CO2 leak from regulator

[bryan_r]

I recently got a second hand gas board for my cornies, but unfortunately there's a little leak on it.

I've tracked it down to where the high pressure hose is screwed into the first regulator. A spray of StarSan is showing that it's bubbling slightly through the thread itself. With luck I've attached a photo showing it...

I've tried to undo it but can't get it to shift - and I seem to be in danger of rounding off the nut sooner than I'll get it to turn.

Anyone have any suggestions for how I can either get this undone, or the leak stopped?

Thanks!
Bryan

[Morten]

Try spraying some rust remover/oil type loosener on it and let it sit for a few minutes.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think you need to turn it clockwise to loosen it, you may have known that already though.

[bryan_r]

I did wonder that, but looking at the thread I was fairly sure it was the normal direction. I'm at work so can't check until I get home.

[Fil]

I am sat with just such a hose ready to put onto my similar britvic labled board Cheers barneey

and a quick fingernail n twist test confirms anti clockwise to unscrew....


ive not attempted to remove my damaged hose yet, i chopped it and am using the board as a set of 2ndarys off my welders reg at the moment as a temp fix.

as its a hi pressure seal, perhaps a product silimar to loctite is used to maintain the connection? not my area??

I did have to pull one of the out valves off for a similar reason and that did 'crack' audibly when i broke the seal, i was using snug spanners and not grips..

for refixing, look at gas sealing tape and other products for hi pressure seals with threaded joints. ( can i get u to do my homework hehe)

[Fil]

double post sorry...

[bryan_r]

I've been fighting with this thing for a week now and still can't get it undone!

It's definitely a right-hand thread, so I know I'm turning it the right way. I've attacked it with a wire brush, basically soaked it in WD-40, tapped it with a hammer, tried moving it in both directions, and had not a single degree of rotation (just a nut that's starting to round off!)

A mate has suggested heating it - I have a hot air paint stripper I can use - but am concerned that this might damage the regulator itself.

So: next thought: can I get that cube of brass that screws into the reg itself off? If I do so, I'll need to replace it. Anyone know where I can get a bit like that from? According to the markings on the underside of the reg this one is a left-hand thread. My Googling has come to nothing looking for this bit (though I'm sure "regulator brass cube left hand" probably isn't the most suitable search term - doesn't help that I know very little about these things and don't know the correct terms for anything!)

I already have another high pressure hose on a regulator that came with some second hand bar taps I picked up a few months ago, so I just need to be able to screw a new hp hose into this reg. I'd also be happy to use these regs as a set of secondaries from my original regulator, but that still requires me to get this leaking bit off.

My wife's suggestion was to try and seal the threads where the CO2 is leaking with solder or superglue or something, but that strikes me as a very final and desperate resort!

(I'm getting somewhat frustrated by this - can you tell??)

[Fil]

This is the hose to regs on a green back? dosent bode well for my planned hose replacement, i know barneey has fitted a similar reg hose ( i bought his spareI dunno about removing tho..

have you tried asking a noobie Q on a welders forum as they use regs a lot and are a bunch of have a goers too, but with a few more manual skills as a rule

by now i would have applied tight mole grips with the aid of a vice to set and steel reinforced cable ties to hold the grip so it wont pop open. then use a scafold pole as an lever with the reg in a vice, but i take my frustrations out on the work on occasion

[Fil]

Right did mine, it was a bugger, the tools needed are a scafold or similar steel tube and a big metal wrench..
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I have my board screwed to a thin ply cladding.. i needed a pal to put 2 palms of pressure on the board to stop it and the clad wall behind bending with the force needed to open it up, once moved it will just unscrew...

Fitting the new hose i wrapped a lot of ptfe tape round the thread and tightened with a 14mm spanner, it squeeked loudly as i tightened making me fear i had threaded it however it continued to enter with force and sealled when tested - however in levering it off i disturbed me chiller and now have leaky beer lines....

but it can be done, but needs a lot of force...

[Fil]

Right did mine, it was a bugger, the tools needed are a scafold or similar steel tube and a big metal wrench..
[/url]

I have my board screwed to a thin ply cladding.. i needed a pal to put 2 palms of pressure on the board to stop it and the clad wall behind bending with the force needed to open it up, once moved it will just unscrew...

Fitting the new hose i wrapped a lot of ptfe tape round the thread and tightened with a 14mm spanner, it squeeked loudly as i tightened making me fear i had threaded it however it continued to enter with force and sealled when tested - however in levering it off i disturbed me chiller and now have leaky beer lines....

but it can be done, but needs a lot of force...

[bryan_r]

Thanks to a mate with a big vice, I've also managed to get mine off. I ended up taking the "cube of brass" thing off the regulator, which came off far easier. I now need to clean up the threads and put it back together again. Looks like some kind of thread-lock, which doesn't want to come off. I was going to give it a go with nail polish remover, but my wife doesn't have any in... Tried white spirit, but that did nothing.

Anyway, the tricky bit is done - so thanks for everyone's advice!