Extended butane filler adapter and Korean butane can converter/adapter issues

[The mechanic]

Hello again everyone.

Having seen a "bargain" of four large cans of butane for a couple of pence more than a small lighter top-up can at my local B&M, I thought, "why not"?

So, armed with this seemingly enormous amount of butane, my first issue was that the cans do not have a threaded nozzle and require a converter. So I obtained a converter.

Next thing, I attempted to connect my " loco-boxes" gas filler adapter. All threaded together OK, no problems.

So now I attempted to fuel a loco. Turned the can upside down and press......... Nothing happened! - no gas.

Removed the can and held upright, pushed the long tube downwards as far as it would go, ....still no gas!

Looking at the tube, there is a small e-clip fitted into a groove about 5mm above the point where the tube enters the main adapter body. This acts as a stop to prevent over-compression of the tube. I removed the clip and depressed the tube - hey presto, a healthy stream of gas/ vapour came out of the tube. Problem was, it also came out of the side of the tube too!

I refitted the e-clip and everything reverted to how I started I.e. No gas!

Has anyone else experienced this sort of issue with butane cans fitted with thread converters?..

If so, how do you get the butane to issue out of the tube with the e-clip in place? And if you do remove the e-clip, how do you stop butane from leaking everywhere?

I would be most interested to hear other's experiences with this, before I end up in an all-consuming "fireball" - visions of the "Hindenburg" , DIY cremation and all that - not good for promoting the hobby in the eyes of SWMBO! - she thinks I'm a spanner short of a full toolbox anyway!


Thanks

Dave

 

[MRail]

Dave,
There is considerable variation in can vs adapter combinations.
Some screw down so far as to prevent the nozzle from pressing on the can's valve.
Older types are more prone to this.
I fond this out when I bought an adapter from ELR, and it sprayed continuously.
They told me to use a newer adapter, and it solved the problem.

I still find various makes of can still have problems.
By now, I have a selection of filler adapters, so cam able to swap around.

 

[Paul M]

Dave,
There is considerable variation in can vs adapter combinations.
Some screw down so far as to prevent the nozzle from pressing on the can's valve.
Older types are more prone to this.
I fond this out when I bought an adapter from ELR, and it sprayed continuously.
They told me to use a newer adapter, and it solved the problem.

I still find various makes of can still have problems.
By now, I have a selection of filler adapters, so cam able to swap around.

 

[Paul M]

Dave,
There is considerable variation in can vs adapter combinations.
Some screw down so far as to prevent the nozzle from pressing on the can's valve.
Older types are more prone to this.
I fond this out when I bought an adapter from ELR, and it sprayed continuously.
They told me to use a newer adapter, and it solved the problem.

I still find various makes of can still have problems.
By now, I have a selection of filler adapters, so cam able to swap around.

I have one of these, seems to be fine on the various makes of gas I use. I seem to remember buying it from Trainlines, but I could be wrong

 

[The mechanic]

View attachment 255221
I have one of these, seems to be fine on the various makes of gas I use. I seem to remember buying it from Trainlines, but I could be wrong

Yes that looks visually identical to mine. However, there are two components to the above unit.
One is the part that locks on to the gas canister, the other is the threaded "snout" and associated boss which screws on to the adaptor and facilitates connection to the locomotive gas tank. I am getting the impression that the part that locks on to the gas canister is where the problem lies, as detailed on the previous posts.

 

[Paul M]

Yes that looks visually identical to mine. However, there are two components to the above unit.
One is the part that locks on to the gas canister, the other is the threaded "snout" and associated boss which screws on to the adaptor and facilitates connection to the locomotive gas tank. I am getting the impression that the part that locks on to the gas canister is where the problem lies, as detailed on the previous posts.

Mine came as one unit, I'm not sure whether you can take it apart or not.

 

[Trainman 864]

The simple solution is to only use canisters with the EN417 threaded valve and not the cp250 twistlock valve, thus eliminating the need for the EN417 to CP250 converter.

There still remains however one intermittent problem - if the valve plate actuating pin in the end of the EN417 adapter is at the short end of it's manufacturing tolerance - AND the valve plate in the canister is set at the deepest end of it's tolerance range - AND/OR the male and female EN417 threads threads are one (or both) out of tolerance such that there is insuficient thread engagement - then the actuating pin in the adapter will not depress the plate in the canister valve far enough to release the gas.

You can either make a visual comarison of the depth of insertion of the valve plate in the canister with a known good canister - or you can measure it with a small depth gauge.

My solution at this point and I make no recomendation for anybody else to try it without performing their own risk assessment is to insert a ball bearing on the canister valve plate - small enough to let the gas past - but large enough to not let the adapter pin slip beside the ball.

However, I find it usually more expedient - and probably safer - to just replace the out of tolerance component.

Note - I've found the Campingaz EN 417 canisters to be of more reliable manufacture than other brands.

YMMV ....

 

[maxi-model]

Or you could try to find one of these. Obtained from Chuffed2Bits a few years ago. I note Mike does not list them any more. It works a treat for me on those cheepo gas canisters - at least a lot cheaper than the "Go Gas" threaded ones. Max

 

[Northsider]

Or you could try to find one of these. Obtained from Chuffed2Bits a few years ago. I note Mike does not list them any more. It works a treat for me on those cheepo gas canisters - at least a lot cheaper than the "Go Gas" threaded ones. Max

View attachment 255245

Looks like GRS might stock these -I think that's where I got mine from: GRS - Live Steam Access. | Garden Railway Specialists Tel:01844 345158
Unfortunately they are listed as out of stock at present, though...