Tool for tightning/losening the gas-safety valve

[Hotel California]

As it is not ideal to use pliers and the nut can be hard to unscrew , i saw a usefull little tool yesterday at CCN .
Ok , the botlle don't need to come out that much but still a nice tool.

 

[Meoncoast]

nice little tool. what/ where is CCN?

 

[WelshGas]

I solved the problem by fitting the Calor combined regulator and tap with an in-line quick release gas fitting.
Now it's easy to check if there is any gas by just releasing the in-line fitting and lifting the cylinder and giving a shake.
The VW system is one of the most awkward tap/regulator combinations I have ever seen.

 

[andyinluton]

Another recommendation here for putting a quick release fitting on, Ive got the same on the Cadac BBQ & the butane cylinder I use at home for the BBQ & it makes swapping between them all a lot simpler.

 

[Hotel California]

nice little tool. what/ where is CCN?

I bouht my Cali in Belgium but i always go to the Netherlands for accecoires and check up .
If you read other posts by me like the sticky in the techincal section it is all at their place i got all that info.
Camper Centrum Nederland
http://www.campercentrumnederland.nl/
And the webshop
http://www.vwcampershop.nl/nl/
This tool is not in the webshop i think.

Aces in the bussines , was talking to Rob the owner and he was saying lots of response on thier new webshop from out of the UK.

 

[BikerGran]

Having bought a spare cylinder and stowed it in the back, I didn't need to give any more thought to how much gas was left, but it ran out last week when we were on a very pleasant campsite in deepest darkest Shropshire, on a beautiful day with very little planned and all day to do it in, so we spent an hour or so learning how to swop the cylinders. I had taken the precaution of making sure I had a selection of tools, and the one I found most useful was apparently called 'waterpump pliers'.
It's a very awkward job, and I'm glad Mike was with me as the full cylinder feels quite heavy when you're lifting it into an awkward position!

We thought it might be easier to undo the connection arrowed red in the picture below, making it possible to disconnect and reconnect the regulator outside the van - does anyone do this and is there any reason why it shouldn't be done?



Oh and, I've had the van 14 months now so I'll probably have forgotten what to do by the next time I need to change the cylinder!

 

[Freeley]

You don't need any tools to change the gas cylinder the screw fixing to it is designed to be done by hand and only needs to be hand tight.
And it's only about 2.5kg from memory so fairly light.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[BikerGran]

You do when you have arthritic thumbs which have no grip, same applies to weight of the cylinder - easy enough to lift outside the van but difficult to lift high enough to get it into the cupboard.
When we get old some of us have to find alternative ways of doing things!

 

[Hotel California]

The tool i have showed above is more to undo the screw ....as it tends to get stuck due the pressure afther a while .
Thightening need to be by hand !
Using pliers is no good as one puts to much pressure on it an can cause in to damaging the rubber seal and a leaking valve.

 

[Joker 1299]

Hi bikergran it really needs to be done by hand to make sure it's not cross threaded. If you post a shout for help next time it needs changing I'm sure a local member on here would step up and give you a hand. I'm a bit far away in Leeds, but wouldn't mind if I were closer.

 

[BikerGran]

Just to put you all in the picture - I used to do all my own motorcycle maintenance....... The pliers are just to 'nip it up' as I no longer have any grip with my thumbs. They grip the knurled nut when my thumbs won't!

 

[BikerGran]

We thought it might be easier to undo the connection arrowed red in the picture below, making it possible to disconnect and reconnect the regulator outside the van - does anyone do this and is there any reason why it shouldn't be done?

View attachment 23399

Anyone?

 

[Joker 1299]

Just to put you all in the picture - I used to do all my own motorcycle maintenance....... The pliers are just to 'nip it up' as I no longer have any grip with my thumbs. They grip the knurled nut when my thumbs won't!

View attachment 23409

Fair enough. So I know where to come when my bikes due for a service. Good luck with the gas.

 

[Hotel California]

Now it seems i found a other version of this tool witch can be taken off from the system .

You could offcoarse cut open the aluminium one i show in the first post ....never thought of this.
The plastic shown here was priced about 6,5€ + CCN Amersfoort .
Thightning can be done by hand but after a while when you need to change the botle it can be hard to unscrew and using a pliers can damage things , so this thing can be a nice tool .

 

[AlanC]

Can you add the link to that post please Wem, I can't find either tool on the CCN site.

Alan

 

[Hotel California]

Can you add the link to that post please Wem, I can't find either tool on the CCN site.

Alan

Could be it's not on theire webshop did not check myself , i saw it in the showroom last week when i was there myself . It has GOK on it witch i think is a gas equipment suplier . Try and search using that maybe?
@AlanC
EDIT : found it even cheaper
https://www.obelink.nl/gok-gasflessleutel-blauw.html


https://www.google.be/search?q=gok+gas+sleutel&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=nl-be&client=safari

 

[motacyclist]

Now it's easy to check if there is any gas by just releasing the in-line fitting and lifting the cylinder and giving a shake

I have a small scale attached to the gas bottle with a strap. It’s the type of scale you weigh luggage with (or exaggerate the size of the fish you caught).

Anyway, an empty 907 container weighs 3.7kg
The weight of the gas when full is 2.75kg

Double check when buying a new, attach the valve etc and weigh the whole assembly INSIDE the locker by dangling off the scale; record the weight on a sticky label or in the notes on your smartphone. You know then that it will be empty when it weighs 2.75kg less and you can check it easily from time to time. For instance, last time I weighed mine on 22 March there was 2.3kg left.

 

[WelshGas]

I have a small scale attached to the gas bottle with a strap. It’s the type of scale you weigh luggage with (or exaggerate the size of the fish you caught).

Anyway, an empty 907 container weighs 3.7kg
The weight of the gas when full is 2.75kg

Double check when buying a new, attach the valve etc and weigh the whole assembly INSIDE the locker by dangling off the scale; record the weight on a sticky label or in the notes on your smartphone. You know then that it will be empty when it weighs 2.75kg less and you can check it easily from time to time. For instance, last time I weighed mine on 22 March there was 2.3kg left.

I’m never that concerned about how much gas I have as I carry a 907 and a 904. 904 in use 907 Full at present.
If Gas fails then check cylinder has liquid. No Liquid change cylinder.
If liquid present then trouble shoot Gas system.

 

[motacyclist]

I’m never that concerned about how much gas I have as I carry a 907 and a 904. 904 in use 907 Full at present.
If Gas fails then check cylinder has liquid. No Liquid change cylinder.
If liquid present then trouble shoot Gas system.

We used to carry the smallest (can't remember the number) Gaz bottle as a reserve. Also a small screw on stove so we could use it outside. Never needed it. Eventually replaced it with one of those small square cheap gas stoves for outside use; and can also use in emergency. Anyway, wandering off topic!

 

[Martyn]

Could be it's not on theire webshop did not check myself , i saw it in the showroom last week when i was there myself . It has GOK on it witch i think is a gas equipment suplier . Try and search using that maybe?
@AlanC
EDIT : found it even cheaper
https://www.obelink.nl/gok-gasflessleutel-blauw.html

https://www.google.be/search?q=gok+gas+sleutel&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=nl-be&client=safari

I think I've found a UK supplier for these. They're Truma rather than GOK, but unless I'm mistaken they're the same. Just three quid on this website, but much more on eBay.

https://www.autogasshop.co.uk/truma-regulator-spanner-1067-p.asp

 

[Hotel California]

@Martyn , yes seems likewise tool ...

 

[Jabberwocky]

The gas connection set up is one of the most complicated I have seen as another has already said and I got caught out with insufficient tools and an empty gas cylinder in France last year. I got a tip from @SimonB and @briwy to avoid the need for any tools when you need to change the cylinder. The in-line brass connector is a snap open/close that is actuated by hand - no tools.
Hope this is of interest. (thanks to Simon and Briwy)
Edit: Picture seems not to want to be sent!!! See next post.

 

[AlanC]

I think I've found a UK supplier for these. They're Truma rather than GOK, but unless I'm mistaken they're the same. Just three quid on this website, but much more on eBay.

https://www.autogasshop.co.uk/truma-regulator-spanner-1067-p.asp

Thanks, have order one.

BTW, don't forget that the union between the regulator and the tap on the top of the Gaz bottle is a left hand tread.

Alan

 

[BikerGran]

I think I've found a UK supplier for these. They're Truma rather than GOK, but unless I'm mistaken they're the same. Just three quid on this website, but much more on eBay.

https://www.autogasshop.co.uk/truma-regulator-spanner-1067-p.asp

Thanks, I've ordered one as well!

 

[BikerGran]

to avoid the need for any tools when you need to change the cylinder. The in-line brass connector is a snap open/close that is actuated by hand - no tools.

Still no good for hands like mine with no grip! But good tip anyway.