Hi all i would like to know if you have glued all the bulkheads into place and some how i tighten the lock nut enough.. it still leaking.. i used the old bulkhead and o-ring that i originally setup about 2 years ago.. one side it was all fine but the other side of the drain side i'm having problem with leaking underneath the bulkhead.. since i have glued it all in and not sure if i can replace those o-ring unless i cut the bulkhead out.. what is the best way to stop the leak and yes i have lube the All the o-rings before installing any in place..
Bulkhead O-Ring
- Thread starter soupa2
- Start date
If you tighten the bulk head to tight you can actually hurt the o ring seal.
What I always do is clean the o ring of and gunk and silicone it before I install with new or old bulkheads
What I always do is clean the o ring of and gunk and silicone it before I install with new or old bulkheads
NEVER reuse o-rings... just a bad idea in general because they get deformed over time and don't magically return to original condition when you take them out...
You would also never glue your bulkheads, other than gluing a pipe into them if they are "slip"....... So not sure about your question, you can't just cut the PVC going to them and unscrew them and pop them out?
You should be able to use no lube at all and have a perfect seal as long as the glass is clean... But you can add some lube if it makes you feel better... issue with lube is the bulkhead will often spin and not let you tighten the nut...
I second not over-tightening them, as you will damage the o-ring and you will have leaks. Hand tighten and then maybe a little more with a wrench if feel like its still loose... but the wrench is only to apply a small amount of torque if you can't get a good grip on it with your hand. Just remember hand tighten when using the wrench
You would also never glue your bulkheads, other than gluing a pipe into them if they are "slip"....... So not sure about your question, you can't just cut the PVC going to them and unscrew them and pop them out?
You should be able to use no lube at all and have a perfect seal as long as the glass is clean... But you can add some lube if it makes you feel better... issue with lube is the bulkhead will often spin and not let you tighten the nut...
I second not over-tightening them, as you will damage the o-ring and you will have leaks. Hand tighten and then maybe a little more with a wrench if feel like its still loose... but the wrench is only to apply a small amount of torque if you can't get a good grip on it with your hand. Just remember hand tighten when using the wrench
NEVER reuse o-rings... just a bad idea in general because they get deformed over time and don't magically return to original condition when you take them out...
You would also never glue your bulkheads, other than gluing a pipe into them if they are "slip"....... So not sure about your question, you can't just cut the PVC going to them and unscrew them and pop them out?
You should be able to use no lube at all and have a perfect seal as long as the glass is clean... But you can add some lube if it makes you feel better... issue with lube is the bulkhead will often spin and not let you tighten the nut...
I second not over-tightening them, as you will damage the o-ring and you will have leaks. Hand tighten and then maybe a little more with a wrench if feel like its still loose... but the wrench is only to apply a small amount of torque if you can't get a good grip on it with your hand. Just remember hand tighten when using the wrench
I agree. Should seal without any added products.
I generally hand tighten. Then I use a flat head screwdriver and hammer to get another 1/26-1/8 turn roughly. Dont go crazy cause you dont want to crack the acrylic or glass by tightening too much.
When I tried to just go hand tight it would leak.
WOuld you re-use the gaskets when you rebuild the motor on your car? I hope not. Do the same for your tank.
You don't "need" silicone I just do it that's all. If it is leaking and you can't get it to stop or reuse a o-ring silicone it and you won't have a problem. I just do it so I don't have to check I know it has sealed
Good rule of thumb I use is one wrench flat past hand tight. And how can you compare a bulk head o-ring to a motor gasket? Not even a close comparison if all you have is an old o-ring and you need it to work now use silicone... some people can't just run out and buy it down the street use what you have on hand. Have you never heard of right stuff silicone gangster?
Bulkheads don't leak. If they do, the glass isn't clean, the bulkhead isn't installed correctly, the bur was not removed from the threads. The O-Ring shouldn't be re-used because over time, compression makes it kinda press to the glass/acrylic and seal better over time. If it has to be scraped off the glass/acrylic when it's removed, it should be replaced.
As other posters keep mentioning and I previously mentioned... don't reuse o-rings. It's really that simple and as long as it's a new o-ring that is free from defects and the glass is clean + the underside of the bulkhead (side touching the o-ring on the inside of your glass ) is also flat and free of defects.... you should have no leaks.
I'm leaning towards bad o-ring, dirty glass, or not tight enough (be careful and don't crack your glass) in that order.
O-rings are cheap, anyone telling you its a better idea to reuse vs. getting a new one for $0.25 is setting you up for failure.
Me, I don't even reuse bulkheads, let alone o-rings.... but if you want to be thrifty, at least get new o-rings
Pool Silicon grease can be sparingly used, but not actual silicon caulk. But with grease your bulkheads may slip or move on you.
Are your holes in your tank too large for your bulkhead size?
I'm leaning towards bad o-ring, dirty glass, or not tight enough (be careful and don't crack your glass) in that order.
O-rings are cheap, anyone telling you its a better idea to reuse vs. getting a new one for $0.25 is setting you up for failure.
Me, I don't even reuse bulkheads, let alone o-rings.... but if you want to be thrifty, at least get new o-rings
Pool Silicon grease can be sparingly used, but not actual silicon caulk. But with grease your bulkheads may slip or move on you.
Are your holes in your tank too large for your bulkhead size?
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Basically, elastic and flat rubber smashed in between two flat surfaces, the glass and the underside of your bulkhead should be water-tight under a fairly decent amount of pressure, let alone a couple feet of water.... You have something in-between that rubber and one of those 2 surfaces that is creating a pathway for the water... maybe its the rubber itself, the bulkhead has a defect, or a particle on your glass....
I know it sucks, but sometimes you just need to start over with a new bulkhead and o-ring and just spend more time prepping the glass and your parts before install. Since it sounds like you used actual silicon, you may have dislodged some of it after it dried when trying to tighten it further and now have something wedged in there, in-between your glass/bulkhead and the o-ring
It sucks, but it sounds like you will need to get the old one out and start over in terms of surface prep and go with new a new bulkhead+o-ring
Acetone is your friend for the glass, just rinse well after it drys, before installing it.
I know it sucks, but sometimes you just need to start over with a new bulkhead and o-ring and just spend more time prepping the glass and your parts before install. Since it sounds like you used actual silicon, you may have dislodged some of it after it dried when trying to tighten it further and now have something wedged in there, in-between your glass/bulkhead and the o-ring
It sucks, but it sounds like you will need to get the old one out and start over in terms of surface prep and go with new a new bulkhead+o-ring
Acetone is your friend for the glass, just rinse well after it drys, before installing it.