Removing a valve from propane tank???

[mnev]

Any tips?

I've gone through some Youtube, it's all overly intense.

Skipping ahead after weak failed attempts, I've strapped the tank to bench and tried pipe wrench with a cheater bar. No movement at all, and not much room to get the wrench on inside the protective ring.

I have a piece of 3-sided steel I may try to cut a notch in to fit over the valve, that I can get a better grip on above the ring with more leverage. Saw something like that on YouTube. This is a small BQ tank. There aren't any holes on the base ring to put a bar for added leverage, as in putting the valve in a vice and unscrewing the tank from the valve. BTW, I also have to buy a vice; I know, shame; last one stayed attached to the bench I left in TX when I moved.

But otherwise, any tips?

No cutting until the valve is off and tank is washed out.

Thanks,
Nev

 

[slopdog]

I took one out by laying the tank on its side on the floor / put a block of wood next to it , pipe wrench on the valve and gave it a couple of good wacks with a bfh. ( big f,ing hammer )... the wrench . not the tank

 

[Kaizen]

Use several ratchet straps. Strap a 2x to it and lay 2x down flat on floor. Obviously side to side. Then a wrench and a wack. If need more room cut off the collar just enough to get room


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dogdog]

I think one of the guys here cut a slot on large cheap socket and impact it off...

forgot his name but he has some sort of barn building as icon....

 

[JJohns3WG]

I've fought with a few of those, as mentioned cutting the guard off allows better access. About the time you get the tank locked down to something an a big enough cheater bar on on your pipe wrench you end up snapping off the valve. Another method I've used was to drill a ring of holes around the valve and break it out. Always wonder how the propane shops take them out to service them.

 

[Jason280]

You definitely need to remove the guard, makes things easier to get to...not that it made it that much easier for me, I still just about destroyed the one valve I removed.

 

[MarineScott]

I just did this yesterday. Strapped to a work bench, with blocks of wood keeping it from rolling. I filled with water to disperse of any gas and let soak, after I removed valve.

 

[shedfullatools]

I did one a month or so ago to use as an air pig, I used a big adjustable over the valves body and smacked it with a hammer. I just held it down with my foot as a I whacked it with the sledge. Edit I was able to work through the guard no problem just slipping the wrench through the slots.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I needed to remove a valve from a sandblaster pot. I chained it down with chains and chain binders to a steel welding table and it took a pipe wrench with an 8 foot cheater to get it off.

 

[gungatim]

if you are going to cut the tank up, what I do is just drill some holes in it then use a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade and cut it apart that way. no sparks and not hot enough to be dangerous IMO...

I've tried getting the valves out before but never was successful.

 

[MattT]

Replacement valves appear to come with an anaerobic threadlocker/sealant. So the old valves are also likely "loctited" in and will require the careful application of heat to get them out easily.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Once certain it is empty, just hacksaw off the valve. Center of valve is hollow (obviously). You can either trickle water in there, or drill it out to larger diameter. ..soft, no sparks.

 

[nh_yota]

The important question is...why?

 

[SlappyWhite]

I have removed them, lots of leverage and a big hammer, still not very easy. Large pipe or the box end of a very large wrench (1.5" or bigger, do not remember) over the connector of the valve and then pound...

Once done, the valve itself was garbage...

 

[larry4406]

The important question is...why?

Thank you. I have been wondering as well. I was thinking they were making BBG smoker/grille or something...

 

[sz0k30]

Why not take it to a local propane distributor & see what they will do and charge?

 

[mnev]

I'm sure there's still some gas residue in the tank. Won't be cutting or drilling until I can get it washed out.

Heat: Yes, saw something else about that. Unfortunately my heat gun didn't make it into storage during my last move. Time for a new one and will try.

MarineScott: How'd you fill the tank with the valve still on?

Why?:
-Because! It's an ongoing project I can revisit whenever to improvise with materials I have around, with keep me in the garage and sane.
-I'll cut it in half for two outdoor flower or plant pots for our shack in in the old mining town of Bisbee, AZ. I'd like to leave the collar for the visual effect. Repurposing metal and other materials is a big thing there.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Buy or make one of these $24 propane valve wrenches. https://www.kingsupply.com/Universal-Propane-Wrench-p/20-8a.htm

Use several ratchet straps to hold the tank to a tree while using the wrench.

The scrap guy who I give my metal to pulls the valves off so he can include that tank with his scrap metal.

 

[The Cobbler]

just buy the propane tank vise here https://www.kingsupply.com/propane-tank-vise-p/asmcv.htm

 

[slowtwitch73]

Using a hacksaw by hand and taking it easy creates minimal to no heat.

 

[IMCA38]

I'm sure there's still some gas residue in the tank. Won't be cutting or drilling until I can get it washed out.

More so than the gas residue is ethyl mercaptan the chemical added to gas to give it odor. There will likely be a little of that rolling around in the bottom of the tank.
I would suggest wearing clothes that you won’t mind throwing away. That stuff is nasty!
My dad worked in the propane business for many years, and occasionally had to replace caps or valves on larger domestic tanks. He would literally stink for days after he did that!

 

[slowtwitch73]

More so than the gas residue is ethyl mercaptan the chemical added to gas to give it odor.

True fact.

 

[OccupantRJ]

It only takes 250ml of mercaptan to scent 8,600 gallons of LP. Interesting fact is that unscented butane is running down our highways daily. I added the mercaptan during the receiving of a delivery.

 

[nh_yota]

It only takes 250ml of mercaptan to scent 8,600 gallons of LP. Interesting fact is that unscented butane is running down our highways daily. I added the mercaptan during the receiving of a delivery.

A butane truck rolled over in a nearby town last week...

 

[gmcgeo]

they make a valve tool. and a tank vise.

 

[dutchgray]

Whack it with a big hammer.

 

[gearhead1]

I have put a bar through the top handle/cage then use a big adjustable wrench to remove the valve. I lay the tank on its side and put my foot on it and the bar through the top rests on the floor. I’ve always been able to get them, but if it didn’t work, my next thought would be to chain and/or ratchet strap like others have mentioned.

I didn’t know they had a tool for the valve, how cool is that! I want to get one of those.

 

[DFB]

My local scrapyard wont take old tanks unless the valve is out