You should be able to get the manual valve parts at any decent RV or propane supplier for the same or maybe less money.  I converted our `87 Westy's tank last summer for less than $50.00 and that was in Alaska where we pay more for shipping.

Not trying to divert business from a former list member, just offering that there probably is a local alternative for most list members.

Mark in AK

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2007 7:24 pm
Subject: Re: Stuck propane Valve
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> Jonce Fancher wrote:
> <snip>
>  can they be rebuilt and are kits avail?
> <snip>
>
> Jonce,
>
> The '85s came with an auto stop valve.  They are known to be
> problematic.  If the valve body is aluminum they are not
> rebuildable ...
> only the brass bodied ones can be rebuilt and I'm not sure just how
> available those rebuild kits are.
>
> An alternative is to replace the auto stop valve with a manual
> valve and
> bleeder.  An ex list member has new manual valve/bleeder kits for
> sale:
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=426729
>
> Mike
>