Thanks! Superb service.....but...oh no....

[ErikS]

Here's the kind of service you get from PA -

1. Bought a Ca Reactor, leaked, arranged to make the exchange @ MACNA.

2. MY plans change & I can't pick the reactor up on the last day

3. PA let's me do the swap on Sat in the middle of the day (at my convience)

........and.........

This is after me bothering them 3 times during the morning - just to get advice & straigthen out the details.

You can't get better customer support!

Of course, knowing my luck, I can't get the new one's lid to seal properly. I e-mailed Geo directly but thought I'd ask here since I'm sure you folks have a bunch of experience with the unit -

I've tried everything I can think of to no avail. I've re-greased the o-ring, cleaned out the channel, cleaned the surface of the , and been as careful as possible tightening down the top. I can get it sealed to the point where I get a very tiny leak, 4-5 ounces in an eight hour period.

I've tried to tighten down the nuts are as far as possible, even to the point where they "pop" (where they slip on the threads). I can see what appears to be a good seal on the o-ring (seems to be making a good seal on the lid) - still a leak.

Anything I should try?

 

[eclecticvibe]

It sounds like you've tried all of the normal tricks. Try putting the lid of the Ca reactor on something that you know to be flat. If for some reason the lid has warped a little, that might be causing the leak. It would be unusual, but manufacturing defects do happen. Let us know what you find out and we'll do our best to help out.

 

[ErikS]

Thanks Jay, hadn't thought of that one - lol (I assumed that acrylic would be flat).

I did get an answer from Geo - he's sending a new o-ring & fastners.

Very weird (to me anyway) is that you can see an even pressure seal (looks like it anyway) through the top. It's got to be a very small issue.

I also intend to look at the top/o-ring/groove with a magifying glass & see if I can see anything. I would think that a "wipe" of silicone would fill in any imperfections.

you find out and we'll do our best to help out.

Of that I have no doubt, you folks always go the extra mile!

 

[Jeremy B.]

Take a look at the groove cut inside the reactor. See if there are any high spots or low spots in the bottom of that groove that the o-ring sets in. I have a feeling that this is the problem. Let me know.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[row12]

ive noticed that the lids dont have to be so tight...actually when they are too tight mine leaks but when they are hand tighten lightly they dont leak...i think you should make sure that each screw is tighten the same, otherwise if one screw is too tight and the other is not as tight then you will get a leak...HTH....

 

[ErikS]

Thanks for the input, I did a real careful examination last night.

- Found no problem with the o-ring (stretched it looking for cracks, etc.)

- Checked both the lid & the top w/ a machinist's square. Both pretty close to perfect.

- Checked the groove for tool marks, found none....but...it does have a 2nd channel just outside the main one. Looks like the groove was cut with two bits? This shouldn't matter, the 2nd "groove" is on the dry side anyway (& we're talking micrometers here).

- Checked the lid for too marks, scratches etc. Found none, the lid is smooth an the surface looks perfect (under 2x anyway)

ive noticed that the lids dont have to be so tight...actually when they are too tight mine leaks but when they are hand tighten lightly they dont leak

Lol - that's what I thought last night - over tighten & compress the gasket too much = leak. I didn't get a chance to test the theory but I'll give that one a shot tonight. I did tighten them in a pattern (pretty anal about such stuff) but I might have compressed the gasket too far.

Again, thanks folks.