n00b 0f l337?

[Movieman]

200psi held for ~18 hours. I'm going to pull the CO2 out of the system, vac down, and dump 90psi of r22 into the 1st stage. Going to leave a ball-valve on the suction valve so I can quickly gauge up to the 1st stage and move on to the 2nd stage. Adam mentioned it might have just been a sticky valve on the 1st stage, looks like that may have been the case. Hope all this thing needs is a tune

Go Chris Go!

[[XC] gomeler]

There is a pinhole leak somewhere in the 1st stage. It doesn't lose any discernible amount of gas but it slowly loses vacuum. Had it vacuuming for 2 hours, closed the valves and shut off the pump and it slowly started to pressurize, not good. Tearing all the insulation apart now.

[CyberDruid]

Who's excited? I'm excited. Glad to see this coming around.

[NaeKuh]

i have also gotten back all my stuff!

thanks Nol.

[[XC] gomeler]

Found some oil inside the HX insulation near the bottom, looks like that is where the leak is. Problem is nothing is bubbling up with a toothbrush and soap. It looks like it'll fit in my bathtub so I'm going to dunk the unit after I remove the fan shroud/fan motor and try to pinpoint this leak. There are only 3 joints I suspect but they all look solid *grumble*

[loonym]

Good things happen to good people,Gomeler you may not get re-paid next week or month,but someday down the road you defentily will. Probably by a complety unrelated factor.

I'm a beliver of what goes around ,comes around.....Do good deeds and Good things happen.......You'll do well in Life Gomeler.

Walt

It's unfortunate about Adam's troubles but I can't agree more with this evaluation of Chris being one of the good guys.

Who's excited? I'm excited. Glad to see this coming around.

Add me to that excited list.

i have also gotten back all my stuff!

thanks Nol.

This pleases me, wtg nol!

Found some oil inside the HX insulation near the bottom, looks like that is where the leak is. Problem is nothing is bubbling up with a toothbrush and soap. It looks like it'll fit in my bathtub so I'm going to dunk the unit after I remove the fan shroud/fan motor and try to pinpoint this leak. There are only 3 joints I suspect but they all look solid *grumble*

When he first mentioned this leak way back, I knew it was gonna be one of those tough to track ones. I guess they never got to the point of rebrazing joints. Thanks once again Gomeler

[Ozzfest05]

cant wait to see the progress on this buil

[runmc]

My hats off to ya Chris. Your taking on a big job!! Hope you didn't bite off more than you want to chew.

[Buckeye]

Chris I told you at GOOC about how I feel with reguards to helpping as many people out as you have, and are doing now.

But... Thanks again, You Rock !

[[XC] gomeler]

Dude... no way. So yesterday afternoon I dunked the cascade into big tub of water and let it sit after knocking off all the bubbles from the piping. I went out to dinner, came back, and saw nothing. Too tired to remove the cascade, I went to bed. I woke up, started my day, looked at the cascade and it looked all normal. 20 minutes ago I heard a bubbling noise. Whatever the leak was, it took 24 hours under water for it to show but now it is bubbling away like a gaping hole. Looks like the hole is where the suction exits from the HX with the 1/2" copper to steel connection. Draining the tub and working on fixing this now. Glad I found the leak this way, the next step was to tear it apart and test the hx and condenser separately.

[runmc]

Dude... no way. So yesterday afternoon I dunked the cascade into big tub of water and let it sit after knocking off all the bubbles from the piping. I went out to dinner, came back, and saw nothing. Too tired to remove the cascade, I went to bed. I woke up, started my day, looked at the cascade and it looked all normal. 20 minutes ago I heard a bubbling noise. Whatever the leak was, it took 24 hours under water for it to show but now it is bubbling away like a gaping hole. Looks like the hole is where the suction exits from the HX with the 1/2" copper to steel connection. Draining the tub and working on fixing this now. Glad I found the leak this way, the next step was to tear it apart and test the hx and condenser separately.

Man I wish you would have takin some pictures of that.

[[XC] gomeler]

Man I wish you would have takin some pictures of that.

I did, waiting to upload to XS. Now that I have the thing out of the water I don't know how I missed this hole. I guess maybe there were some oxides from brazing sealing the hole? It is a 3mm gap where no braze sealed.

[bazx]

that made me laugh

way to get to the hart of the problem fast

i want to see the images of this

[wdrzal]

Man I wish you would have takin some pictures of that.

I don't know why I laughed harder,a 3mm gap or a cascade in a bath Tub leak tested.

Buy a inspection mirror,it's a must to be sure the braze flowed completly around the joint. Especially in tight spots or where you have to be carful with the flame heat. After every braze ,out comes the mirror & mini mag light.

Even pin holes are easy to see if you look.

[[XC] gomeler]

Sent Ron the photos, he's going to upload/host until XS gets it's act straight. It was the strangest leak though, I swear I looked over every braze all the way around and never saw this gap, pretty certain whoever did the brazing did the same thing and just saw a ring of filler metal and oxidized metal. I suspect the water dissolved the oxides enough that the internal pressure blew out the plug. It sure made a nice bubbling racket when it burst. Tomorrow morning I'll braze everything up, I think it'll have dried out sufficiently and start vacuum testing it again. I'll make sure to take a macro shot of the gap tomorrow.

[Movieman]

Cheerleading section rolls in...
..

[[XC] gomeler]

Here's the pictures I've snapped so far. I didn't take many as well.. it is just a repair















And yes, I forgot to put a cap on the suction valve on the 1st stage when dunking it but it should be fine *doh* Compressor oxidized a little, so a little sandpaper and spray paint are in need.

[Gautam]

You own Chris.

[teyber]

nice find there

[phelan1777]

Cheerleading section rolls in...
..

<images of MM with pompoms and trying to do a cartwheel!>

[loonym]

<images of MM with pompoms and trying to do a cartwheel!>

Why not, since he's already wearing the pink tutu

You nailed that fast Chris, great second effort with the tank. Really quite remarkable that it held pressure as well as it did throughout all the testing and troubleshooting that's gone on previously.

[[XC] gomeler]

First stage fixed, I think. it is still a little warm from the brazing so waiting for it to drop down to ambient before bubble testing again. Gave it a little extra silver as it looked like two parts of this joint weren't sealed. Will have pictures uploaded later tonight after I leaktest to make sure everything is fine.

edit: Hooked up the vacuum pump and it is still losing vacuum although at a fraction of the speed it was prior. Might have to chop it up still and leak test each component.

[teyber]

I have leak tested a unit for 2+ weeks at 310psig and it still rose while in a vacuum. WHere is your vacuum gauge? it could be the different levels of vacuum within a system equilizing

[[XC] gomeler]

I have leak tested a unit for 2+ weeks at 310psig and it still rose while in a vacuum. WHere is your vacuum gauge? it could be the different levels of vacuum within a system equilizing

*doh* Thanks Teyber, you just joggled my mind. Perhaps the decrease in vacuum I'm seeing is refrigerant in the oil coming out? Unlike most builds when the oil is fresh and clean, this oil is laden with refrigerant. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Guess I'll pressurize the system and see if I lose any gas.

[teyber]

*doh* Thanks Teyber, you just joggled my mind. Perhaps the decrease in vacuum I'm seeing is refrigerant in the oil coming out? Unlike most builds when the oil is fresh and clean, this oil is laden with refrigerant. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Guess I'll pressurize the system and see if I lose any gas.

idk, im more thinking out loud but if your vacuum guage is somewhat close to the vacuum pump, the vacuum is going to be a LOT more sever near the vacuum gauge then in the farthest point in a system isn't it? and like you said, won't bits of water be coming out of the oil when its in that big of a vacuum?