Problems getting seal with Calor Lite cylinders

PhilTheBass
PhilTheBass Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited July 2016 in Caravans #1

A few years ago I swapped from butane to propane using the Calor Lite cylinders. Ok at first then I started to have problems getting a seal. I changed the conector hose on my 'van to the Gaslow Easy-Fit one and havee no problems now. Wanted to use the same
cylinders at home for BBQ.  Have same problem with the regulator I bought.  Always get a slight leak. Do others have the same problem?  How do I fix it.  I checked that the metal surfaces are clean and not marked and tighten the joint as far as I can.  Seems
a poor solution having a metal-to-metal joint..  Don't have any experience with other types of propane cylinders,

 

Comments

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #2

    I had a similar problem and phoned Calor's technical help line because I wondered whether I was missing a gasket. The answer - it's a face to face connection and needs to be tight!

    My often expressed view is that it is a poor product, not light, not a snap fit and Victorian design. Trust me, they will go out of business and a European manufacturer will take over. There are far better products including Gas Light which the Dutch have
    embraced whole heartedly (as BP Light).

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2016 #3

    My wife has a wonderful sense of smell and she ALWAYS smells calor propane when it's being used. She doesn't always know what gas I've attached. As Hitchglitch says it's a poor product.

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #4

    I had a similar problem and phoned Calor's technical help line because I wondered whether I was missing a gasket. The answer - it's a face to face connection and needs to be tight!

    My often expressed view is that it is a poor product, not light, not a snap fit and Victorian design. Trust me, they will go out of business and a European manufacturer will take over. There are far better products including Gas Light which the Dutch have
    embraced whole heartedly (as BP Light).

    i don't want to pee on your chips but calor is a Dutch owned company.  

  • kaenergas
    kaenergas Forum Participant Posts: 171
    edited July 2016 #5

    Propane in the UK is a standard brass 5/8 BSP fitting LH, one of the main reasons some cylinder valves do not seal is that the mistaken view that the connection has to be an unbelievable  tight fit and what they do is over tight the regulator into the valve
    and by doing this they expand the cylinder valve or it mishapes. Brass to brass fittings should be hand tight then one tap on the spanner with the hand and the fittings will seal, but as I said earlier if your cylinder valve has been over tightened before,
    that will leak when you get it, so you then in time follow the same pattern, which will be repeated till either  the cylinder test or reported leaky/ non sealing valve then it will be re-valved. Not defending Calor but one of the major unnesscessary costs
    to gas companies is the replacement  of valves that have been over tightened,  all goes on the cost of the refill in the long term, hope this is of help

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #6

    How do you define "a slight leak"?  The gas is very smelly and it lingers inside fittings and hoses such that when one connects or disconnects there is always a smell of gas. It does also linger on one's hands and clothes.

    To test for a leak use soapy water and look for bubbles. Take a picture and haul the cylinder off to the nearest Calor agent to get it replaced as defective.

  • kaenergas
    kaenergas Forum Participant Posts: 171
    edited July 2016 #7

    Wherenext, propane in the UK comes from about 6 or 7 refineries who supply the same product to all gas companies so I am amazed she can tell the difference. 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #8

    Over-tightening is a widespread practice on taps as well. Remember folks, you are turning off taps, not fixing car cylinder head bolts. A slight trickle will usually stop after a moment or two. Overtightening exacerbates the problem until progressive and
    increased overtightening produces a continuous leak.

  • PhilTheBass
    PhilTheBass Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited July 2016 #9

    I define a 'slight leak' Navigateur by exactly the method you describe!  The first time it happened I didn't need to do that - I could hear it!   Reckon I'd have to haave taken everyone back...  Anyway, as I said caravan fixed sometime ago with the Gaslow
    connection and yesterday ordered a replacement standalone regulator with the softnose seal (like the Gaslow kit).  Just wondered if it was me...  Regarding overtightening - it would be a positive step of Calor told us not to overtighten if that does exacerbate
    the problem.





  • Marksailor
    Marksailor Forum Participant Posts: 57
    edited July 2016 #10

    If you check for a leak with soapy water, then ensure that you wash it off with plenty of fresh water immediately- most detergents (such as washing up liquids) contain salts and are quite alkline, and these can damage pipework and joints; quite often we
    find that happens on marine LPG systems, especially around compression joints. There are specific leak detector sprays available (best ones are pump action, I find) and are not expensive if you want to check seals regularly. I also agree wholheartedly with
    not overtightening joints- the advice given by people avbove is excellent.

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