OT-- Blackstone 17 Propane/Regulator Issues --OT

kl8ton

Grandpa and Grandma bought my 6 year old a 17 inch Blackstone Griddle for his birthday.  He really wanted one.

We cooked bacon on it right out of the box.  I have it hooked up with a 20 lb tank and an adapter hose.  It ran great.

Next time I tried to light it, I couldn't get it to stay lit.  I know all about the safety mechanisms in the regulators and the tanks as I deal with it on the 36 inch griddle.  I shut everything off, disconnect the hose, wait, connect, start again, all is good.  Not so with the 17.  I called Blackstone.  They were very helpful.  They gave me a sequence to follow to start the 17 from a 20# tank.  I followed them precisely. The only procedural item that was new to me was to open the tank valve slowly.  We still could not get it working.  Blackstone said the regulator had to be bad and they would send me a new one, but they were on backorder. I said not to worry about it as I could still do an exchange with Amazon for the entire thing, which I did.  I just got the new one and have the same exact issue.  The first seasoning time went fine.  Fired it up, got to temp to put my grapeseed oil on, let it cool.  I repeated this 3 or 4 times in the same night.  Now, it will light with full flame for 2 or 3 seconds and then reduces to almost no flame or will shut off.  I repeat the procedures Blackstone gave me, but can't get it to stay lit.  I grabbed my other LP tank and have the same results.

Does anyone with a 17inch griddle run off the 20lb tanks?  Do you have to monkey with it a bunch or does it work every time just fine?  Wondering if they have a bad run of regulators or something.  Needless to say, my little boy is excited to use it, but is very frustrated, as am I.

Photo Egg

Just for grins, I would buy a small propane bottle and give it a try.
When you are opening your 20 pound tank slowly, are your burners in the OFF position?
Really strange, sounds like you are doing everything right.

kl8ton

@Photo Egg

Yes, burner is off.  It is my understanding that too quick of a flow from the tank is what shuts the regulator down.  

Photo Egg

kl8ton said:

@Photo Egg

Yes, burner is off.  It is my understanding that too quick of a flow from the tank is what shuts the regulator down.  

I understand the above.
I would still buy a $4 small bottle just to confirm it's the Blackstone. 
How long is your adapter hose to the 20 pound tank?

kl8ton

@Photo Egg

I will give the green bottle a try.  The hose is probably 4 feet.  The tank is on the ground while the griddle is on a bench at waist level.  There is a little slack in the line yet.

DMW

I use the adapter hose on my 17" with no problem. Used it Saturday for bacon and eggs.

HeavyG

Do the tanks work sans problems on other cookers?

kl8ton

HeavyG said:

Do the tanks work sans problems on other cookers?

yes

kl8ton

DMW said:

I use the adapter hose on my 17" with no problem. Used it Saturday for bacon and eggs.

Thanks for the reply.  So the stars don't have to align for it to ignite consistently every time?

HeavyG

kl8ton said:

DMW said:

I use the adapter hose on my 17" with no problem. Used it Saturday for bacon and eggs.

Thanks for the reply.  So the stars don't have to align for it to ignite consistently every time?

I've got the 22" BS and I'd bet it has the same low pressure regulator as the 17" and have never had any problems with my 20# tank/hose (tho I probably just now jinxed it).

epcotisbest

This thread has some information about the issue.

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/2218936

Focker

Have run mine from low to wide open on a 20lb tank with zero issues.  

fishlessman

test the hose in question on the 36 or is it a different connector.  i hate these newer tanks

kl8ton

fishlessman said:

test the hose in question on the 36 or is it a different connector.  i hate these newer tanks

I agree these new tanks are the worst.  The hose is different.  One end connect to the LP tank, the other end is a male thread that goes to the BS17 regulator.  The mail threaded end emulates a 1lb coleman tank thread.

Canugghead

kl8ton said:

@Photo Egg

Yes, burner is off.  It is my understanding that too quick of a flow from the tank is what shuts the regulator down.  

Have you tried turning on the BS burner slowly as well? just wondering if that would make a difference. btw, just guessing, I don't have a BS.

Sammi

No issues with mine on any propane source.

gmac

Wish I could get my kids to cook anything. 
I'm no help but good luck. 

Markarm4119

Smack it with a hammer wait 2-3 beers and smack it again, wait 3-4 beers smack the regulator again , wait 3-4 beers smack it again ! If it doesn't work by now you are too drunk to be using anything with a flame anyway !
Just adding levity to an annoying problem. I had similar issue with the regulator on.my gasser after replacing the guts, gave the regulator a few taps and she fired up and worked properly ever since. I skipped steps 2&3, the beers part !

Tspud1

It sounds like you have high pressure coming out of tank that is locking up their cheap regulator. Get a dual stage regulator on the tank. When I called Blackstone, no one knew the difference in gas pressures, as in water column. They had to contact China and it took 3-4 weeks to get an answer. I deal with gas regulators every day in mfg of cooking equipment.