Regulator gas leak

[Harry_Worth]

Just put on a new gas bottle and heard a leak straightaway. I think it's leaking from what looks like a valve device on the regulator. It's a screw threaded thing with a small hole in it. Was OK of course and it's a few months since I've used my welder. Can anybody advise - Many thanks

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Need more information chief where on the reg and a pic would be usefull

 

[shenion]

Could be you now have one of the newer bottles that are higher pressure and you reg is not rated for the higher pressure.

Just get a new reg, the only safe thing is to replace them if any problems show up.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Yeh, replace, regs are cheap enough

 

[Harry_Worth]

Wescol

Need more information chief where on the reg and a pic would be usefull

Hi Jim, thanks for your reply - It's a Wescol one. I've just looked on Weldequip's website and it's the one he does. There's a brass screw with a hex head that sticks out the side of the unit (next to LH gauge as you look from from front) with a small hole through the thread - the leak seems to be from the small hole.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

That's your hp side on the left, unless you have experience working with high pressure gas equipment I'd leave it well alone, very dangerous, if you don't pout it back in correctly will come out like a bullet out a rifle, (no exaggeration) em, what it the fill pressure of your bottle its not a ap 300 bar is it?

 

[mike 109444]

Think you will find there is a spring and seal under the screw. It will probley work like the blow off valve on compressors. Will be preset (by spring size/pressure) to lift if pressure to high as indicated by Jim.

 

[Harry_Worth]

That's your hp side on the left, unless you have experience working with high pressure gas equipment I'd leave it well alone, very dangerous, if you don't pout it back in correctly will come out like a bullet out a rifle, (no exaggeration) em, what it the fill pressure of your bottle its not a ap 300 bar is it?

Hi Jim and Mike, thanks for the info - It's a pressure relief valve if I understand you correctly. Just checked pressure - It's 190. the other odd thing is that the leak gets louder/worse when I turn the bottle main valve off - think it's hand in pocket for a new regulator!

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

The gas type generally doesn't matter (unless ur using helium or hydrogen) they are much more difficult to seal, all a safety valve is, it's a plunger sitting on a seat and a a calibrated spring acts on the plunger just marginally above working pressure so if the pressure in the bottle rises, the plunger lifts and vents until the pressure drops, if your bottle pressure isn't higher than usual, sounds like ur safety valve is ducked, I wouldn't recomend removing it and trying to repair it, for all the cost of the reg, I'd just replace

 

[Harry_Worth]

The gas type generally doesn't matter (unless ur using helium or hydrogen) they are much more difficult to seal, all a safety valve is, it's a plunger sitting on a seat and a a calibrated spring acts on the plunger just marginally above working pressure so if the pressure in the bottle rises, the plunger lifts and vents until the pressure drops, if your bottle pressure isn't higher than usual, sounds like ur safety valve is ducked, I wouldn't recomend removing it and trying to repair it, for all the cost of the reg, I'd just replace

Hi Jim, yes, I'll be getting a replacement regulator - any recommendations. Is the Wescol unit generally reliable?

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Yeh they are not bad, the holy grail is Harris or BOC but you need a mortgage to buy them!

 

[Harry_Worth]

I googled Wescol - It's a UK company so I gave them a call. They were extremely helpful and take a pride in the quality of their products. Embarrassingly it appears to be operator error. Don't know how I didn't notice this having used three or four cylinders but regulator is opposite operation to the main valve on the cylinder i.e. you turn the valve clockwise to open. I cranked my regulator fully ACW and I don't appear to have the leak anymore. I of course had turned it fully clockwise! A big thank you Wescol!