Posted by tleemay on October 26, 2000 at 10:51:37:
In Reply to: Re: In Defense/loose valves?? posted by kenkurtis on October 26, 2000 at 01:24:35:
I was told that they did check the pressure of the
tanks right after they were filled and they were
just above, I believe 3.2k psi, to allow for the
tanks to continue cooling and remain close to the
3k mark.
After another discussion with someone in person on
the phone yestaerday afternoon, I wanted to try a
test to see if I could put air in a tank with a
minimally tightened valve to tank seat.
Last night I removed a valve from one of my old al
80 bottles and then re-screwed it back on just to
the point contact was made between the valve,
o-ring and pany seat. I have an old electric
Craftsman that used to be an auto shop compressor.
In the past I have used the compressor for painting
and as an air hose for cleaning. I have an adaptor
that enables a yoke fitting to be used (I used to
pump an old alum 80 for paintball air with another
compressor) to 310 psi, the highest the Craftsman
would go without starting to moan and groan.
After taking the compressor line off, I very carefully
checked the valve and tank neck for leaks. I did
detect one - it was very small. So small that
unless you were really looking hard for it or had
the tank in a tub of water, you would have just
passed it on as a ready to go tank. This morning,
the tank was empty. It wasn't a high pressure test,
but it was enough to show it could happen. At a higher
pressure though, the seal probably would have either
held of gone away, I don't think it would have just
trickled out.
I also believe that the leaks (if present then) could
have been detected before the ponies even left the shop
after filling, either by the person who filled them of
the owner himself.
Something that may have solved the problem in the
first place was the replacement of the tank o-rings
after the vis with new ones, but I am not sure if
that occurred or not. Once again, this was an
experience relayed to me well after the fact.