Propane tank valve - stuck solid

[groundhogy]

We are traveling. Just made it passed Atlanta west and at Newborn truck stop on Rt 20.
(Laid back, private owned, $10 showers, restaurant looks real good)

Wife closed off the valve this morning.
I go to open it just now, and i am NOT STRONG ENOUGH! Lol.
I call her out to try and turns out shes not strong enough either.
I got out the channel locks, no go (although you can’t get a good grip on these three point knobs). I got scared to really gorilla the knob.

Any ideas?

[Grit_dog]

groundhogy wrote:
I tried turning the valve either way and its stuck solid.
Hard to understand as it is such a soft turn normally.

Also, i thought, what if i disconnect hose and try to turn the knob...

The propane comes whooshing out. Its stuck open even without the hose.
Normally the propane doesnt come out until an official hose is connected, right?

You’re correct. That valve is fubarred.
There’s a safety valve that doesn’t allow LP to flow if there’s no restriction downstream IE if it’s not hooked up to something that holds pressure.

[groundhogy]

Currently switch/regulator (about 1yr old) set to good tank. We are running the one good side at the moment.

[bucky]

Hardly. People can spend their money anyway they want to. Manufactureres will do anything they can to ensure that you can't buy their stuff on amazon.
I was at a show in Jax FL yesterday and checked a brand new Airstream's tanks. Steel.

[Grit_dog]

^Sound a little jelly….

[bucky]

The valve is open or defective if propane is coming out when unhooked. If it's a 2 tank setup is the switch over valve set to the problem tank and that's why the propane is coming out with the problem tank hose unhooked?
Not to offend but when Airstream money is involved you have to step up sometimes.

[groundhogy]

This is a 30# fancy airstream aluminum tank.
Don’t think i can easily toss it.

[groundhogy]

I tried turning the valve either way and its stuck solid.
Hard to understand as it is such a soft turn normally.

Also, i thought, what if i disconnect hose and try to turn the knob...

The propane comes whooshing out. Its stuck open even without the hose.
Normally the propane doesnt come out until an official hose is connected, right?

[agesilaus]

For bad 20# tanks, just exchange them and let the knowledgeable mechanics at the propane co. deal with them. Pick out exchange tanks with a long service life so you canget them refilled.

[HappyKayakers]

I've had a couple of valves get stuck like that on #20 cylinders. I could never get them unstuck and cylinder replacement would cost about the same as valve replacement. The last time I was lucky and the valve was open just enough to finish using the tank before I trashed it.

agesilaus wrote:
If the good wrong way advice does not work, then the valve can be replaced. Call around to find a local propane shop that services tanks.

[2oldman]

Be sure to return and let us know what happened.

[agesilaus]

If the good wrong way advice does not work, then the valve can be replaced. Call around to find a local propane shop that services tanks.

[wa8yxm]

TenOC wrote:
Are you sure it is OFF and not ON. Try to turn it off before turning it on.

c
Likely the best advice.. Try turning it the other way.

And you can get a good grip on the knob but ... Not the way you think.
Turn pliars 90 degrees. attack from top.

[TenOC]

Are you sure it is OFF and not ON. Try to turn it off before turning it on.

[2oldman]

Is it frozen? I take it you don't travel with it on.