So you're having trouble with your auto-fill-valve?

Auto-fill-valves are expensive and very troublesome.  Some propane
places at holiday resorts refused to fill up my tank after one look at the
auto-stop fill-valve.
I replaced the troublesome auto-stop valve with a simple manual valve and
bleed-valve for about $20, and haven't had any problem with filling the
propane since (about 18 years now).  When you see a newer model vanagon,
take a look at the fill valve.  They have the simple manual kind.
Check out an RV place or a propane parts center.  They have what you need.
You can do it yourself or get them to do it.

----- Original Message -----
From: "BA" <oddstray@ODDSTRAY.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 8:39 PM
Subject: Re: Refilling propane

On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:56:54 -0700, you wrote:

>Howdy Volks,
>
>I am down south in Mexico and am having trouble getting my propane tank
>refilled. We attach the hose, open the bleeder valve, and start pumping
>but nothing enters the tank. This has happened at several different
>filling stations. It�s almost as if it needs a different type of
>connector or something. Can anyone offer any help/advice? It�s an 85,
>btw.
>
>Gracias,
>Pedro

Hi,

I keep coming up against this issue. I believe that the answer is to
open the bleeder valve *all the way* (It says so on it, if you can
contort yourself to read what's written on it).

S&B
'87 Westy 'Esmerelda Blanc'
SoCal