after a couple of years. I replaced it with a USA made quality regulator and the company I got it from said it will outlast me.
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Glen 49 Year member of the Porsche Club of America 1985 911 Carrera; 2017 Macan 1986 El Camino with Fuel Injected 350 Crate Engine My Motto: I will never be too old to have a happy childhood! Last edited by GH85Carrera; 05-19-2015 at 04:30 AM.. |
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05-15-2015, 01:00 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fla panhandle / Roaming in my motorhome
Posts: 4,332
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Why can't I remember the name of pelican that got his leg burned badly by a failing regulator on his grill. It was like a blow torch x 10 that happened to be aiming right where he stood.
Wouldn't mess with an old failing regulator. |
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05-15-2015, 01:09 PM
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Control Group
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They do go bad, but only if hanging out with a bad crowd.
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She was the kindest person I ever met |
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05-15-2015, 03:02 PM
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Get off my lawn!
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Quote:
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Glen 49 Year member of the Porsche Club of America 1985 911 Carrera; 2017 Macan 1986 El Camino with Fuel Injected 350 Crate Engine My Motto: I will never be too old to have a happy childhood! |
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05-16-2015, 05:15 AM
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non-whiner
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Slightly right of center
Posts: 5,235
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Hey, they are under a lot of pressure to convert.
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"Too much is just enough." |
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05-16-2015, 06:07 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lawrenceville GA 30045
Posts: 7,384
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Quote:
Bad day today or "How I spent Memorial Day in the hospital"...
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Mark '83 SC Targa - since 5/5/2001 '06 911 S Aerokit - from 5/2/2016 to 11/14/2018 '11 911 S w/PDK - from 7/2/2021 to ??? |
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05-16-2015, 06:47 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,384
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I do get flow out of the regulator but its like as soft as the air I exhale when breathing. I'll dry to reset the tank itself. I guess a regulator from homedepot cant hurt.
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05-17-2015, 03:59 PM
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Just thinking out loud
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Close by
Posts: 6,885
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It's a bad regulator. If you have natural gas nearby, you could plumb in a line for the heater, change the orifice, and forget about failed regulators forever.
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83 944 91 FJ80 84 Ram Charger (now gone) |
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05-17-2015, 05:35 PM
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Registered
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Posts: 3,384
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Quote:
BTW: love ramchargers...have a first gen diesel ram myself. |
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05-18-2015, 08:10 AM
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Popped on a new regulator and the pressure I feel coming out of the regulator is much higher. But not matter what I cannot get propane up to the pilot or the burner. I don't hear or smell and gas coming out and of course there is nothing to light. This makes me think the valve is bad? Something I can open and clean up with PB blaster or no?
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05-18-2015, 04:24 PM
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Registered
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It's probably the flow limiter needing to be reset and no, you can't fix it with PB Blaster. I know you aren't fueling a BB-Q grille, but the concept is the same for anything that uses a modern portable propane tank and regulator. If for any reason too much gas flows out of the tank when you open the valve, the flow limiter stops the flow to a trickle. You have to resent the limiter before it will allow the full volume of gas to flow. If you can't reset it after a few tries, you need to get another tank because the overflow protection valve in the tank is not opening..
Troubleshooting Flow Limiting Device on 20# LP Tanks
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. Last edited by wdfifteen; 05-18-2015 at 04:47 PM.. |
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05-18-2015, 04:30 PM
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Detached Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: southern California
Posts: 26,964
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Like I stated on post #4
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05-18-2015, 05:58 PM
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Porsche 911
Carrera
2004 Mazda Miata
