My Weekend!

My Event was to supply Mexican food for a crowd (150) average Sat. Sun. I couldn't get my trolley to the event till Fri because of health inspection certificate. Night before I cooked for the neighbors for free and no problems. After getting all my stuff from home got there on a borrowed truck. The place was beautiful along the river with lots of boat traffic. Would you know it I pulled in and got stuck in the sand with trolley in tow! The owner was at work and couldn't get there till a couple of hr. after. He finally arrives and had the equipments to pull me and trolley out. I told him I would feed him and his friends that night for nothing. I went outside to look and no pressure from indicator before it come into the trolley. I fired up my fryer and little pressure from the pilot couldn't keep it lit!!! WHAT THE !$#&.I banged on it thinking it was stuck from the trip there. People were hungry! After many suggestions from drunk people I decided to take the pressure regulator off and replace it with my camper one and I know that worked great. Went home thoroughly discussed upset and in a very bad mood. They ordered pizza.
Sat morning I checked the regulator and it was the same as the one on the camper, cool took it off headed to the event. Put it on and BAM I had pressure and every thing worked fine. I cooked Sat. at 4pm till 10. My wife was the server, money handler and I was the cook. She was very cheerful and people were loving the food she told me. Band shuts down I shut down. Went home after cleaning LOTS of dishes and moped and a sore back with all the problems. Made $300.00 disappointed but way short from my goal of $1000 total.
I arrived Sun at 3pm people wanted me to open up. THEY WERE HUNGRY!! I fired up my fryer and little pressure from the pilot couldn't keep it lit AGAIN!!! WHAT THE !$#&. Again no pressure I was frantic and said the the wife that's IT I'm going home. Bless her heart she talked to the owner and he had this 500 lbs fryer. We got it in the trolley and fired it up and I got a grill. No fryer but hey no chimichagas or hard shell tacos but I go ingredients for every thing else I Started to cook from 5pm to 10. Band shuts down I shut down. Made made $400. LOTS of old bones were hurting and hers to.

Sounds like the safety valve in the tank is tripping. I went through a spell on my gas grill that I had to very carefully open the valve on the tank or I would hear this clink and not get enough gas to run the grill. I don't know why but the problem seems to have gone away.

Cakes

Yup I had that same problem. When you open your propane tank listen closely. Open it very slowly for the first 1/4 turn until you can hear the gas flowing. Then open it slowly for the next 1/2 turn...then you can probably crank it. I missed a day of work before I learned that important little propane tank issue. If this happens to you again. Shut the valve. Unscrew the hose. Rescrew the hose and then try again. Good luck.

I unscewed changed tanks turned off then on slowly fast. I have worked with propane for 21 years on forklifts. I'm going to have hire a professional to look at it. I'm knowledgeable about propane and really do appreciate your comments.

But they didn't start using this safety valve until just the last few years. I think it is a hose break valve or velocity fuse. When mine did it I would disconnect the hose and then bang the tank down onto the floor (accompanied with the appropriate language). I think some tanks are more sensitive than others. I do make sure I turn off the burners before I turn off the tank.

Cakes

From the Weber grill website;
Bypass
Since 1995 all regulators (the part that attaches to the gas tank to regulate the flow of gas) have included a safety device that restricts the flow of gas in the event of a gas leak. This safety device can be inadvertently activated in two ways, putting the grill into what is commonly called “bypass”. The first way for the device to be activated is to leave one or more burner control knobs in the “ON” position when the LP cylinder valve is opened. The second is not to wait long enough to “start” the grill after opening the LP cylinder valve. The safety device in the regulator is activated each time that the LP cylinder valve is opened. The device resets itself when the gas pressure equalizes between the closed burner control valve and the regulator, through the hose. If a burner control knob is turned on before the gas pressure can equalize, the device will remain in “bypass”. The length of time necessary to wait to “start” the grill after turning on the LP cylinder valve is dependent on the length of the hose and outside air temperature. It is always good practice to wait a few seconds after opening the LP cylinder valve before turning on the burner control knob to start the grill.

Keep in mind that the safety device reacts to a gas leak. If a grill is in bypass the gas connections and hose should be tested for leaks with a soap and water solution.

If the grill is in bypass, after checking for gas leaks do the following to get the grill out of bypass:

Cart Based Models

Close the LP tank valve
Turn all burner control knobs to the OFF position
Open the grill lid
Turn the LP tank valve until it is completely open
Wait several seconds
Turn the front burner to the HI/Start position
Press the igniter until the burner is lit.
Turn remaining burners to High
Close the lid.
The grill should preheat to 500-550 degrees in 10-15 minutes
Weber Q 100 and 200 series with an adapter hose and the Q 300 series.
Close the LP tank valve
Turn all burner control knobs to the OFF position
Open the grill lid
Turn the tank valve until it is completely open
Wait at least 1 minute
Turn the burner control knob to Hi/Start
Press the igniter to light the burner
Turn any remaining burner control knobs to High
The grill should preheat to 500-550 degrees in 10-15 minutes.

Cakes, maybe your the pro that I needed at the time. I did not know this info. I had a brand new 40 lbs tank on one valve and a used 20 lbs. tank on the other valve. Thinking both tanks would equilize when on. Both going to the main regulator. My trolley is a 2006 model. I'm going to try it today and let you know. Plus I'll go back to my original set up.

Cakes... Really good info there! It's always nice when can learn something new everyday!

Just goes to show ya, you learn something new everyday. Thanks for sharing. Sorry you had such troubles. I would have killed myself!!! Either that or i would have cried alot.

I'm sorry for not posting sooner...I was at the trolley when I got called that my dad passed away yesterday and I'll be back soon

GREAT INFO CAKES! Thanx for sharing

quote:

Originally posted by tacomaker

I'm sorry for not posting sooner...I was at the trolley when I got called that my dad passed away yesterday and I'll be back soon

Sorry to hear of your loss there. My prayers go out to you and your family.

Sorry for your loss.

My condolences to you and your family.

Glad I could be of help.

Sorry for your loss.

Cakes

Hi all glad to be back. Lets see after the funeral of my dad, we had to get ready for my daughters graduation party the 7th/bachelor party(son) who also who got married the 21st. My beautiful daughter in law who is white and I'm proud to say she is now my daughter. Many people had never ate real Mexican food. I fed 231 guests with the help of family. All I got was complements and many asked for receipts. I told I dont go by the book but I watched my mom all those years. Anyways I'm glad to be back....got to get ready to go to work. Chat soon.

Tacomaker, I am extremely sorry that your father passed away. That is a terrible loss. It also sounds that you've had a heck of a time with your rig. Hang in there it will get better.
Just curious, why did you mention that your daughter in law is white and now you are proud to call her your daughter after the wedding?

Yes, My son is Mexican or politically correct Hispanic, like me and she and her family are been introduced to our heritage. Now I dropped the daughter in law and now shes my daughter.

quote:

Originally posted by tacomaker


I Started to cook from 5pm to 10. Band shuts down I shut down. Made made $400. LOTS of old bones were hurting and hers to.

there has got to be a easier way to make a buck$$$

there is sizz but its illegal..lol I guess you have to see where Im at. This place is in 2nd yr of operation and has lots of room to bring people in. The place is along the river, greatest sunsets and live classic rock music