Important Product Advisory: Some Coleman propane tanks not compatible with AI PA
 

Sorry for the acronym: Airsoft Innovations Propane Adaptor, AI PA

The forum software doesn't allow me to put in the title I want.

Some time ago we noted a change in Coleman propane tanks which caused problems with propane adaptors. It was difficult to trace the cause of the issue as the problems were very sporadic. Few tanks presented serious issues.

Unfortunately Coleman has released a significant number of problematic propane tanks this year so this issue has become pressing.

If you use a metal Airsoft Innovations propane adaptor of ANY version please send us your mailing address to: gauge@gungas.com for a free tank gauging tool. This gauging tool is a simple bore gauge which can be used to detect defective propane tanks before you purchase them.

Please visit this page for further information: http://www.airsoft-innovations.com/art4.html

Current version adaptors come with this tank gauge but users of previous version adaptors are strongly encouraged to contact us for a free bore gauge.

*revision 070723*

prompted by Branson: If you've got access to machinery tool supply, you can also use the shank end on a #26 drill bit. It has a diameter of 0.147" which is the same as my tank gauges.

*revision 070719*

Manchovie will be bringing up some tank gauges to the big Rawdon game this weekend. He'll hand them to the game orgs for distribution. Please do not take a gauging tool if you've already ordered one as it's probably in the mail now.


*revision 070718*

It would be a great help to me if players could get together and place group orders for bore gauges. If you and your team (or fight club) frequently play at the same games a grouped shipment of gauges could be made to help me out with logistics. Please include the following text in your email to gauge@gungas.com:

Group order leader: Gauges will be shipped to this person
Group order destination: Shipping destination
Number of gauges requested: Number of individuals needing a gauge

Thanks for the heads up. Will I have to pay shipping for this gauging tool?
-VM

*Edit* Found what I was looking for on your site.

*clap clap clap*

Way to stand behind your product. :)

Now there's product support for you.

*thumbs up*

Thanks for the accolades. The way I look at it, I just don't want someone to have an accident. I consider the issue mostly the fault with the tank, but it causes a serious issue with my product. I have an ethical obligation to my company's customers who have supported my company by buying my products.

It would be a great help if players could get together and make their gauge order together. It'd save me a fair bit of postage and reduce my logistics issues if players could cooperate and put together small group orders in their immediate region.

Way to go Carl! I've noticed over the past couple years that the two adaptors I had (both the first gen and now have what, the fourth?) would be difficult to remove from the tank for transport. I used a fine file and filed the edges of the bottom and that greatly increased the ease of use.

Anyways, my real point is, I don't suppose you thought ahead with the bore gauge by making it keychain compatible? I firmly assume you did. Heck, funny would be to polish it up nice and shiney and disguise it as "airsoft bling" to put on a neck chain. Lol

Hmmm, a bit ago I experienced the problem of the adapter sticking down in the “open position”, I had to scramble to get some pliers to pull the nozzle out so that the propane stopped spewing out. (The adapter isn’t damaged) I'm glad I was near an open window so it all didn't spray inside the work room. Would this be an overpressed o-ring?

From reading his on-site description, it sounds like it is indeed an overpressed o-ring.
-VM

excellent customer service!

Yep, that's an overpressed oring retainer. Write me for a tank gauge: gauge@gungas.com

If you can, help a friend get a gauge too!

I considered making a keychain gauge. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good economical keychain solution into production quick enough. I'm hoping I don't get sunk with postage costs as it is.

Early V4 adaptors had a ridge around the the bottom of the probe. This was a retention feature for V1, V2, V3 to hold the probe in the bottle so it wouldn't fall out the front of the bottle fitting. Partway through V4 production I realized the feature wasn't necessary b/c of the one piece design so I removed it from the V4 design.

The current V5 design has an internal spring so you don't have to fight the spring when screwing the bottle fitting on. It wasn't very hard to compress, but it does make the adaptor that little bit easier to use.

I have modified my V5 adaptor injection moulds to include a gauging feature as part of the adaptor. It would address my concerns that users would lose their gauges. It also would serve to remind users to gauge their tanks as it'd always be handy when an adaptor is installed to a tank.

The timing of this issue is really crummy. If I had realized that problematic tanks were still being produced I could have included the feature in the mould. Instead my product launch was delayed with a inelegant workaround and mould rework costs.

I've started taking names on the MAA Boards for a group order to Winnipeg, Manitoba. If anyone from that area happens to need one that isn't on those boards, than pm me on here, and I'll get your name on the list.

having recently gone camping i had a bit of trouble using the "new" coleman propane tanks on my old coleman stove. I had to really jam it into the stove connection to get it to work. I had a couple of the old propane tanks that worked no problem. So it seems its not only your product that is suffering from the change. I thank you for your continued support of your excellent product.

Actually, I bought a new portable BBQ about two months ago and notcied all my propane bottles (the Coleman ones) are a bastard to fit into the regulator even just to begin the threads. Sadly, I have to say I think 90% of the ones around here are the bastard types since I've run about 12 bottles through it so far with the same problem. At least my adaptor for airsoft has better results. Priorities, eh?

Kind of a silly question, but when using the guage, for this step:

3. allow tank gauge to settle past or against tank oring

do you have to push the guage down into the tank or do you just position it and let it go and see if it goes past the oring?