Can I use a silicon sealant, like Dow 732, to seal a propane regulator fitting?
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If not, is there something else that will solve the following problem:
The O-ring on the regulator of my gas grill has gone bad (again). This is the O-ring that should seal the nipple where it screws into the regulator itself, having nothing to do with the QCC-1 connection to the tank. In other words, there is no (or shouldn't be any) movement at that connection.
I was able to find a replacement O-ring at a mom-and-pop hardware store few years ago, but I tried a number of different sizes from the same source last week and I can't get it to seal anymore. I guess there won't be a $0.50 fix this time.
Yesterday, I bought a replacement regulator and hose from Home Depot (Brinkman, $17) and it fits fine. However, it leaks at same spot - where the nipple screws into the regulator. I tried tightening the nipple with a deep socket over the valve inside the QCC-1 connector but it didn't budge. It does not appear that there is an O-ring on this unit like there is on the original.
I plan to exchange the item today on the hopes that the one I have is defective, but if the replacement leaks also I'm thinking of trying some silicone sealant at the nipple/regulator junction.
I wouldn't unscrew the nipple...I'd just spread some sealant around the threads where they enter the regulator.
What I don't know if whether silicon is "propane-proof" or will the propane eat through the silicon.
I don't thing propane will eat through silicone. However I would not rely on silicone to replace an O ring. Are you proposing to put the silicone in and then tighten and let it cure? If so, an O ring is tough and something to tighten up against. Silicone will just squeeze out.
Have you tried going to an appliance/gas grill shop?
It's not a kludge I'd want to try, particularly, whether I knew the interaction or not. It "just ain't right" and w/ gas, whether natural or LP there isn't much room for error even though a seep there isn't likely to be a major problem, still w/ propane being heavier than air and all so what does leak doesn't just fly away like NG...
Don't know where you're located but surely there's an industrial supply that can match the o-ring--here it's the gasket store that goes by the name "MYHOMETOWN Gasket Supply"...I've never had anything they couldn't match from tiny garden sprayer nozzle to 6" metal (and that's just getting started for them for the oilfield folks that are their primary customer base out here).
Why not go to a real supply house that will have thousands of O rings on hand? Around here there are two. One is bearings and drives and almost across the street there is a hydraulic supply place that in addition a large stock of things like O rings can make pretty much any type of gas hose needed.
he regulator of my gas grill has gone bad=94 and then you say you =93bought= a replacement regulator and hose from Home Depot (Brinkman, $17) and it fi= ts fine=94 Didn=92t this new regulator come with a new o ring? And if so th= en is the new one leaking as well?- Hide quoted text -
It appears that you did not read my post carefully enough.
As I said regarding the replacment: "It does not appear that there is an O-ring on this unit like there is on the original."
To clarify...
The grill itself is a BBQ Grillware model from Lowes. Where the nipple screws into the regulator there is an O-Ring.
The replacement regulator and hose is a Brinkman from Home Depot. As far as I can tell there is no O-ring at the nipple, at least not a visible one like on the original.
A replacement regulator/hose for the BBQ Grillware is $36 on-line, the Brinkman was $17 and it fits the grill perfectly at both ends.
Since the Brinkman was 1/2 the cost and doesn't appear to have an O- ring that will fail every couple of years like the original, I'd rather use the Brinkman - unless of course all of the Brinkmans leak at the junction, in which case I've got a choice I need to make:"
Buy the $36 BBQ Grillware part and hope the O-ring lasts longer than the last few or seal the junction on the Brinkman - assuming the next one I buy leaks also.
No, I was not going to use the silicon as an O-ring. As I said in my OP, the Brinkman replacement part does not appear to have an O-ring, at least not a visible one like I have on the original.
Since the Brinkman leaks at the nipple-regulator junction, I was simply going to spread some silicone on that junction to try and seal it up.
I have not tried an appliance or gas grill shop. The grill is from Lowes (BBQ Grillware). My guess is that any replacement regulator and hose they carry will be much more expensive, but of course, if it doesn't leak then it's worth it.
I called Lowes and they do carry a replacement hose/regulator for the BBQ Grillware grills but if it has an O-ring like the original then I'm reluctant to try it based on my past experience of the O-ring's going bad. I'll swing by there tonight and take a look.
I have a Grainger store fairly nearby that I could try.
Thing is, the hardware store I went to has a fairly large assortment of O-rings (60 maybe?) and a couple of years ago I was able to find a replacement from the same source, going through the same bins. I brought the nipple and regulator in last week and thought I found a match. When it didn't worked, I tried 3 other sizes but none of them worked.
I'm thinking that there may something wrong with the mating surfaces, so I chose to replace the whole part.
The thing that sucks is that the replacement part leaks in the same spot! Hopefully it's just a defective item.
DerbyDad03 wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@j10g2000yqd.googlegroups.com:
I haven't followed the whole thread (pun intended), but have you considered a problem (damage?) with the QCC-1 connector? In other words, if you use a different tank with the same type connector, does your regulator leak there too? Best way to test is looking for bubbles using a soap solution.
Well, if the connection it's to fit to was designed for an o-ring then a part w/o it is certainly not going to fit correctly and seal--that's pretty much a given.
As said before, find the real industrial distributor in the area, take the o-ring with you and they'll mic it and find the replacement. When you do, buy a dozen... :)
Or replace both ends of the connector w/ a matching design or the replacement part from the manufacturer. Trying to mix 'n match ain't gonna' work here--the part you have isn't defective, it's simply the wrong part for the specific application.
If you go to the manufacturer's site or look for parts distributors, you may find the o-ring as a part directly rather than the whole assembly at Lowes.
You've mis-understood the description of the issue and/or what I bought as a replacement.
I have purchased a replacement part that is constructed differently but not in a manner that impacts it's installation or use.
This is an example of the part in question. I have purchased this entire part, end to end, and installed it as is.
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Note the brass nipple behind the QCC-1 connector that screws into the input of the regulator.
The original from BBQ Grillware has an O-ring where that nipple screws into the regulator. The replacement from Brinkman does not use an O- ring.
Since I am using that entire hose/regulator/QCC-1 combination as is, the O-ring is no longer involved.
It's not that there is one missing, it's that the manufacturer chose to design the regulator/nipple connection differently. However, it doesn't matter since I'm not trying to install a part without an O- ring where there should be one. I'm not taking the purchased part apart, I'm simply attaching the brass fitting at the end of the hose to the flare fitting on the burner control and the QCC-1 connector to the tank. I am using that entire hose/regulator combination as is.
The problem - perhaps coincidentally - is that the Brinkman part leaks at the exact same location as the original part - where the nipple screws into the regulator.
The original O-ring is cut, ripped and dried out. Perhaps it can still be mic'ed, but it's in pretty bad shape. However, I'm not sure I want to keep using the original part, even with a new O-ring. It seems like a bad design to me since the original O-ring went bad in about 3 years and the replacement lasted about 2. Each time, propane is spewed into the atmosphere, probably costing more than the $17 replacement hose/ regulator combination. I have another regulator/hose combination for a huge propane burner and it doesn't use an O-ring at the nipple- regulator connection. I'll wager that unless you have a BBQ Grillware grill, you don't have an O-ring on your's either.
As described above, there is no mix and match going on here. The QCC-1 connector for the tank is standard, the 5/8" flare fitting on the hose to the burner control is standard and neither of them leak. It's the connection between the brass nipple and the regulator on the replacement part that leaks, a connection that is right off the shelf, just like you would end up with if you wanted to replace your regulator/hose/QCC-1 connector as a unit as pictured above.
Had I never mentioned the original part with the O-ring and simply said "I bought this hose/regulator/QCC-1 combination and it leaks where the nipple screws into the regulator" it would be the same thing as I have now. I see now that the mention of the O-ring has confused the issue.
cific application.
I hope that at this point you'll agree that the part *is* defective since the O-ring has nothing to do with the part I purchased and is not missing from any connection.
Been there, tried that. Even if I could find the O-ring, I don't think I really want to replace it as I mentioned above. I think it's a bad design but I can't say that for sure since the Brinkman replacement part - a part that was designed without an O-ring, also leaks at the regulator.
Well, what that helps with is the description where the problem is.
Take a look at any of the parts desribed as a "Tailpiece Assembly". Just so we're all on the same page, we know that the bulbous end goes into the tank, the smaller threads go into the regulator.
You'll notice that none of the Tailpiece Assemblies shown there have an O-ring (or an indentation that could hold an O-ring) on the end that screws into the regulator.
The original part from my BBQ Grillware does, and it's that O-ring that keeps going bad.
The Brinkman hose/regulator/QCC-1 connector combination that I bought as a replacement does not have an O-ring at the regulator and I have installed the hose/regulator/QCC-1 connector combination as a single unit. Therefore the fact that it leaks at the tailpiece-regulator connection is not related to a missing O-ring since it wasn't manufactured with one nor have I disassembled that connection prior to installation.
I'm really hoping that it's just a bad part (and a bad coincidence) and once I exchange it, all will be right in my grilling world.
That is a MPT connection. I'd wonder if it was actually assembled finally as you purchased it. A PT connection needs pipe dope or teflon tape to seal; if it doesn't have that no wonder it leaks.
An NPT connection for a gas fitting is always sealed with pipe dope. If it is still leaking, as in your replacement, I would bring it back for an exchange (if I didn't think I could fix it myself). As to your question about the silicone sealant I would say emphatically NO. Don't do that. Even if I thought it would work (and I don't) nobody in their right mind would open themselves up to the potential liability by saying that yes, that is a good idea (and I don't believe it is).
While you're there (HD) buy a roll of yellow teflon tape if you don't have any. (It's same thing as the white, just thicker specifically for gas to take fewer wraps).
If the fitting leaks still, there are only two basic possibilities-- a) it's not tight or is lacking in dope and/or tape, or
b) the regulator threads are oversized or otherwise faulty.
I saw one of those grills burst into flame once and the leak was at the hose/regulator. It was not a pretty sight when the hose burned up and left a stream of flame shooting out of the tank for 8 feet. Either do it right, or toss the whole thing in the garbage. If a replacment regulator did not work, then the hose is bad, or both. Replace both or get a new grill. Gas leaks are not something to play russian roulette with, which is what you are doing by using things not made for the application.
The O-ring should last many years as long as you dont keep taking it apart. All you need to do is change your propane tank, dont take other stuff apart once you get new parts that dont leak.
If the part you are talking about looks like the QCC-1 to regulator connection at
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it possable to wrap the nipple thread with teflon tape and assembly it to the regulator or use a good pipe dope. The O ring might have been used in production to cut down on labor, and that is the reason there is not one on the replacement part. Good luck Everett,
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