Source of gas leak?

[steve yates]

By happy chance, while replacing a snapped fuel conector to the outboard, i moved the flexible gas pipe and was rather surprised to hear a hissing!
When pushing the pipe or the regulator upwards, pressurised gas escapes. I have cut off the end of the pipe and reattached it with new stainless steel jubilee clips.
With the exact same results, so now I’m thinking it might be the regulator itself, unless the jubilee clips are damaging the pipe?
They were size 12, could they be too small and cutting into the hose? Tho the interior core seems very intact.
Anyone got any ideas?

 

[Jodel]

What is the date printed on the hose? They are supposed to be replaced at 5 years old.

 

[steve yates]

I’ll check but it was bought brand new last year, i replaced the whole system, only the regulator is original. I bought that in 2015.

 

[fontmell]

What is the date printed on the hose? They are supposed to be replaced at 5 years old.

Hi apologies bit of thread drift. I have some new/unused hose dated 2017. is it safe to use for next 5 years. Or should I dump
Thanks

 

[PetiteFleur]

Make sure it's not the cylinder leaking - I had the cylinder leaking at the beginning of the season, it stopped when the cylinder was turned off at the tap. Looked on Calor website and there had been a recall about leaking cylinders. Reported it with the Calor recall reporting email and had a reply within 20 minutes! They phoned and had found a replacement cylinder locally and I exchanged it the next day. 4.5kg Butane. I also found earlier that my 2yr old 'Marine Regulator' had failed, replaced with the original old one which worked perfectly...

 

[steve yates]

Ok, should have mentioned its propane, and the cylinder was replaced in may at sheppey.
Anyone heard of a recall on any batches of propane cylinders?
Interesting about your failed marine regulator, how did you know it had failed?

 

[Sandy]

Hi apologies bit of thread drift. I have some new/unused hose dated 2017. is it safe to use for next 5 years. Or should I dump
Thanks

I pulled some hose out of my old boat that was dated 1997 in perfect working order, but felt I should replace it.

 

[Boater Sam]

By happy chance, while replacing a snapped fuel conector to the outboard, i moved the flexible gas pipe and was rather surprised to hear a hissing!
When pushing the pipe or the regulator upwards, pressurised gas escapes. I have cut off the end of the pipe and reattached it with new stainless steel jubilee clips.
With the exact same results, so now I’m thinking it might be the regulator itself, unless the jubilee clips are damaging the pipe?
They were size 12, could they be too small and cutting into the hose? Tho the interior core seems very intact.
Anyone got any ideas?

Use leak detection fluid or dilute washing up liquid to find the leak.

 

[VicS]

Hi apologies bit of thread drift. I have some new/unused hose dated 2017. is it safe to use for next 5 years. Or should I dump
Thanks

The recommended life is 5 years from the date of manufacture,

 

[VicS]

Use leak detection fluid or dilute washing up liquid to find the leak.

Washing up liquid is not recommended because it is corrosive. If you must use it wash it off thoroughly afterwards.
.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Ok, should have mentioned its propane, and the cylinder was replaced in may at sheppey.
Anyone heard of a recall on any batches of propane cylinders?
Interesting about your failed marine regulator, how did you know it had failed?

It failed because it had hardly any pressure which initially I put down to the cold weather but when launched in the spring it was the same. Replaced with the original old regulator and it worked! I did buy a new Marine Regulator but am reluctant to fit it...
Not sure about Propane cylinders leaking - have you looked on the Calor website?

 

[Daverw]

By happy chance, while replacing a snapped fuel conector to the outboard, i moved the flexible gas pipe and was rather surprised to hear a hissing!
When pushing the pipe or the regulator upwards, pressurised gas escapes. I have cut off the end of the pipe and reattached it with new stainless steel jubilee clips.
With the exact same results, so now I’m thinking it might be the regulator itself, unless the jubilee clips are damaging the pipe?
They were size 12, could they be too small and cutting into the hose? Tho the interior core seems very intact.
Anyone got any ideas?

I never use jubilee clips on gas hose but pig ear clip, they clamp evenly much better on gas or fuel.

 

[jdc]

Some propane fittings, including regulators, have a rubber 'tip' instead of an all-metal cone. This could perish / go hard with time.

It struck me that the hiss was more likely to be high pressure (around 8 bars) then the low pressure side which is only 30 mbars, hence it would be as well to examine the regulator - bottle joint.

 

[wingcommander]

My guess (particularly with that sty regulator) .....the outlet tail is split . Very easy to check. Just disconnect the hose , put your thumb over the outlet tail , turn on gas bottle ann wiggle thumb to replicate pipe movement. Its only 37mb so you could hold that with the tip of your tongue, though I would not recommend. I've seen several of these with this exact fault

 

[steve yates]

I will test that, and I suspect you have hit the nail on the head, having already cut and refixed the pipe with no change I was left suspecting the regulator, and it did seem to be in the area of that tail. Any idea why they split there?

 

[wingcommander]

The ones I've come across looked like they may have been accidentally clobbered, or had a load on them . The spigots I've seen can be brass , aluminium or some other soft metal . I have even seen plastic though not for years. I must admit I have a dedicated gas locker which fits two 907 very snuggley, and I have crammed in other items. Though I do avoid going near the regulator because of this very reason

 

[billskip]

I have had on more than one occasion, connection between regulator and bottle leak. just
wiggle the regulator caused the hiss.

 

[steve yates]

Definitely the regulator, and sounds a bit like what billskip says above.
I dont really want to have the same problem again in 5 or 6 years, any reccomendations on better grade propane regulators or are they all much of a muchness?

 

[VicS]

Definitely the regulator, and sounds a bit like what billskip says above.
I dont really want to have the same problem again in 5 or 6 years, any reccomendations on better grade propane regulators or are they all much of a muchness?

GasBoat marine propane regulator from Will Hayward perhaps
GasBOAT 4207 Marine UK Propane Gas Regulator | Whayward.

GOK 30mb marine regulator plus POL adaptor
GOK Marine Gas Regulator

 

[Caer Urfa]

Amazing to read how some people want to do bits to save money, as a surveyor my strong advice is unless you know what your doing 'don't mess with gas'.
For those with gas hose more than 5 years old replace it and for what its worth new regulator your and your crew life!
I would also strongly recommend fitting a gas bubble detector and I 'assume' you already have a working gas alarm fitted

This is what can happen with gas, this CW 34'-6" blew up through a gas leak when the winch was found 100' away ! she eventually sank but had to salvaged as she sank in the middle of the Crinan canal.

The middle picture 'shows her sister ship' of how she would have looked before she blew up!
The middle picture is her sister ship showing how she was