Tiny leak around bulkhead

meverha1

New member
Like the title says, I have a very small leak around my bulkhead. It seems like it may be coming down the threads of the bulkhead. The nut is screwed in as tight as it will go.

When I say small, I mean a drop maybe every hour. Just enough to make the threads feel wet when you touch them.

Unfortunately I didn't notice the issue during my leak test and actually didn't notice until after I had filled it with about 50 gallons of saltwater. Any suggestions for a quick fix? Epoxy? Silicone?
 
The seal on the inside between the glass and the bulkhead/gasket is probably compromised if you're seeing water around the outer threads of the bulkhead that the nut goes around. (Bulkhead could have a small crack, gasket could have a blemish causing a bad seal, etc.) If it were me, I would pull it and try to see what's causing it and possibly replace that bulkhead. You mentioned the nut was as tight as it would go. Unless it a beefy schedule 80 bulkhead, you definitely want to be careful not to over tighten which can damage them. Get them hand tight and then with a pair of pliers go about another 1/3-1/2 turn. Anyway, just my $.02.
 
You may have over tightened the nut. I would loosen the nut, retighten it hand tight and then turn the nut an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn. You may have damaged the gasket by over tightening it, so if it still leaks you will need to replace the gasket.
 
You may have over tightened the nut. I would loosen the nut, retighten it hand tight and then turn the nut an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn. You may have damaged the gasket by over tightening it, so if it still leaks you will need to replace the gasket.

Just did that (loosen and retighten). We'll see what happens...
 
I had this happen once and come to find out I put the seal of the bulkhead on the bottom of the glass and not the top of the glass. :hmm5:
 
I had about the same size leak on mine. I get some salt creep on the glass here and there. I'll get around to replacing it one of these years.
 
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