What not to do with high pressure

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  • John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    To qualify this, I haven't rebuilt a PCP or air pump in probably 5 years. Being an old guy, I forget stuff. :sad20:

    My Crosman air pump has be needing a repack for some time. Since my scuba tank was down to 2000PSI, I decided to use the pump to bring it up to 3000. Well, the Forster fittlng was sticking a little so I sprayed it with Silicone Spray which has not cause any issues in the past. This time, I forgot to wait for the carrier to evaporate before I started pumping.

    I started pumping vigorously as I do until the pump pressure equalizes with the gun pressure. Just about the time that happened, I heard a pop and the pump stroke felt odd.
    I reached down to disconnect the Foster fitting and it was hot. I felt the gun reservoir and it was hot and the pressure gauge was pegged. :eek:

    I quickly starting cocking and shooting until the reservoir was empty. The first shot told me the gauge was lying as the valve wasn't locked. I proceeded to dump the reservoir and the gauge never moved.

    After disassembling the pump, I saw what happened. The silicone spray carrier detonated and the flame path ran through the whole system as well as the gun. :sad20: I just finished cleaning all the black carbon crap out of the pump and didn't see any damage. I am about to start on the Prod and expect the same it it.

    I just wanted to get this out there so folks know that dieseling is not an old wives tale and it can happen to anyone, even those who are supposed to know better. :o
     

    bgoodsoil

    Member
    Aug 24, 2020
    76
    Thanks for the heads up! I didn't know about the carrier. This definitely would've happened to me at some point if you didn't post this.

    I appreciate it!
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I took my Prod apart yesterday and man was it cruddy inside. The reservoir was loaded with black sticky stuff. The valve and barrel also got some from me depressurizing it.

    Be aware, if you need parts, the airgun manufacturers are in the same situation as everyone else due to the Covid 19. Crosman had the o rings I needed but did not have a new Forster valve assembly so I had to get that from an Ebay vendor. Since I have some down time with it, I am going to open up the ports and change some springs to bring up the FPE. I never wanted to take the time before knowing I would have to reset everything but now, thanks to the damn 'Rona, I've got nothing better to do. :rolleyes:
     

    Bikebreath

    R.I.P.
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 30, 2009
    14,836
    in the bowels of Baltimore
    It's unnerving getting old and questioning oneself, but it has to be done. Unless we forget...hahahaha. John, I'm glad it wasn't worse. Be thankful all the tanks held up to the presssure.
     

    tallen702

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 3, 2012
    5,102
    In the boonies of MoCo
    That's why everything in the paintball world uses a non-flammable carrier. Most of our lubes are wipe-on silicone-based and I honestly can't think of anything sprayed on. We regularly run 4500psi HPA tanks and every fill station I've ever used warns against any type of lubricant being used at all.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    This is the first time I have ever seen the effects of detonation due to high temp. When I shot break barrels, the concern was mostly of poor accuracy due to the dieseling effect of the petroleum lubes. In this case, I used a silicone SPRAY which I never usually do but I had run out of silicone oil. IF, I had thought about a flammable carrier, this wouldn't have happened. The amount of lube was minimal and only used on the Forster female fitting.

    It goes without saying, I ordered a new supply of silicone oil. ;)
     

    tallen702

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 3, 2012
    5,102
    In the boonies of MoCo
    We had one instance of some dumbass putting a petroleum based lubricant in the regulator on his 88ci 4500psi HPA tank at the paintball shop where I worked. We visibly saw it and told him he needed to change out his reg because they should be dry, no lube at all. He couldn't understand why even though we told him and refused to fill it until the tank was hydrotested and the reg swapped out. He wouldn't do it and went on his way.

    Fast forward a few months and he brings the tank back in asking us to send it out for hydro. He started taking it to his buddy's machine shop where they had a compressor capable of 4000psi fills since we wouldn't fill it and he said things sounded weird and the tank would get warm when he'd fill it so he wanted to get it checked. Sure enough the hydro-shop sends it back drilled with a 5 page document filled with pictures and descriptions of charring of the inside of the tank and bottom of the reg. Dude had been dieseling the tank with his fills.

    We always filled with a cascade-system of dry nitrogen tanks (6kpsi) which was more expensive, but also safer and shot better.
     

    BigTinBoat

    Active Member
    Jan 12, 2016
    335
    Eastern Baltimore County
    That's why everything in the paintball world uses a non-flammable carrier. Most of our lubes are wipe-on silicone-based and I honestly can't think of anything sprayed on. We regularly run 4500psi HPA tanks and every fill station I've ever used warns against any type of lubricant being used at all.

    I just posted this less then 2 weeks ago......from the paintball world a few years back

    https://www.mdshooters.com/showpost.php?p=6065766&postcount=6
     

    Vic

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2010
    1,454
    Whiteford, MD
    At least you knew what happened. Since you didn't get hurt i think it funny. I could see myself doing same. Wonder if this could cause a severe over pressure condition. Guess your pressure gauge would say yes.
    V
     

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