Well, I purchased the wrong bottle and regulator combo. I decided to keep the bottle and replace the reg but I am having issues trying to get the old one off. I have done a bit of damage trying to get the old one off (wrenching marks), and can't get any motion. I have tried a strap wrench and pliers wrench. Is there a trick to this? Am I missing something?
Problem removing regulator from air bottle
- Thread starter Thingamabob
- Start date
is it drained? make sure it is empty , Me I would not use pliers , I would remove foster and gage , and put long round punch or dowel and use it for leverge , you should be able to hold bottle as it is bigger , cant be that tight , and also you turning the reg counterclockwise ,
LOU
LOU
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Lou,
Removing the foster and gauge looks like my next step. I have been trying NOT to do damage and hopefully it won't tear up the threads on the openings. I do have it drained and double checked twice. I am turning counter-clockwise, but from all the struggle I started doubting the thread direction which is why I hopped on the boards.
Removing the foster and gauge looks like my next step. I have been trying NOT to do damage and hopefully it won't tear up the threads on the openings. I do have it drained and double checked twice. I am turning counter-clockwise, but from all the struggle I started doubting the thread direction which is why I hopped on the boards.
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Make sure it's COMPLETELY empty. Don't rely on just the gauge. Even 100 psi will be enough to lock the valve in place. And if it comes lose it will turn into a projectile. In other words, please be safe.
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Thanks for the concern Mike. I have checked the valve manually with a screwdriver, depressing a full half inch. The direct-read pressure gauge is also now removed, so if there was any air pressure it is definitely drained.
The openings for the gauge and foster aren't very deep, but I have a 12" handled flat head screwdriver in there and yanking hard but no motion. I am beginning to think this has been JB welded or something.
*sigh* I think this is a sign.
The openings for the gauge and foster aren't very deep, but I have a 12" handled flat head screwdriver in there and yanking hard but no motion. I am beginning to think this has been JB welded or something.
*sigh* I think this is a sign.
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They may have used locktite . If so you will need to use a heat gun and a laser thermometer .
Heat to 320*F and loosen while still hot .
Heat to 320*F and loosen while still hot .
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Unfortunately I am throwing it out.
I put the regulator in a small vise and used a strap wrench on the bottle, but the regulator bent and shredded in the vise clamp and the carbon fiber bottle laminate cracked multiple times. I didn't get the regulator off but even if I got the regulator off now, I wouldn't trust the bottle at 3,000 psi and definitely not at 4,500 I got it for.
It's OK though, I kind of expected this and it is/was my last "hurrah" for attempting this hobby.
I put the regulator in a small vise and used a strap wrench on the bottle, but the regulator bent and shredded in the vise clamp and the carbon fiber bottle laminate cracked multiple times. I didn't get the regulator off but even if I got the regulator off now, I wouldn't trust the bottle at 3,000 psi and definitely not at 4,500 I got it for.
It's OK though, I kind of expected this and it is/was my last "hurrah" for attempting this hobby.
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There are regulator removal tools around some are aluminum others are printed plastic. Most of the time they werq great. If someone decided to locktight the reg then they may not werq so well unless the tank is heated as described in a prior post above. If you google tank regulator removal there are several ways of doing it without the special tool.
I have a tank with a reg installed with locktight on it that is half way off. It has been waiting for a couple of months for me to finish but I fear I may destroy it if I try again which I will do some day anyway. Sorry about yours but things do happen. These tanks do not need locktight the pressure alone will hold them together.
https://www.amazon.com/Custom-Products-Tank-Regulator-Tool/dp/B01D0KS1W0
I have a tank with a reg installed with locktight on it that is half way off. It has been waiting for a couple of months for me to finish but I fear I may destroy it if I try again which I will do some day anyway. Sorry about yours but things do happen. These tanks do not need locktight the pressure alone will hold them together.
https://www.amazon.com/Custom-Products-Tank-Regulator-Tool/dp/B01D0KS1W0
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Unfortunately whatever was used was strong enough to have the bottle break before the seal, but if I was planning on continuing with PCP big bore then that would be a great tool to pick up.
That is currently part of my problem I am recognizing; I made some assumptions, got some bad advice, misunderstood some info and I don't have all the tools, time, and money for a PCP big bore gun hobby.
Thanks for the reply though, if I ever get some serious money I may come back to check this out.
That is currently part of my problem I am recognizing; I made some assumptions, got some bad advice, misunderstood some info and I don't have all the tools, time, and money for a PCP big bore gun hobby.
Thanks for the reply though, if I ever get some serious money I may come back to check this out.
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It only as expensive as you allow the addiction to make it for you. A cheap Chinese hand pump and an inexpensive gun is all that you need to go PCP.
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yes I agree fully , this hobby can cost an extreme amount of money , If things are tight a small bore pump or springer is way to go ,
I started with a 400 pcp and a 100 scope , move forward a decade , I have many pcp guns some 2k each , as far as scopes , I spend more on my scopes then my guns
I started with a 400 pcp and a 100 scope , move forward a decade , I have many pcp guns some 2k each , as far as scopes , I spend more on my scopes then my guns
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As an after thought ; it may have been corroded by fastening steel to aluminum without using anti seize .
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I thought about that. The part of the reg I accidentally scraped the paint from was brass, but I am not sure about the mating surfaces. Funny enough, I went to my local dive shop and he told me I should have brought it to him instead since he has a few reg removal tools. It's a learning experience if I ever pick up the hobby again.
@biohazardman and @jwrabbit123:
Yeah, I was trying to keep it low. Just a rifle, carry case, tank, some ammo to keep it under $500. Would fill at the local dive shop I knew that could fill to 4.5k+.
- Was looking for something with more power, heard good-ish things about the Hatsan Hercules Bully .35 and bought that (blew past my budget on that alone).
- Spent a few days researching and found a tank and reg listed for 4.5k psi max, 3k+ output with a fill station.
- When tank and reg arrived found out the pictured fill station didn't come with the tank so bought that.
- After struggling for months off and on trying different things, thinking there was a problem with the gun, found out about misinformation on the tank and reg listing. It was paintball only and couldn't be modified enough for reliable 3k+ pressure output so I bought a cheap Chinese reg.
And that leads to this thread. Overall a journey to no where. Fired 18 rounds on the initial tank (since it shipped full) and that's as far as this is going to go.
Anyways, this is all going WAY off topic from this sub. Thank you all for your time and trying to help. If nothing else I can say airgunnation has some decent folks to talk to if I or anyone needs help and advice.
I am going to try to find a place to sell the rifle and move on for now.
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