LPG filter change

Clifford Pope · Jul 8th, 2010, 08:18

240 open loop, GMS vapouriser.

I changed the filter in the bowl mounted on the vapouriser last night, carefully noting the order of 0-rings etc.
I found a small rubber disc in the chamber underneath the filter element. It's about 1/4 inch diameter and 1/8 inch thick, and was just sitting loose in the bottom.

I couldn't see anywhere it could have come from, so I left it out. The car runs perfectly, possibly a bit better because of having a clean filter.

But on checking in the vapouriser manual there is a diagram of the filter assembly, and there is indeed a small blob looking very like my rubber disc. There is no indication of it fitting anywhere, it is just shown vaguely somewhere in the bowl.

What is it for? Is it supposed to be there?

classicswede · Jul 8th, 2010, 08:56

If it is a round disc then chances are it is the seating pad for the solenoid plungder. If that is missing then it will not be shutting the gas off.

Clifford Pope · Jul 8th, 2010, 10:44

It appears to be the little blob thing shown in this diagram:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...ope/filter.jpg

But it is shown in the diagram as below the filter element, and nowhere near the solenoid.

The solenoid must have been shutting off, because when I loosened the filter securing bolt there was a gush of liquid/vapour gas as when disconnecting a filler gun. If it was holding its pressure for 12 hours (at least) there can't have been a vital seating missing?

classicswede · Jul 8th, 2010, 23:14

I asume you do also have the built in solenoid on the Groot vapouriser. If so then that will have been shutting off the gas anyway.

The diagram does not give any clue to where that disc goes.

Clifford Pope · Jul 9th, 2010, 05:50

Yes , there is another solenoid, in the body of the vapouriser.

So I take your point that the first solenoid might not actually be doing anything (or rather, permamently open). Does it matter? It must have been like this for years, because this is the first time I have changed the filter, and I'm not sure that the PO did either.

The puzzle is how the disc got underneath the filter element at all. It can't just have fallen there, because the filter and the bolt through the middle are in the way. It would need someone to have removed the element, dropped the disc into the bottom of the chamber, and then put the element back on top.

I can't see how a solid disc can have functioned as a seating. Surely if it had fallen out of the inlet hole, it ought to have been a disc with a hole in it, otherwise what would the activated solenoid plunger have uncovered? The diagram shows that the solenoid plunger has a rounded end, presumably seating in a hole in the top of the filter casing. I could understand it might have something like an 0-ring to seal against, but how would a tiny solid disc of rubber work? The little blob is apparently smaller than the end of the plunger. There does appear to be an O-ring in the diagram, immediately below the end of the plunger.

Might this mystery disc just be a rogue part, that has fallen in at some previous service?

Do I need to be concerned about this, or can I just leave it until one day the vapouriser needs servicing or replacement?

classicswede · Jul 9th, 2010, 09:31

I'd not worry about the disc TBH. What I'd suggest you do pull the wires off the solenoid and see if the engine will run on gas. If it is running on gas with the wires off just that one then it would be a good idea to replace it. If the engine cuts out then it is working as it should.

Clifford Pope · Jul 9th, 2010, 10:30

Many thanks Dai, that's a useful suggestion.

Clifford Pope · Aug 25th, 2010, 11:06

? Sorry, not sure I follow that.

I haven't got round to trying Dai's suggestion yet. The wires have been soldered onto the solenoid, presumably because of past problems with dirty connectors, so it's not quite as simple as just pulling a connector off.

classicswede · Aug 25th, 2010, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

? Sorry, not sure I follow that.

I haven't got round to trying Dai's suggestion yet. The wires have been soldered onto the solenoid, presumably because of past problems with dirty connectors, so it's not quite as simple as just pulling a connector off.

He is a spammer and a fairly clever one at that. Read his other posts and non of them make sense to the topic.

Jul 8th, 2010, 08:18	#1
Clifford Pope Not an expert but ... Last Online: Yesterday 20:30 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boncath	LPG filter change 240 open loop, GMS vapouriser. I changed the filter in the bowl mounted on the vapouriser last night, carefully noting the order of 0-rings etc. I found a small rubber disc in the chamber underneath the filter element. It's about 1/4 inch diameter and 1/8 inch thick, and was just sitting loose in the bottom. I couldn't see anywhere it could have come from, so I left it out. The car runs perfectly, possibly a bit better because of having a clean filter. But on checking in the vapouriser manual there is a diagram of the filter assembly, and there is indeed a small blob looking very like my rubber disc. There is no indication of it fitting anywhere, it is just shown vaguely somewhere in the bowl. What is it for? Is it supposed to be there?

Jul 8th, 2010, 08:56	#2
classicswede Trader Volvo in my veins Last Online: Yesterday 22:18 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anglesey	If it is a round disc then chances are it is the seating pad for the solenoid plungder. If that is missing then it will not be shutting the gas off. __________________ http://www.classicswede.org www.classicswede.co.uk

Jul 8th, 2010, 23:14	#4
classicswede Trader Volvo in my veins Last Online: Yesterday 22:18 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anglesey	I asume you do also have the built in solenoid on the Groot vapouriser. If so then that will have been shutting off the gas anyway. The diagram does not give any clue to where that disc goes. __________________ http://www.classicswede.org www.classicswede.co.uk

Jul 9th, 2010, 05:50	#5
Clifford Pope Not an expert but ... Last Online: Yesterday 20:30 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boncath	Yes , there is another solenoid, in the body of the vapouriser. So I take your point that the first solenoid might not actually be doing anything (or rather, permamently open). Does it matter? It must have been like this for years, because this is the first time I have changed the filter, and I'm not sure that the PO did either. The puzzle is how the disc got underneath the filter element at all. It can't just have fallen there, because the filter and the bolt through the middle are in the way. It would need someone to have removed the element, dropped the disc into the bottom of the chamber, and then put the element back on top. I can't see how a solid disc can have functioned as a seating. Surely if it had fallen out of the inlet hole, it ought to have been a disc with a hole in it, otherwise what would the activated solenoid plunger have uncovered? The diagram shows that the solenoid plunger has a rounded end, presumably seating in a hole in the top of the filter casing. I could understand it might have something like an 0-ring to seal against, but how would a tiny solid disc of rubber work? The little blob is apparently smaller than the end of the plunger. There does appear to be an O-ring in the diagram, immediately below the end of the plunger. Might this mystery disc just be a rogue part, that has fallen in at some previous service? Do I need to be concerned about this, or can I just leave it until one day the vapouriser needs servicing or replacement? Last edited by Clifford Pope; Jul 9th, 2010 at 05:57.

Jul 9th, 2010, 09:31	#6
classicswede Trader Volvo in my veins Last Online: Yesterday 22:18 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anglesey	I'd not worry about the disc TBH. What I'd suggest you do pull the wires off the solenoid and see if the engine will run on gas. If it is running on gas with the wires off just that one then it would be a good idea to replace it. If the engine cuts out then it is working as it should. __________________ http://www.classicswede.org www.classicswede.co.uk

Jul 8th, 2010, 10:44	#3
Clifford Pope Not an expert but ... Last Online: Yesterday 20:30 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boncath	It appears to be the little blob thing shown in this diagram: http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...ope/filter.jpg But it is shown in the diagram as below the filter element, and nowhere near the solenoid. The solenoid must have been shutting off, because when I loosened the filter securing bolt there was a gush of liquid/vapour gas as when disconnecting a filler gun. If it was holding its pressure for 12 hours (at least) there can't have been a vital seating missing?

Jul 9th, 2010, 10:30	#7
Clifford Pope Not an expert but ... Last Online: Yesterday 20:30 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boncath	Many thanks Dai, that's a useful suggestion.

Aug 25th, 2010, 11:06	#8
Clifford Pope Not an expert but ... Last Online: Yesterday 20:30 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boncath	? Sorry, not sure I follow that. I haven't got round to trying Dai's suggestion yet. The wires have been soldered onto the solenoid, presumably because of past problems with dirty connectors, so it's not quite as simple as just pulling a connector off.

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