CO2 regulator SEAL / WASHER

A few months ago a member posted that he (or she) could get any size washer/seal if we provided the specs on size.

Could that member please contact me. I am trying to source a new washer for my CO2 regulator. The current seal only lasted 2 months and has since completely disintegrated. My supplier of CO2 only stocks the very hard plastic types...He guarantees it will seal, but I'm not convinced. I have also been advised to try using a normal 1/2 inch tap washer, and just check the connection every few days with soap water to see that it isn't leaking. Could be an option. (@Altum @JungleAquatics @Dolphin)

 

it was @Laure if im not mistaken

 

Thanks Shihr, I actually think Laure was in the same boat as me... full bottle, but no seal

 

Strange it only lasted 2 months. The leading cause of seal failure is from people over-tightening fittings, this might be why your supplier only uses hard material seals now. Most of the fittings in the gas industry is standardised so you may be lucky to get replacement seals from companies like Afgas or Afrox. Check which deals with CO2. Failing dealing directly with them, they can refer you to dealers that deal with smaller volumes and fittings.

Regards

 

If have tried, yes, and gave up. I have an Azoo regulator and it is now packed away in the garage. Totally pointless to try and find a seal that fits...

 

@Zoom,
With my SAGA regulator I received a spare washer and it is made of a hard plastic.My Azoo regulator is still running strong with the original plastic washer after more than a year and several gas refills.
I think the plastic washers are the way to go.

 

Actually the hard one worked pretty well. Make it nice and tight and it sealed perfectly. Ive developed another problem though. My CO2 has only been lasting me about four weeks, on 2kg bottle. Slagter and wearsbunnyslippers advise that I should be getting much more than this. So today when I got home, set everything up, turned it on, and grabbed a syringe of water mixed with sunlight soap. And to my suspicion, I have a leak. And not one I can fix. The actual solenoid is leaking...

Fortunately supplier is more than happy to have alook at it and sort me out.

Needless to say, i spent a little extra cash today and bought a second CO2 bottle as backup.


Sent from my Tablet using Tapatalk

 

Tough luck on that regulator,but if your supplier can get you sorted you'll be smiling in no time.

 

Hey Ash, welcome to the Sod It Solenoid Club !

Hope you get sorted, surely this is not rocket science stuff.

That Rex dude in the UK that has his own planted tank forum, is a Co2 kit fundi and really knows his stuff and I'm sure he could advise you, he was pretty helpful to me in the past.

http://www.rexgrigg.com/CO Resource.html

Trevor
(founding member)

 

Ash,try Gasket Manufacturing in Durban.
I can only give you their VoIP number(As it is the one i supply to them)
087 830 2247
Tell them Jacques from M.E.Systems referred you.

 

@Trevor Pleco
I was hoping is was as simple as a washer/o-ring or gasket... however considering that the system is still under guarantee with the supplier, I'm not going to void it by trying to fix it myself. Will rather have it sent in a replaced.

 

i only use those hard plastic/nylon washers, and mine work fine...

i got spares with my regulators and have used each one twice, so at my next refill i will also be looking for some.

I have seen these on ebay for a few dollars for 10 so really not a bad price..

 

Guys, a user on the TB forum doing custom builds of regulators. These are really good quality parts and will likely last you a lifetime. No issues (Azoo, SAGE, Milwaukee, etc). I may be interested to join a group buy. If we know where to source a CO2 bottle with a thread on the INSIDE, then we could also get those permanent seals supplied by high end aquarium shops online. This way, you have a quality regulator, needle valve and solenoid which should last you forever, and also a seal which you never need to replace. We may be able to bargain a better price for a group buy.

http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/8763-Custom-Co2-regulators-built-just-for-you

 

hey laure,

the co2 thread on american bottles is slightly different to ours.. they also use 110v so the solenoids will need a transformer. what a mission..

our stuff is compatible with hong kong and most of the EU countries and australia. these all use the british standard:

British BS341 No. 8
European DIN 477 No. 6 and SN 219505 Type 7
French NF E 29-650 Type C
Australian AS2473 Type 30

American CGA 320

they are not compatible, so just do your homework before ordering stuff like that from america..

you can order empty co2 bottles on ebay as well that will have the correct thread, but then you wont be able to fill them here without the company or yourself having that adapter...

ebay - $1.40 for 10 washers is about the cheapest i can find plus $10 for shipping, you wanna share the shipping laure?

 

Hi

I already went down that road to order washers off ebay...not suitable for the Azoo regulator! Damn! Cost me R30 incl shipping for 10 washers. I know about the voltage and the thread differences, but parts are available for 220V (Burkert solenoid) and EU standard nuts for the regulator can be fitted. So they will fit our bottles. Only issue I haven't solved yet is the CO2 bottle with inside thread so I can fit the permaseal...

http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/8736-Bürkert-6011-solenoids-for-European-use

 

hey laure,

can you measure the inside and outside diameters of your original gasket?

 

@Laure - this is the washer you need - contact the seller see if he will ship to SA

edit:

these guys too - http://performancelongboarding.com/bushings/washers/logic-flat-bushing-washer-75-nylon.html

 

@Zoom I got a saga reg that needs a washer after a refill? Any idea where I can get?

 

I still haven't found one to be 100% honest.

@Sean J gave me one last week. Just some feedback... it's pretty small... and moves around too much. So when you tightening the regulator, there's a good chance that it can slip out of place.

The place I refill can get me the ones that come with the fire extinguisher. It's a hard plastic. It worked fine for the first bottle. Second bottle it cracked (I must've tightened too hard). I then tried a normal tap washer... no go... it disintegrates.

So I'm back to the hard plastic one, and just make sure that I don't over-tighten it.

I do however believe @Altum may have some silicon washers in stock. I recall him mentioning to me once that he had some made up for us. Haven't seen his "for sale thread" offering these. They seem to be a big NEED in the industry.

 

Hey guys. Just to let you know, in the order with the regulators I have some soft silicone based washers coming as well as the harder plastic washers coming. Each pack has 2 washers. I will just need to figure out what the final price will be when I'm at my computer.

10 packs of each are on their way.