Re: [GMCnet] propane tank gauge

[Tom Whitton]

I had the propane tank out to repair a disconnected water line and accidently broke the gauge on the side of the propane tank. The bottom part of the old gauge is still on the tank. I have a replacement. Could someone tell me how to go about replacing the damaged gauge? There are two mounting tabs, one center upper and one center lower. The gauge is held in place with screws through these tabs. My tank is almost full of propane. To replace the gauge I started to remove the two screws. When they were about half way out I heard a slight hissing noise from gas leaking out and quickly retightened them. I was apprehensive about do this job anyway. Maybe I imagined the sound but I don't want to take a chance. Can anyone help? Obviously, my knowledge in this area is deficient.

Tom Whitton
26 foot updated GMC
Paducah, KY
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[Terry]

There should not be any screws that you could loosen easily that would violate the seal of the tank. But anything is possible, especially when people
get involved. Can you post any quick pics so we can see what you've got? Mine is out in the thunderstorm right now and may not be the same as yours
anyway. You might want to put the year in your signature file.
--
Terry Kelpien
ASE Master Technician
73 Glacier 260
Smithfield, Va.

[Carl]

Tom - here are some photos of the float and gauge assembly that drives the sender and gauge.

You will notice that the assembly is sealed to the tank with a o-ring.

You should be able to replace the gauge portion (2 screws) , but not the float assembly itself unless the tank is emptied first.

If the float assembly is broken, you should have the tank safely emptied at a propane shop, then work on replacing the gauge.








Hope this helps



--
Carl Harr : Driver NASCAR Pro Series #2
1978 Gadabout-Restoring
1978 Palm Beach
1976 Glenbrook
Prevost Featherlite H3-45

[Bruce Hislop]

Carl,
Interesting photos of the propane tank float. My gauge on the tank gives a reading, but my remote propane gauge is stuck at full. Its an issue in
the variable resistor on the tank gauge.

So from your photos, I can remove the gauge itself off the tank without releasing any propane, but that begs the question... what drives the gauge
from the float within? a magnet?

thanks

--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
Hubler 1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that

[Robert Mueller]

Carl, I noticed a tiny teat in the middle of the area the dial seats in. Is that a small shaft that moves in and out as you move the float? If it is
I'm GUESSING that since Tom heard hissing when he removed the dial LPG was leaking around it.
--
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

[Carl]

Tom below is a link to what you are up against. The face of the gauge is driven by magnets.

Propane Float Gauge Operation
The float gauge in a propane tank consists of moving parts located both inside the tank and outside. At the end of the stem is the float (pictured
below) that rises and falls with the level of the propane in the tank. The top of the stem is the pinion gear (pictured left) that turns the gear in
the shaft and causes the dial on the external face gauge to turn. As stated above, the float gauge is not considered a fully reliable instrument for
measuring tank volume. Float gauges have a number of moving parts that are subject to wear and tear and can also become ineffective in any part of the
assembly. If the gauge needs to be replaced, the propane tank must be empty. If the face gauge has a stuck dial, it can be quickly replaced as
dial/face gauges use magnets and can be interchanged without the tank needing to be emptied.

http://www.propane101.com/floatgauge.htm

If your hearing gas hissing, I would recommend having the tank emptied, even if your just replacing the dial portion.

--
Carl Harr : Driver NASCAR Pro Series #2
1978 Gadabout-Restoring
1978 Palm Beach
1976 Glenbrook
Prevost Featherlite H3-45

[Matt Colie]

Tom,

If you got gas leaking when you removed one two the little screws, you have a problem that needs fixing and soon. If you snug up the four fasteners
that hold the gauge assembly in the tank and it still happens, you need to get it to someone that knows how to deal with this. That would probably be
a commercial LP dealer, but many don't want to deal with people that are not already clients. The gauge assembly will need to be replaced.

The gauge capsule is magnetically coupled to the float shaft that rotates with the level. (See the little gear in the window of the bottom picture?)
You (should be able) can remove the gauge capsule without and leakage. If that isn't the case, it is time to worry.

For Bruce...

As said the capsule is magnetically coupled. so it can be removed. It can even be replaced, but more then likely - in your case - the remote reading
is
pegged high because the circuit is open (mine was). This is the result of a POS system to ground the resistive element. Mine was not even under a
screw. It was just a folded tab that was supposed to connect to the gauge body. It only took a little tiny bit of 40+ years of corrosion to make
that useless. I shined all the part up and put some silicone grease (thanks Les) on that tab and then ran a separate clean conductor to the house
shell. It has been reliable ever since.

Matt

Tom Whitton wrote on Tue, 07 July 2015 00:13

> I had the propane tank out to repair a disconnected water line and accidently broke the gauge on the side of the propane tank. The bottom part of
> the old gauge is still on the tank. I have a replacement. Could someone tell me how to go about replacing the damaged gauge? There are two
> mounting tabs, one center upper and one center lower. The gauge is held in place with screws through these tabs. My tank is almost full of
> propane. To replace the gauge I started to remove the two screws. When they were about half way out I heard a slight hissing noise from gas
> leaking out and quickly retightened them. I was apprehensive about do this job anyway. Maybe I imagined the sound but I don't want to take a
> chance. Can anyone help? Obviously, my knowledge in this area is deficient.
>
> Tom Whitton
> 26 foot updated GMC
> Paducah, KY

--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

[jhsi...@verizon.net]

Tom..



Had the same problem..there are 4 screws holding the housing..and 2 small
screws holding the meter..(plus the one providing the connection to the
panel in the coach)

I have the unit in my hands. I can move the red indicator, but the spring
that connects

the indicator is not connected.. Where did you purchase the replacement
unit?



Jose'

73 Sequoia.

Mass.

-------



Original Message-------



From: Tom Whitton

Date: 7/7/2015 12:13:14 AM

To: gmc...@temp.gmcnet.org

Subject: Re: [GMCnet] propane tank gn the coachauge

[Tom Whitton]

I appreciate everyone's input on the propane tank gauge replacement. I decided to see what the local propane gas guys had to say on the subject. Richey, the guy that normally fills my propane tank, told me there is a metal plate behind the gauge with a magnet that picks up a signal causing the dial to register. He said there is no danger in replacing the gauge by just removing the top and bottom screws, removing the old gauge and then reversing the procedure to install the new gauge. He did say there would be a big (huge) leak if the four screws holding the whole apparatus on were taken out. He cautioned me to never do that with propane in the tank.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

[Robert Mueller]

Tom,

This sounds like good advice but I can't understand why you got hissing when you loosened the two screws that hold the gauge dial
in.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Whitton

I appreciate everyone's input on the propane tank gauge replacement. I decided to see what the local propane gas guys had to say on
the subject. Richey, the guy that normally fills my propane tank, told me there is a metal plate behind the gauge with a magnet
that picks up a signal causing the dial to register. He said there is no danger in replacing the gauge by just removing the top and
bottom screws, removing the old gauge and then reversing the procedure to install the new gauge. He did say there would be a big
(huge) leak if the four screws holding the whole apparatus on were taken out. He cautioned me to never do that with propane in the
tank.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Tom

[Jim Kanomata]

I supplied the gauge to tom.
People must be ashamed that they do business with us.
Tom did not hesitate to call me and ask if we had a replacement and had me
concerned when he mentions a leaking noise.
I had to make few calls before it became evident that it was not a gas leak
but something else .
He advised me that it was a noise he heard, not a leak.

On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 9:35 PM, Robert Mueller <robmu...@iinet.net.au>
wrote:

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
ji...@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

[Len Novak]

Mine always read full. We took it apart and the float was jammed against
the sidewall of the tank.

Len and Pat Novak
1978 GMC Kingsley
The Beast II with dash lights that work and labels you can see!
Fallbrook, CA new email: B52...@Roadrunner.Com
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=4375

www.bdub.net/novak/

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist...@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Bruce
Hislop
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 5:39 AM
To: gmc...@temp.gmcnet.org

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[Rick Drummond]

Mine always reads empty since the last time I had the tank filled, I'm guessing the float broke off (?).

Rick

Rick&Tammy Drummond
Prior Lake MN
'74 (re)Painted Desert