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Thread: Oxygen tank valve problem
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4th May 2017, 09:15 PM #1Novice
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Oxygen tank valve problem
Hi All;
Probably a simple question but I can't find an answer...
My oxygen tank won't turn off completely. I turn it off, bleed the guages down to zero and, within 5 minutes the main guage is back up to 2000 pounds.
I'm not sure I like the main guage being at 2000 pounds all the time..
So, can I fix it or is it a problem that I can ignore?
Thanks, Norm
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4th May 2017, 10:31 PM #2Most Valued Member
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I'd be inclined to notify the supplier, as if left a long time with out being used, your bottle will empty if the gauges/hose/hand piece leak. Some bottles take a bit of effort to close off properly. DO NOT attempt any sort of repair, full oxygen cylinders have been known to go through several double Besser Block walls and travel another hundred metres or so!!!!
KrynTo grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
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4th May 2017, 10:49 PM #3Philomath in training
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Being at pressure should not hurt the gauge. However, as Kryn suggests, notify the supplier and/or return the tank as being faulty and get it replaced. Even oxygen can be dangerous if it leaks (cf Apollo 1) so it is best not to muck around. As it is, don't transport it in an enclosed vehicle. While it won't asphyxiate you, an oxygen fire will cause problems if there is a spark from something electrical.
Michael
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5th May 2017, 08:21 AM #4Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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Long shot but try opening it fully and then closing it firmly a couple of times.
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5th May 2017, 09:52 AM #5Pink 10EE owner
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Well through one and a bit walls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Jk_WlmvbcGold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.
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5th May 2017, 10:15 PM #6Senior Member
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Torpedo waiting to take flight. Take it back to the supplier, get an exchange bottle.
DD
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7th May 2017, 11:22 AM #7
Note!
The Myth Busters video showed the potential.
If you have no intention of dropping the cylinder and shearing the nozzle you are ok!
Each and every time you use the cylinder - with the valve open you could be exposed to this - IF the cylinder should fall over and should the nozzle shear off.
When normal safety precautions are followed the cylinder will be secured and you are protected.
However, the cylinder valve assembly and gauge assembly will still continue to leak and that is the most immediate danger to you with an oxygen enriched atmosphere as RC touched on. Park your oxy trolley in a well ventilated area until the problem is fixed.
Two possible sources of the leak, one, a loose gland packing and two, a poor valve seat- both should be left for the people who know what to do.
Contact the supplier and and they will advise you from there on.
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14th May 2017, 09:02 PM #8Novice
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That did it!
I had never done that before - took the guages off and gave the valve a bit of a twist.
The noise!! Gave me quite a start and I had only turned the valve a 1/8 of a turn - if that. I gave it a couple more twists (open and close) trying to get it open more but each time I chickened out. Besides, it was creating quite a breeze in my shed.
I had no idea how much noise it made until I saw my wife hot-footing it down the back steps, like her skirt was on fire. The neighbour was also at the fence asking if everything was alright.
So, it's fixed. No more leak. What ever was on the valve seat, causing it to leak had been blown free.
Thanks...
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14th May 2017, 09:58 PM #9Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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15th May 2017, 09:53 AM #10
The above shows me how much I have forgotten of what once was common place everyday procedures.
When changing over an empty cylinder to a full one, the practice was to blow the plastic cap out using full cylinder pressure.
If there was any foreign matter in the under the cap ( and there normally would not be) it would be blown out by the quick blast of oxygen.
Also a clean finger was used to check that area for any oil or foreign matter.
There where instances of full cylinders stored under places that leaked oil onto them and gauges fitted explosion often resulted when the cylinder pressure caused a dieseling effect.
The above procedure should be used if cylinders have been left sitting a while without gauges.
My thoughts were fixated on a mechanical fault.
I am glad you have solved your problem.
Grahame
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15th May 2017, 10:26 AM #11Most Valued Member
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15th May 2017, 10:30 AM #12Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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Grahame,
On a similar topic, somewhere I heard that when you open a gas bottle it should be fully and firmly opened because that prevents leakage through the valve tap stem?
Does this still stand and if so does it apply to all bottles?
This sort of goes against another piece of advice that says not to firmly open any valve because it night jam in that position and then you may not be able to quickly close if you need to do so in a hurry.
Thanks
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15th May 2017, 10:47 AM #13Most Valued Member
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15th May 2017, 10:51 AM #14
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15th May 2017, 11:27 AM #15Golden Member
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