Gas line diameter doesn't matter, provided it fits.
Yes CO2 prolongs " cask" life but not true cask ale.
Not sure about black mould, can't see how it could be inside regulator or lines unless contaminated. If on outside clean off with bleach etc.
Do use a large diameter beer line though to your engine.
Thanks. On the "cask life" I was actually referring to a comment I read somewhere, on this forum, I'd thought, that the propane option actually extends the condition out a bit longer than the RLBS breather - I think because of the small but constant CO2 pressure of the propane regulator v. the demand-only of the breather. Probably inconsequential.
On the "true cask ale," yes, I know. Sucks, but on a home level we do what we can. Actually I think my plan is to do what
@McMullan showed somewhere - keeping it in the corny and drawing off 2 L or so at a time, with the PET bottle sitting in the cellar with the soft spile-corny keg quick disconnect adaptor overnight for venting and a bit of O2 pickup. Got the adaptor today. Not the same as the constant evolution of a pub cask open to oxidation throughout its life, but close enough for now. I do plan on getting a pin, and setting up horizontal stillage for the occasional event. Need a cooling solution with the footprint for that.
The black mold - he did say it happened after quite a long time of use, and likely he'd somehow gotten beer back-up or something. He wasn't blaming the propane option per se.
I've got John Quest fittings, 1/2" braided hose, and 3/8" beer tubing. With what I have, I can either use a direct BSP-John Quest adaptor attached to the engine, going to 1/2" braided hose (a short piece, drawing from something like a growler or pitcher the night), or a 1/2" braided hose spliced down to a 3/8" hose, connected to the corny.