Tuning RTI Adjustable Regulator Swap..Then Leak..

[lbc_PSI]

Back Story.. Purchased a new RTI Prophet Compact. It shoots lights out. Only issue was a "storage reg creep" of 20 bar. After the 1st shot it shows the actual reg set pressure. It stay that way while shooting. Leave it sit and it very gradually creeps to +20bar above the set point..usually takes overnight. Annoying, but it didn't seem to hurt accuracy..at least after the 1st settling shot. Finally, called to get a replacement reg.

So today I finally had time to do the swap. De-gassed the gun to 0bar on the bottle gauge. Dry fired once to insure empty. Unscrewed the reg/bottle from the gun. Unscrewed bottle from reg. Screwed the new reg into the bottle and reg into the ag frame..gauges wouldn't time perfectly..need to shim. Tightened the de-gas screw. Started to air up and air is escaping through the barrel. Double check all the work. Retry air-up..same thing..leak through the barrel.

Undid everything and put the +20bar creeping reg back on. Reassembled. Made sure the de-gas screw was tight. Same thing..air leaking through the barrel and the tank won't fill.

What did I do wrong? What's the trick to fix? Thx.

 

[Joedirt199]

Try cocking the gun to get the hammer off the valve pin if you have a decent amount of hammer spring tuned in. The hammer may be holding the valve open slightly.

 

[lbc_PSI]

That was it! Thx so much!! Reg adjusted to 120bar. Letting sit overnight to check for creep.

 

[lbc_PSI]

Update..

Argh. Now the regulator has no creep..but..there's an extremely slow leak..around 5 bar per day. The reg pressure stays pinned at the set pressure..but the gun just slowly degasses. It holds air fine with a spare RTI Standard 145bar Fixed reg..so it is somewhere in the adjustable reg.

Not sure where to look for this? I haven't taken it apart yet, but all the external fittings and gauges seem tight. Any suggestions on likely culprits for an o-ring that would cause this condition?

 

[customcutter]

Jungleshooter had a post a day or 2 ago about a leaking regulator on his Prophet. It was leaking around the small hex head bolt on the side of the reg. You might want to check out that post.

 

[Scotty1]

Double and triple check the gauges, maybe new o-rings. I turned my gauge a tiny bit while the gun was degassed, created a slow leak that was very hard to detect. Try bubbles, but as I said, it was hard to tell even will bubbles.

 

[Joedirt199]

An eye dropper with soapy water lets you get it right where you want it without bubbles already in it.

 

[jmohme]

When I fill my Prophet to 300 bar, it will also leak down slowly over several days, but never leaks below 250 bar. Even if I don't get to shoot it for a couple weeks.

I don't worry about it. Shoot it, refill it, and shoot it some more.

 

[nervoustrig]

When I fill my Prophet to 300 bar, it will also leak down slowly over several days, but never leaks below 250 bar.

For what it's worth, that's an indication an O-ring is extruding at high pressure. Once the pressure falls sufficiently, it seals again. Can usually be remedied by stepping up to a 90 durometer O-ring...provided of course you can pinpoint the source.

 

[Mrshosted]

The highest probability is the oring under the gauge. I’d recommend changing them to a #105 x-ring

You can find them at theoringstore.com

 

[jmohme]

For what it's worth, that's an indication an O-ring is extruding at high pressure. Once the pressure falls sufficiently, it seals again. Can usually be remedied by stepping up to a 90 durometer O-ring...provided of course you can pinpoint the source.

I suspected as much, but at the rate it leaks down it does not even qualify as a minor annoyance, so I will just keep shooting it.
If it gets worse, then it will be easier to locate and I will deal with it then.

I shot about 200 rounds through it today. I had been on the road for 3 weeks and when I took it out of the case it was right at 250 bar.
I shot 7 magazines and it didn't fall off the regulator, so I pumped it back up and shot some more. When I finished I put it back to 300 and back in the case. It will be about 5 days before I can shoot again. We will see where the pressure is when I get back home.