How to fix a stuck gas valve?

[domwizard91]

I picked up a gas bottle for my new BBQ today. I cannot turn the gas valve beyond a couple of millimetres as it is very stiff. But when connected to the BBQ hose the BBQ lights fine. 

Is this unsafe / should I return the bottle if I cannot turn it off / close it? Or should I just be disconnecting the BBQ hose when finished with the BBQ?

As you might be able to tell, I don't have a lot of experience with gas BBQs...

[EricL]

Hello @domwizard91 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your gas bottle.

In the interest of health and safety, I suggest returning the bottle to the store where you purchased it from. Make sure to explain to the customer service desk what has happened and bring your docket with you for ease of sales tracking. Usually, gas valves will have moderate stiffness when it is shut off or turned on. But it will not come to a point where it will hardly move. You should be able to turn it on and off with moderate effort. My best advice is to connect the gas bottle firmly to your BBQ first before slowly turning the valve onto the on position. Rushing the turning on process will activate the valves safety feature and stop the gas from flowing.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric