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| New to GMC [message #123319] |
Tue, 26 April 2011 17:46  |
blumonky
Messages: 7
Registered: April 2011
Location: Baltimore, MD
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Hi all,
I've just joined and am the owner of a '73 Palm Beach. I bought her on March 9th, though have yet to have her in my actual possession as she's been in the shop getting a front end re-build and now I come to find I need new fridge, lp tanks, furnace and water flow regulator. Oh, and the generator needs some work too. Oi. Unfortunately, the man I bought her from was not completely honest about what she needed 
I fell in love with the way she looks and the way she handles and now I could use some encouraging words from other owners about how much I'm going to love living in her as I'm feeling a little discouraged in terms of the unplanned initial $ outlay.
Oh and if anyone has or knows of a used tow dolly in the Albuquerque area they would like to sell, let me know.
Thanks, looking forward to it.
Barb
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| Re: New to GMC [message #123329 is a reply to message #123319] |
Tue, 26 April 2011 18:28  |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Barb, I am skeptic when someone who is making a living selling stuff (any stuff) states that I "need" to replace any thing.
Furnace is not mission critical part. The frig may not run, because there "Might" be a problem with the LP tank(S). Get it running, get it home, and get with knowledgeable GMC owners in your area. Oh, also, get it stopping.
With the help of the forum, and the Black List, anything can be fixed.
There is always an unexpected initial outlay. Sometimes it is big, and sometimes it is little.
Remember, Running, Stopping are the big deals. Winter is far off for the furnace. LP tanks (you are using the plural, is there more than one?) can be inspected by a shop that specializes in LP.
The GMC LP tank is a different animal, but unless it is rusted out, it has very little to fail. They can be removed and inspected, if you wish to do so.
Water flow regulator (?) Where is this device? Is it an aftermarket item? The small pressure regulators are not expensive, and that average person, who knows "Righty Tighty, Lefty, Loosy" can deal with it.
Owning a GMC is like belonging to a cult, one minute you love them, the next, you think that you are out of your mind. Find and join a regional GMC club. Western States comes to mind.
Enjoy your machine, it will be the source of many adventures.
Tom Phipps, 19 days to GMC
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: New to GMC [message #123333 is a reply to message #123329] |
Tue, 26 April 2011 19:03 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I'm with Tom. You listed too many unusual things to all be bad. I'm especially interested in why the LP tanks?
Also are they proposing to replace all of the items you listed. If so it sounds like someone is trying to sell you a lot of new stuff rather than fix what is bad.
I would ask exactly what is wrong with each of the items listed. Then I would ask what it takes to fix each of the items rather than replace them.
We need to get you to a knowledgeable GMCer for a second opinion.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: New to GMC [message #123335 is a reply to message #123333] |
Tue, 26 April 2011 19:05 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Also please fill out the rest of the enrollment on the forum so we know where you are located. Someone close by may volunteer to stop and take a look.
If you are in my area I would gladly look at the coach.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: New to GMC [message #123344 is a reply to message #123319] |
Tue, 26 April 2011 19:39 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| blumonky wrote on Tue, 26 April 2011 15:46 |
Hi all,
I've just joined and am the owner of a '73 Palm Beach. ...
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Barb,
1. -- Welcome aboard. You should find good guidance here. I assume you are in the Albuquerque area?
2. -- You can call your coach anything you want. It is your coach. BUT... the Palm Beach model didn't start until the 1975 model year. If the interior is green plaid, it most likely isn't a 1973. If it is green, but not plaid, it might be a Sequoia. You can get the year from the "TZE" number found on the plate, on the firewall, under the passenger side hood. It is also found on the sticker on/in the glove box.
The sticker doesn't have the model until 1975, but after that the model was listed as a RPO number.
The site might help: <http://www.gmcmhregistry.com/GMC_Trivia.html>
While you are there you should register your coach with Dave. He is very careful with your info and only uses it to track coaches.
3. -- Unfortunately many people dealing with used things might not know everything about everything they sell. Others do know and hide the facts. Also a problem might be in the eye of the beholder. What I think is a minor inconvenience, others might think is a major show stopper.
4. -- Who is telling you that you need all these new parts? If it is the same person selling you the new ones... I would think about it. There have been "stories" about people being taken for a ride by repair shops. Granted, your coach is almost 40 years old. I could see it "needing" a few parts!
5. -- To reduce the cost of ownership, you may want to tackle some of the work yourself. Many owners have started with little experience or skills, and have been able to do the required work themselves. Ask about projects, before they are started, you'll be surprised how many are easier than you thought. Even if you do not do the work on it, you'll know enough not to be taken for a ride.
6. -- I would not have a RV shop work on the Onan. Most will charge you and arm and a leg and still not fix it correctly. There are GMC'ers that can help you with it, but if you really want it fixed right, and can pay for it, there is a guy in Tucson, AZ that does excellent work on old generators. Someone will have his name and number if you ask for it.
7. -- Tow dolly's have pro's and con's. Most people flat tow. Not cheaper, just more convenient.
8. -- Again, Welcome aboard and good luck.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: New to GMC [message #123420 is a reply to message #123319] |
Tue, 26 April 2011 22:56 |
blumonky
Messages: 7
Registered: April 2011
Location: Baltimore, MD
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Wow, thanks you guys. 
Hmmm, the previous owner told me it was a '73 Palm Beach. It has the green plaid on the fridge and on some cabinets, but I will check when I get her back. He had re-done the seats in a kind of electric blue with white trim. It has 2 chairs and and a fold away table behind the driver's seat, 2 benches in the back that convert to a bed.
The front end work is done and it did need stuff done, so I feel ok about that. The person I have working on the other is an independent with 25 years of experience on rv's including GMCs. He said the valve on the LP tank was leaking badly and none of the LP places around here, Albuquerque, was willing to replace the valve because the tank is so old.
Apparently the fridge (original Dometic) has a tendency to electrical fires?
I'm going to wait on the furnace and try to convert the LP tank situation to a couple of the smaller ones that I can take out and fill up without taking the "house" to fill the propane tank.
Here's my situation location wise. I live in Albuquerque at the moment, but on May 25th, I have to move up to upstate NY for a summer job. I plan to drive the GMC and tow my Ford Focus (front wheel drive, hence the tow dolly). I'll be outside Oswego NY until August, then possibly Ithaca for the winter, depends on work. The main thing is, I plan to live in the GMC for the next long while.
It's an adventure...
Barb
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| Re: [GMCnet] New to GMC [message #123422 is a reply to message #123420] |
Tue, 26 April 2011 23:07 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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I was concerned about my propane tank due to the age and bits of surface rust so I called a tank manufacturing co. and I was told that there is no re certification required for interior mounted class A tanks since they are protected from the elements and impacts by placement. I would think you should be able to find someone to fit it with a new valve. Someone on the list will have a reference for u.
Sully
77 royale (future motorhome land speed record holder)
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara Geary <blumonky@gmail.com>
Sender: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:56:49
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Reply-To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] New to GMC
Wow, thanks you guys. :p
Hmmm, the previous owner told me it was a '73 Palm Beach. It has the green plaid on the fridge and on some cabinets, but I will check when I get her back. He had re-done the seats in a kind of electric blue with white trim. It has 2 chairs and and a fold away table behind the driver's seat, 2 benches in the back that convert to a bed.
The front end work is done and it did need stuff done, so I feel ok about that. The person I have working on the other is an independent with 25 years of experience on rv's including GMCs. He said the valve on the LP tank was leaking badly and none of the LP places around here, Albuquerque, was willing to replace the valve because the tank is so old.
Apparently the fridge (original Dometic) has a tendency to electrical fires?
I'm going to wait on the furnace and try to convert the LP tank situation to a couple of the smaller ones that I can take out and fill up without taking the "house" to fill the propane tank.
Here's my situation location wise. I live in Albuquerque at the moment, but on May 25th, I have to move up to upstate NY for a summer job. I plan to drive the GMC and tow my Ford Focus (front wheel drive, hence the tow dolly). I'll be outside Oswego NY until August, then possibly Ithaca for the winter, depends on work. The main thing is, I plan to live in the GMC for the next long while.
It's an adventure...
Barb
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: New to GMC [message #123426 is a reply to message #123420] |
Tue, 26 April 2011 23:57 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Call Jim Kanomata at Applied GMC.
1-800-752-7502.
Http://www.appliedgmc.com
If he does not have he LP valve, he will know where to get one.
I would run the coach until the LP tank is empty and then change valve. I changed one once and did not have any problem finding one at a local LP supply place. If you want when the tank is empty you could unbolt just the tank from the floor. It has 4 vertical bolts. Tsaake only it in to the LP supply place and have the valve replaced. Then take a wire brush to it and paint it with some gray Rustoleum available from Walmart for under $8.00. It will then look new and the pain job ought to last another 30 years. I removed and painted mine while it was partially full a few years ago. It was an easy job. I also paint the floor where the tank is mounted with the same Rustoleum gray.
While going to two tanks sounds easier to fill up, I suggest that you can store more in the existing single tank and usually pay less for the LP than carrying it in in those smaller barbeque grill tanks. I have a gas refrigerator, a furnace, and gas cooking stove. Granted I do not use them a whole lot but I have not refilled my tank in at least 3 years. To me it is so much easier to pull in to the LP supplier and say fill it up.
What is with the electric Dometics catching fire? I have never heard of that one before. Has anyone else here heard of this problem? I hope mine does not have that problem.
I am partial to my gas Dometic. I love it. It uses next to no LP and it automatically changes over to electric when the coach is plugged in or on the ONAN generator. I turn it on and forget about it for weeks on end. It uses very little LP gas. One time I left it on for an entire summer by mistake and still did not need the propane tank refilled that year.
My biggest propane user is the furnace when I use it in the fall and winter. If I'm plugged into shore power and not being metered for my use, I use electric cube heaters for heat. I have one up high in the rear and one on the floor up front. I always run them on the 1/2 power setting (700 watt). I only run the rear one at night and the front one during the day.
JMHO
Ken B.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] New to GMC [message #123428 is a reply to message #123426] |
Wed, 27 April 2011 00:13 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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I was planning on lightly silica blasting mine after I pulled it out prior
to final placement. I read a post on here about flamability and sparks while
blasting and that the tank should be emptied and purged with inert gas prior
to any blasting. Do you think that is necessary Ken? I figured I would mask
the tank gauge and dust the rusty areas prior to painting. The pits in the
shell are very shallow.
I know, silica is bad for you but ill do it outside and hold my breath.
Thanks,
Sully
77 Royale (future motorhome land speed record holder)
On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 9:57 PM, Ken Burton <n9cv@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> Call Jim Kanomata at Applied GMC.
> 1-800-752-7502.
> Http://www.appliedgmc.com <http://www.appliedgmc.com/>
>
> If he does not have he LP valve, he will know where to get one.
> I would run the coach until the LP tank is empty and then change valve. I
> changed one once and did not have any problem finding one at a local LP
> supply place. If you want when the tank is empty you could unbolt just the
> tank from the floor. It has 4 vertical bolts. Tsaake only it in to the LP
> supply place and have the valve replaced. Then take a wire brush to it and
> paint it with some gray Rustoleum available from Walmart for under $8.00.
> It will then look new and the pain job ought to last another 30 years. I
> removed and painted mine while it was partially full a few years ago. It
> was an easy job. I also paint the floor where the tank is mounted with the
> same Rustoleum gray.
>
> While going to two tanks sounds easier to fill up, I suggest that you can
> store more in the existing single tank and usually pay less for the LP than
> carrying it in in those smaller barbeque grill tanks. I have a gas
> refrigerator, a furnace, and gas cooking stove. Granted I do not use them a
> whole lot but I have not refilled my tank in at least 3 years. To me it is
> so much easier to pull in to the LP supplier and say fill it up.
>
> What is with the electric Dometics catching fire? I have never heard of
> that one before. Has anyone else here heard of this problem? I hope mine
> does not have that problem.
>
> I am partial to my gas Dometic. I love it. It uses next to no LP and it
> automatically changes over to electric when the coach is plugged in or on
> the ONAN generator. I turn it on and forget about it for weeks on end. It
> uses very little LP gas. One time I left it on for an entire summer by
> mistake and still did not need the propane tank refilled that year.
>
> My biggest propane user is the furnace when I use it in the fall and
> winter. If I'm plugged into shore power and not being metered for my use, I
> use electric cube heaters for heat. I have one up high in the rear and one
> on the floor up front. I always run them on the 1/2 power setting (700
> watt). I only run the rear one at night and the front one during the day.
>
> JMHO
>
> Ken B.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] New to GMC [message #123431 is a reply to message #123420] |
Wed, 27 April 2011 00:28 |
gmcrv1
Messages: 839
Registered: August 2007
Location: Memphis
Karma: -1
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Senior Member |
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Barbara,
Welcome. I used to hunt in the Oswego area. Have you any idea how cold it
gets in Ithaca, NY? I won't even mention the snow, Get the heater fixed!!!
And get yourself a small electric heater.
Costco was selling 12volt electric blankets a while ago. Just a thought.
Good Luck!
Tom Eckert 73 Glacier
Oakland, TN
On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 10:56 PM, Barbara Geary <blumonky@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Wow, thanks you guys. :p
> Hmmm, the previous owner told me it was a '73 Palm Beach. It has the green
> plaid on the fridge and on some cabinets, but I will check when I get her
> back. He had re-done the seats in a kind of electric blue with white trim.
> It has 2 chairs and and a fold away table behind the driver's seat, 2
> benches in the back that convert to a bed.
> The front end work is done and it did need stuff done, so I feel ok about
> that. The person I have working on the other is an independent with 25 years
> of experience on rv's including GMCs. He said the valve on the LP tank was
> leaking badly and none of the LP places around here, Albuquerque, was
> willing to replace the valve because the tank is so old.
> Apparently the fridge (original Dometic) has a tendency to electrical
> fires?
> I'm going to wait on the furnace and try to convert the LP tank situation
> to a couple of the smaller ones that I can take out and fill up without
> taking the "house" to fill the propane tank.
>
> Here's my situation location wise. I live in Albuquerque at the moment, but
> on May 25th, I have to move up to upstate NY for a summer job. I plan to
> drive the GMC and tow my Ford Focus (front wheel drive, hence the tow
> dolly). I'll be outside Oswego NY until August, then possibly Ithaca for the
> winter, depends on work. The main thing is, I plan to live in the GMC for
> the next long while.
> It's an adventure...
> Barb
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] New to GMC [message #123433 is a reply to message #123428] |
Wed, 27 April 2011 00:50 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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This is my opinion only and if someone feels it is unsafe please say so.
I would not blast an open / empty tank. I did mine with a wire brush because the whole tank was too large to fit in our sand and bead blaster cabinets. I also saw no need to blast it that clean before brush painting it again with rustoleum. I also did not want sand around the coupling end or shaft of the valve.
I'm a little leery of blasting that tank even with the valve closed. Theoretically it should be safe with the valve closed and the gas trapped inside. I'm just afraid of it. I have also gotten shocked a few times from static build up using our bead blaster with a pin hole in the rubber gloves. I do not need that around propane.
My tank came out great just wire brushing and brush painting it. No one ever sees it anyway. You are just trying to prevent it from rusting in the near future.
Note: I bead, or sand blast, and paint just about everything I have off of my coach, my cars, and my motorcycles. I'm just a little afraid of propane.
We have one guy at the airport that blasts and welds motorcycle tanks all the time. I have never watched him do it. He had 5 of them that he blasted lined up on the floor for painting last summer. He also did my daughter's motorcycle tank last summer.
Ken B.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] New to GMC [message #123438 is a reply to message #123433] |
Wed, 27 April 2011 02:56 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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In order for there to be combustion, three things need to be present in the
correct amounts. Oxygen, fuel, and an ignition source. The static discharge
is the ignition source, propane is the fuel, and oxygen is present in the
air. Do you feel lucky, well do you? Kinda like playing russian roulette,
you only have to have the bullet lined up with the hammer fall once to have
a real bad day. I used to have a best friend, now deceased from a
motorcycle incident, who was a great painter and always would grind, sand,
and weld on motorcycle gas tanks. One day while I was working in my shop
which is within earshot of his, I heard a loud bang and responded to his
shop. The remains of a honda gas tank turned inside out lay on the floor
with a weldstud still attatched to what used to be the outside of the tank,
and he was standing in the same spot with the stud gun still in his hand
with a very surprised look on his face. Would have made "America's funniest
videos" for sure. We laughed about it and shared a beer. He wound up buying
the guy another tank. No injuries except to his pride. He never used a stud
gun on another gas tank. I have a personal adversion to welding on any fuel
tank. JWID. I have seen natural gas employees responding to broken gas lines
and digging them up with back hoes, getting down in the trench with an
air supplied respirator and welding pipe sections back in while the gas was
flowing out of a leak. They told me about the "BIG THREE RULE"
Scared the hell out of me, but they do it for a living. Probably would wire
brush the outside of a propane tank and repaint it and call it good.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC Royale 403
On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 10:50 PM, Ken Burton <n9cv@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> This is my opinion only and if someone feels it is unsafe please say so.
>
> I would not blast an open / empty tank. I did mine with a wire brush
> because the whole tank was too large to fit in our sand and bead blaster
> cabinets. I also saw no need to blast it that clean before brush painting
> it again with rustoleum. I also did not want sand around the coupling end
> or shaft of the valve.
>
> I'm a little leery of blasting that tank even with the valve closed.
> Theoretically it should be safe with the valve closed and the gas trapped
> inside. I'm just afraid of it. I have also gotten shocked a few times from
> static build up using our bead blaster with a pin hole in the rubber gloves.
> I do not need that around propane.
>
> My tank came out great just wire brushing and brush painting it. No one
> ever sees it anyway. You are just trying to prevent it from rusting in the
> near future.
>
> Note: I bead, or sand blast, and paint just about everything I have off of
> my coach, my cars, and my motorcycles. I'm just a little afraid of propane.
>
> We have one guy at the airport that blasts and welds motorcycle tanks all
> the time. I have never watched him do it. He had 5 of them that he blasted
> lined up on the floor for painting last summer. He also did my daughter's
> motorcycle tank last summer.
>
> Ken B.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] New to GMC [message #123440 is a reply to message #123438] |
Wed, 27 April 2011 04:41 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| James Hupy wrote on Wed, 27 April 2011 00:56 |
...Probably would wire
brush the outside of a propane tank and repaint it and call it good. ...
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On my '73, I wire brushed, sprayed rust converter on any remaining rust, primed and painted (rattle can). Looks good after many years.
One thing to note: The output valves on propane tanks are designed to be all the way open or all the way closed. Leakage around the stem between open and closed is relatively common and does not mean the valve is bad.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: New to GMC [message #123441 is a reply to message #123420] |
Wed, 27 April 2011 05:11 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| blumonky wrote on Tue, 26 April 2011 20:56 |
... Hmmm, the previous owner told me it was a '73 Palm Beach. It has the green plaid on the fridge and on some cabinets, but I will check when I get her back. He had re-done the seats in a kind of electric blue with white trim. It has 2 chairs and and a fold away table behind the driver's seat, 2 benches in the back that convert to a bed. ...
...
Apparently the fridge (original Dometic) has a tendency to electrical fires?
I'm going to wait on the furnace ...
|
Sounds like the interior has been changed some... "Palm Beach Plaid" was on the seating surfaces... not the cabinets. If the coach is a 73 (or 74) and the interior has been changed in a major way, you may never know what model it was originally. For the most part, it doesn't really matter.
You only mention 2 "seating" areas. Does this coach have the door right behind the passinger seat (23 foot coach) or just in front of the rear wheels? (26 foot.)
The original refrigerator in all GM "upfitted" coaches was an all electric (both ac and dc but all electric) and did not have a problem causing fires. It would be almost 40 years old so it MIGHT have other problems.
If original, the furnace probably DOES need replacement. (Old furnaces can leak and KILL you! Keep a working CO detector in your coach.) If you get a close to replacement model it isn't that hard to replace. The original furnace my in the 73 was larger than the current models. I had to fabicate a sheilf and ducting for it. This was after I had to un-do a prior install... see:
<http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=3995>
They just stuffed the new one (case and all) inside the old case. The ducts didn't match so they riveted a strip of metal to the front making it LOOK like it sealed. I really doubt someone would do this to their own coach....
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] New to GMC [message #123453 is a reply to message #123433] |
Wed, 27 April 2011 07:19 |
gmcrv1
Messages: 839
Registered: August 2007
Location: Memphis
Karma: -1
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Senior Member |
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I can't agree more with Ken. I bead blast almost everything. Except things
that hold flammable liquids (or gases) I washed my take with a degreasing
solvent and a scotch-brite pad. Left just enough texture for good paint
adhesion. My tank was dirty not rusty. I also lined the propane
compartment with 1/2" rigid foam board.
Looks great for what it is.
JWID
Tom Eckert N2VWN
73 Glacier
Oakland, TN
On Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 12:50 AM, Ken Burton <n9cv@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> This is my opinion only and if someone feels it is unsafe please say so.
>
> I would not blast an open / empty tank. I did mine with a wire brush
> because the whole tank was too large to fit in our sand and bead blaster
> cabinets. I also saw no need to blast it that clean before brush painting
> it again with rustoleum. I also did not want sand around the coupling end
> or shaft of the valve.
>
> I'm a little leery of blasting that tank even with the valve closed.
> Theoretically it should be safe with the valve closed and the gas trapped
> inside. I'm just afraid of it. I have also gotten shocked a few times from
> static build up using our bead blaster with a pin hole in the rubber gloves.
> I do not need that around propane.
>
> My tank came out great just wire brushing and brush painting it. No one
> ever sees it anyway. You are just trying to prevent it from rusting in the
> near future.
>
> Note: I bead, or sand blast, and paint just about everything I have off of
> my coach, my cars, and my motorcycles. I'm just a little afraid of propane.
>
> We have one guy at the airport that blasts and welds motorcycle tanks all
> the time. I have never watched him do it. He had 5 of them that he blasted
> lined up on the floor for painting last summer. He also did my daughter's
> motorcycle tank last summer.
>
> Ken B.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] New to GMC [message #123503 is a reply to message #123422] |
Wed, 27 April 2011 11:43 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| sgltrac wrote on Tue, 26 April 2011 21:07 |
Apparently the fridge (original Dometic) has a tendency to electrical fires?
Barb
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The real original refrigerator was a Norcold 12/120 volt compressor unit, not a Dometic. The Norcold is a good old reliable unit, and I have never heard of any problems at all related to fires. Nor have the propane/electric units had any fire issues, although there were some electrical control issues with some late 90's Norcold's.
If you do have an original Norcold compressor refrigerator (they hum when running) and it cools, and you will be plugged in most of the time, keep it for now. If you have a Dometic propane/120 volt unit, check out how well it works prior to spending the $1000 + to replace it. Repairs are often fairly easy and inexpensive.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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