Gas grill question technical question

[MichaelD]

This picture shows the regulator assembly for my gas grill; it's only available via mail order. Note how the part that attaches to the tank is permanently connected via compression fittings to the parts that go into each individual burner. It is one assembly and does not come apart.

The black knob that attaches to the gas tank has developed a leak and needs to be replaced. But I can't wait a week for a mail order item to arrive. I went to Home Depot and bought a replacement regulator, but the black hoses are terminated with screw-on fittings, which my grill obviously does not have.

What I'm planning on doing is splicing the new regulator into the existing hoses. I bought brass "barbed" couplers and worm clamps to facilitate that.

Is the pressure in a gas grill low enough that this will work? I.E. not leak? I'm planning on siliconing over splices as well. Thanks.

 

[spidey07]

It's fairly low pressure past the regulator. You should be good.

 

[BoomerD]

We'll be eagerly awaiting MichaelD's next thread...

"OMFG! My gas grill caught fire and burned down my house. Should I call the fire department, or just go get a bag of marshmallows?"

 

[MichaelD]

I knew that type of comment was coming, BoomerD; I just didn't think it would be so early in the thread. LOL! I know this isn't the smartest way to go but I need the grill working for this weekend...stupid proprietary parts. I wonder if Apple makes my grill?

One thing I may try; you can't see it in the pic, but where the regulator attaches to the hoses, there is a square junction block. That block connects to the regulator via a threaded nipple. The replacement I bought has the same type of connection, thoguh I don't know if it's the same size. I will check when I get home. If I can just unscrew the old one, wrap some teflon around the threads and screw it into the new one I should be golden. If I wind up doing surgery on it, I'll post some pics just to make the thread interesting.

"Be sure to post pics of your house burning down too!" <--I beat you all to it.

 

[highland145]

Soapy water to check for leaks.

 

[MichaelD]

Soapy water to check for leaks.

:thumbsup: Excellent idea. Thank you!

 

[Drako]

Soapy water to check for leaks.

Wimp - you are supposed to use a lit match!

 

[MichaelD]

^^Almost as good as people I see bending down to unscrew the gas cap in the car w/a lit cig in their mouth. Of course, if I can see them doing this, that means I'm in the same gas station and trembling with fear. I always want to yell "Hey idiot, put that cigaretter out!' but I'm afraid I'll scare them and they'll drop the cig into the tank filler tube.

 

[highland145]

Wimp - you are supposed to use a lit match!

 

[Howard]

I might be an idiot but why does the regulator have 2 (total 3) fittings on it?

 

[highland145]

I might be an idiot but why does the regulator have 2 (total 3) fittings on it?

My guess is the 2nd hose is for the side burner.

 

[Evadman]

Soapy water to check for leaks.

Wimp - you are supposed to use a lit match!

Agreed.

I might be an idiot but why does the regulator have 2 (total 3) fittings on it?

Side burner or infrared burner.

 

[Rastus]

You can find a universal kit at Home Depot or Lowes to replace that stuff with.

 

[MichaelD]

Happily, I did not have to cut/splice hoses. The regulator attaches to the "two hose splitter block" with a threaded nipple. I used a pair of channel lock pliers to separate the two. Attached the new regulator to the old hose assembly (put some teflon tape on the nipple) and it's golden! I did the soapy-water test and no bubbles. Not a one. I grilled up chicken last night and it was yummy!

Thanks, ATOT!

 

[spidey07]

You said nipple. Huh-huh.

 

[MichaelD]

I thought about taking a picture of said nipple...but then "Nah, they'd all say "Way to lead us on and then fail, Mike"".

 

[Soccerman06]

Duct tape fixes everything.

 

[jupiter57]

Duct tape fixes everything.

Or J-B Weld!
2 staples for a farmer.

 

[BoomerD]

I just found a bad regulator/connection on my Weber gas grill. Like the one in the OP, mine are "press-fit" connections, so instead of being able to replace one part, I had to order the hose/regulator assembly. I COULD have gone to one of the local propane shops and had one made...at more than twice the price...so I ordered it from Amazon with 2-day shipping for ~$30.

 

[Texashiker]

Happily, I did not have to cut/splice hoses.

Glad you got it fixed.

But in case you ever have something like this come up again, I used to use hose clamps that you get at the local hardware store to hold oxygen hoses that had 40 - 80 psi running through them.

These were the standard oxygen and acetylene hoses that are about 1/4 inch on the inside diameter.

Once you get past the regulator, the pressure drops off a lot. The pressure on that hose is probably no more then a few ounces, or maybe a couple of psi.

 

[corwin]

^^Almost as good as people I see bending down to unscrew the gas cap in the car w/a lit cig in their mouth. Of course, if I can see them doing this, that means I'm in the same gas station and trembling with fear. I always want to yell "Hey idiot, put that cigaretter out!' but I'm afraid I'll scare them and they'll drop the cig into the tank filler tube.

You do know that a cigarette won't ignite gas fumes right?:sneaky:

 

[Texashiker]

You do know that a cigarette won't ignite gas fumes right?:sneaky:

I have seen people with a cigarette light a cutting torch.

 

[DrPizza]

I have seen people with a cigarette light a cutting torch.

By gas, he meant gasoline, not acetylene. Gasoline isn't easily lit with a cigarette, except in the movies where the villain tosses the lit cigarette into the puddle of gasoline. You could easily extinguish a cigarette by putting it out in a pool of gasoline.

 

[Howard]

By gas, he meant gasoline, not acetylene. Gasoline isn't easily lit with a cigarette, except in the movies where the villain tosses the lit cigarette into the puddle of gasoline. You could easily extinguish a cigarette by putting it out in a pool of gasoline.

Gaseous propane would be lit by a cigarette though, right?

 

[corwin]

By gas, he meant gasoline, not acetylene. Gasoline isn't easily lit with a cigarette, except in the movies where the villain tosses the lit cigarette into the puddle of gasoline. You could easily extinguish a cigarette by putting it out in a pool of gasoline.

Exactly...

Gaseous propane would be lit by a cigarette though, right?

Quite possibly..don't want to test that myself but feel free