At 21:24 10/11/99 , Ralph Geho wrote:
>Does anyone know of a reliable propane dealer in the Columbus, Ohio
>area?  The ones I have tried hire High school kids that only know how to
>fill up motor homes or gas grills.  The last propane guy told me to

Ralph, for propane purposes the Westy is a motor home.  It uses the same 1
3/4" Acme connection as any other RV.  Tank capacity is ten pounds or about
three gallons, which is a lot less than the fill jockeys may expect, so
make sure the bleed valve is open *before* they start the pump.

If the problem is operating the Autostop valve on those Westies that have
them, someone here can quote the directions exactly -- but basically, you
close the outlet valve on your tank, remove the yellow plastic cover from
the fill valve, connect the fill hose, open the bleed screw on the fill
valve *all the way,* open the valve on the fill hose, and press in the
button on the left side of the fill valve.  If the valve is good, it should
start filling and continue until liquid starts from the bleed vent, then
stop filling.  At that point you close the bleed screw on the fill valve,
shut off the valve on the fill hose, open the bleed screw on the fill hose
to depressurize the valve so you can remove the fill hose, remove the fill
hose, replace yellow plastic cap on fill valve, reopen outlet valve and
restart refrigerator, (pay the man) and leave.  Normal procedure except for
the button on the fill valve.

If you have an autostop valve that doesn't work, you have some choices:

1) If it has a brass body you can get a rebuild kit from Marshall Brass.
2) If if has a zinc body you can't.
3) If you want to remain stock you can replace the valve with another
Autostop.  They are no longer made and quite expensive.  I have one for
sale (unused, brass) if you're interested.
4) If you simply want it to work, replace (or have replaced) the valve with
a standard 1 3/4" Acme fill valve and standard manual bleed valve.  These
are available from Propane and some RV places.

regds
david

David Beierl - Providence, RI
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"