Propane Tank Valve is stuck

Steven M · 03-12-2021, 01:26 PM

Hello everyone. Thankfully this isn't on my trailer, with warmer weather I wanted to do some grilling and tried to turn on the tank to ol' Weber BBQ and couldn't get it to turn to the open position. Tried the grill thinking maybe it was already open. Nope, no propane flowing. I have another tank and changed it out.

I can't muscle it open, can't seem to get a wrench to grip it. Took some WD-40 and sprayed it and let it sit. Still won't open.

Any of you smarter people out there have any ideas before I simply take it and exchange it for a new(er) one. Hate to waste the propane that's still in there. Thanks for any advice.

reetired · 03-12-2021, 02:22 PM

Is it frozen? Our regulators usually freeze during the winter...hair dryer, set it in the sun or bring into the house for a minute.

Steven M · 03-12-2021, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reetiredx2

Is it frozen? Our regulators usually freeze during the winter...hair dryer, set it in the sun or bring into the house for a minute.

It's been out for several days in the yard soaking up the WD40. Hasn't been below freezing for those days. Thanks for the hair dryer idea, maybe warming the valve could loosen something.

reetired · 03-12-2021, 02:37 PM

Best wishes....we have Weber’s Baby Q....stuck like chuck in the winter...unless we thawed it. Meaning check that as well! ��

Vermilye · 03-12-2021, 02:56 PM

I saw this happen to someone at one of the Quartzsite gatherings. I tried everything I could think of but no luck opening. The trailer owner traded the tank at a propane exchange. Maybe not too ethical, however since many of the exchanges only partially fill their tanks, maybe not...

Brian B-P · 03-12-2021, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven M

Hello everyone. Thankfully this isn't on my trailer, with warmer weather I wanted to do some grilling and tried to turn on the tank to ol' Weber BBQ and couldn't get it to turn to the open position. Tried the grill thinking maybe it was already open. Nope, no propane flowing. I have another tank and changed it out.

I can't muscle it open, can't seem to get a wrench to grip it. Took some WD-40 and sprayed it and let it sit. Still won't open.

Any of you smarter people out there have any ideas before I simply take it and exchange it for a new(er) one. Hate to waste the propane that's still in there. Thanks for any advice.

My guess is that the valve is already open, but the excess flow valve in the hose fitting had tripped and nearly shut off the propane flow. When the hose is removed another valve closes so that you might not notice that the main valve is still open; when the replacement tank was installed it would work because the excess flow valve would have reset. My suggestion is to try closing it... which will be difficult even if my guess is right because it's jammed open. If it is still open, then if you hook it back up again it might work, if connecting the hose to a wide-open tank doesn't trip the excess flow valve again.

It's a good thing a wrench doesn't fit - people would be breaking these things all the time if it were easy.

Tom&Joan · 03-12-2021, 09:18 PM

Steven, Can you take a careful measurement from a given point on the valve wheel to a point under the wheel, the object being a comparison to your other tank? This way you may be able to definitely determine if the valve is open or closed. Probably did not word this well, but hopefully you get the idea.

Steven M · 03-12-2021, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

My guess is that the valve is already open, but the excess flow valve in the hose fitting had tripped and nearly shut off the propane flow. When the hose is removed another valve closes so that you might not notice that the main valve is still open; when the replacement tank was installed it would work because the excess flow valve would have reset. My suggestion is to try closing it... which will be difficult even if my guess is right because it's jammed open. If it is still open, then if you hook it back up again it might work, if connecting the hose to a wide-open tank doesn't trip the excess flow valve again.

It's a good thing a wrench doesn't fit - people would be breaking these things all the time if it were easy.

Think I have an idea of what you're thinking. Will, if I remember, try it in the morning.

LynnB · 03-13-2021, 09:36 AM

I assume that you are talking about the five gallon tank? I had the same problem last year. I unstuck the OPD valve by dropping it (in the upright position) several times onto a handy tree stump.

https://everythingwhat.com/how-do-yo...-propane-valve

Steven M · 03-13-2021, 12:44 PM

Yes it seems to be stuck open, can't force it closed I don't have the hand or arm strength. Took pictures of the valve placement, the first is the stuck tank and the second is a closed tank I have.

LynnB · 03-13-2021, 01:10 PM

OK. I was talking about the internal OPD valve, not the on/off valve in the photo. Do a web search for 'stuck propane tank valve' and you will find all sorts of suggestions.

TTMartin · 03-13-2021, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven M

Yes it seems to be stuck open, can't force it closed I don't have the hand or arm strength. Took pictures of the valve placement, the first is the stuck tank and the second is a closed tank I have.

In your first post, you said you used a wrench to try and open it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven M

I can't muscle it open, can't seem to get a wrench to grip it. Took some WD-40 and sprayed it and let it sit. Still won't open.

You'll need to use a wrench to close it now. You should be able to get a grip on the handle with a pair of channel locks to start it. Once you get a quarter turn or so it should move freely.

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