Bernzomatic knob leak

I have a Bernzomatic trigger valve (don't know the number) an have a question. There is a small hole in the black knob at the top. The last couple of time I've used the valve there seems to be a lot of gas escaping from this hole. Is this normal? It kind scares the bejeezus out of me to have potential gas in my face as well as on the pipe.

DISCARD the torch if there is ANY gas leaking, or it will blow up in your face.

I am reminded of a phrase often used on NCIS by Leroy Jethro Gibbs. "Do ya think, DeNosio?" Probably spelled Tony's name wrong, but you get the idea. I think you recognized the problem before you wrote the question, so it seems a bit humorous. I was on the verge of writing some really smart-ass comments, but refrained.

Yeah, I have a great sense of the obvious!
Actually I was hoping for someone to say it happens and that I could fix it with a little tweak instead of trashing it.
Oh well.

I assumed you tried duct tape?

How about the obvious like taking it apart and cleaning and changing o-rings?

How old is it? It should be guaranteed for two years.

It's maybe 10 years old.

scrap it, it has fulfilled its lifetime.

Next time you are watching the simpsons on tv, at least give the guy a break down and see whats inside. Probably some junk or a bad o- ring.

And no result, put it in to the recycle bucket, about $1.50 a pound.

Have you EVER had a propane torch ignite in your hand because of a leak? I have, and it is not something you would like to duplicate. IF the torch is leaking scrap it.

The dangerous torches are the harbor fright 5 gallon grass burner types, with rubber hose. Quite a few people have been seriously barbequed as the hose takes tank pressure, and the Chinese used old tires to make that hose.

This thread came up while searching for info of a knob leak, just wanted to add my experience so it might help others.

I've had this for ~20 years, just got my 2nd bottle, so I assumed when it leaked gas & caught fire from a hole in the red knob, that maybe the new bottle was at fault, it wasn't.
So I searched for a fix, watched a 17min vid (parts) where the guy had a similar issue & duh! plugged the hole. Dumb. The gas will just build up in the handle & catch fire in a bad way.
Another useful vid showed how to pull it apart, a sharp knife then a wide screw driver to gently wedge the handle apart, be sure to tape the trigger in place.
The red knob pulls off with prying, inside it is a spring & metal pad that pushes against a rubber diaphragm, but you have to unscrew the brass housing to see it.
Using soapy water suds to id the leak, the diaphragm was perished & leaking gas. I couldn't remove the diaphragm without damaging it, there may well be an o ring under it? if so then my fix may be risky. I do not recommend you do this, for a bit over $10 you can buy a Chinese torch replacement online, the fix takes ~1hr.
The diaphragm looks like a round puncture repair pad, so cleaned with meths/glue, added some flexible rubber sealant around the ring/patch, put it together, put aside for a few days & seems to work fine, no leaks.



Also came across this adapter, seems like a good idea.