How to Remove a Valve From a Propane Tank
The propane tanks that are used with backyard barbecue grills are extremely well built and very durable. This makes them appealing to people who want to put them to use in other applications. Some use them as compressed air holding tanks, and others even cut them to make hang drums that are used in marching bands.
Most all of these applications involve removing the valve.
Things You Will Need
- Large wrench
- Cheater bar
- Heat gun
Warning
Do not use a torch or open flame of any sort to heat the valve.
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Empty the tank of all propane and shut the valve tightly.
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Use the heat gun to heat the liquid weld that is around the valve threads in order to soften it and make unscrewing the valve easier.
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Attach the wrench and cheater bar to the valve. A cheater bar can be any short piece of pipe that you can slide over the handle of the wrench, allowing you to gain extra leverage.
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Lift on the cheater bar gently at first and then with a little more force. If the valve does not budge, heat the liquid weld more and try again before exerting a lot of force. One can generate a lot of torque with a cheater bar, and you don't want to break off the valve or damage the wrench. Most valves will not be too difficult to move with the heat and cheater bar combination.
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Remove the wrench and cheater bar and unscrew the valve.
The Drip Cap
- The propane tanks that are used with backyard barbecue grills are extremely well built and very durable.
- Attach the wrench and cheater bar to the valve.
- Most valves will not be too difficult to move with the heat and cheater bar combination.
References
Writer Bio
Anthony Smith began writing for Demand Studios in May of 2009 and has since written over 1400 articles for them. He also writes for "The College Baseball Newsletter." He attended the University of New Mexico, and has more than 25 years of experience in the business world.
Photo Credits
- http://pbrothersauto.com/images/propane_tank_337180900.jpg
- http://pbrothersauto.com/images/propane_tank_337180900.jpg
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