A spanner in the works!
Had the annual service before heading off for bonny Scotland next week. My "man" advised me to get butane bottles as temperatures are likely to drop below zero. So off I went to the local dealer who changed my blues for reds. It wasn't until I returned that I discovered a new regulator valve was also required (black mark for customer advice) so back to the dealer I go. Brought the new valve home and tried to fit it, only to find it still leaking like crazy. Back to the dealer who willingly changed it and returned to find the same problem. I tried a third valve (this time the genuine Calor one as opposed to the cheaper alternative). It still leaked, albeit much less audibly but when I poured soapy water on it bubbled away. So I called the dealer and they asked me to take the two cylinders and the valve for them to check. A hefty young lad emerged from their workshop with an equally hefty spanner about a foot long (305 mm for you europeans) and wrenched the nut up another quarter-turn. Sorted! I went straight to B&Q and purchased one of the same and will keep it onboard for future bottle replacements. The point of this long and sorry tale is to advise everyone to please check very carefully when you change bottles. If I hadn't done the soapy water test I wouldn't have known it was still leaking. The silly little spanner they give you with the bottles is just not strong enough to ensure a gas-tight fit unless you have a long pipe stuck on the end of it!
Comments
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I have also found difficulty in getting a seal sometimes. Although have always achieved it with the short spanner provided. As far as I am aware you are only supposed to nip the nut up as tight as you can get it with this type of spanner. I think the problem arises with the use of larger wrenches, resulting in over tightening and damage to the valve seat and coupling. Really the dealer should have replaced the cylinder and returned it to calor for refurbishment.
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Never had a problem using a standard gas spanner
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I must admit I never had this problem with the propane bottles (but then I never checked with soapy water). I'd be interested to hear if other butane users have had this problem. I always carry a bottle of diluted Fairy onboard (which I use to lubricate awning channel) and from now on will use it when changing gas.
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I think you have switched to Propane. If you now have orange bottles, that's propane. It is butane, blue bottles, that is prone to not gasifying in sub zero. Don't the blue butanes have different connectors? Perhaps they are less prone to damage..
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I have switched to Safefill Cylinders so I no longer use Butane (blue cylinder) I also obtained a Stainless Steel tail with a hand wheel and it’s been a breeze- no spanner needed as the handwheel is your spanner- and no worries about cold temperatures either. I think SteveL has a point regarding over tightening- after all- they are only brass not tempered steel- you should be able to seal it without a spanner you could pole vault with!!
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In my experience it's more problematic with butane due to the rubber washer needing to be not too tight but not too slack. Goldilocks zone!
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butane bottles have a quick release gas regulator that you need to press onto the valve at the top of bottle. propane are the ones that have a screw connected gas hose called pigtails. using extra long spanners just stretches the threads on both bottle and hose so will leak every time you change the bottle as it is not a match anymore with the one you have handed in. renew the pigtail hose and when changing the bottle try and pick the newest looking one they have in stock. check with soapy water and if slight leak undo and turn hose slightly and retighten and test again. you will probably get a good seal without overtightening. did a course some years ago for testing gas hire equipment for industrial use.
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sorry folks - error in OP - I have switched from butane (blue) to propane (red) as the latter is better in the cold weather. The Valve has the conical "male" connection. The valve leaked on both bottles and the dealer checked them both for damage. My main concern is for folks to check with the soapy water as I for one never did that until this episode. There was no audible sign of a leak so the bubbles are the giveaway
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I recommend you use one of the "soft" rubber nosed adaptors rather than the hard seated version. These are only hand tightened and get over the not infrequent nose or seat scratch issue causing leaks. Saves the weight penalty that comes with carrying a decent quality spanner.
These then couple to a Butane threaded pigtail.
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Hi made a mistake sorry0 -
wow thanks ocsid - I wish I knew about these before I cut off the end of my pigtail! Will order a couple anyway
thanks again
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