Thread Sealer on Bulkheads?

[benjammin03]

Three of my bulkheads are leaking on the threads of the bulkhead under the nut. I have the gasket on the inside of the tank under the flange and the nut is hand tightened. I also cleaned the glass on the inside of the tank to make sure there was a smooth fit. It's just a small drip but it's frustrating the hell out of me. Should I try some sort of thread sealant on the bulkhead or do I need to use a wrench to tighten it further? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Maverick1]

You could try wrapping the threads with teflon tape. It's either white or pink and is very commonly used in plumbing. Also, I can't remember but you may have the gasket on the wrong side. Hard to imagine without a pic


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Maverick1]

Also, wrenches and glass make me nervous



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[benjammin03]

Yeah me too. They feel tight enough, but I wasn't sure if they should go a little past hand tight. I don't think thread sealant should be necessary if I have a good seal with the gasket but this is my first time using bulkheads so I'm clueless.

 

[Lance A. Lot]

have you checked the rubber gasket? I would use a strap wrench to tighten it otherwise you could damage the bulkhead.

 

[benjammin03]

Yeah I've checked them a few times and they seem good. How much more do you usually tighten them?

 

[Tigé21v]

I usually go not quite a quarter turn past hand tight.
But "hand tight" is subjective. I'm sure my hand tight is not quite what it was thirty years ago.

 

[Tigé21v]

And, iirc, you want the side of the gasket with the ridges against the glass.

 

[Pife]

I put a silicone plumbing lubricant on the gaskets to keep it from wrinkling. I also tighten with with channel locks.

 

[benjammin03]

I just tightened them with some channel locks by 1/4 to 1/2 turn and it appears that the leaking has stopped. Apparently my "hand tight" isn't quite as strong as I thought. Thanks for your help everyone.