Hello guys. I have a very slow leak in 2 of my gun. You wont notice it or hear it. But if left overnight it will drop about 10 bar or so. And will keep dropping after each night. I know some people use soapy water and spray it. In my experience with soap and water, over time it create rust on the inside. The outside i can wipe it so it doesn't rust but it's the inside that rust. Example I spray it on the gauge and the soapy water will get inside the air tube and rust the inside. I do not feel comfortable using soap and water on a 2k gun. What leak detector spray do you guys use or recommend that will not create rust over time.
Leak detector spray
- Thread starter 2fast2furious
- Start date
You shouldn't worry about water getting inside a tube through a pressure gauge because:
. Just a bit of soapy water around the gauge to check for a possible leak and wipe it out.
- if there is no leak, then it's airtight and watertight as well.
- If there is a leak, then air will push the water out.
. Just a bit of soapy water around the gauge to check for a possible leak and wipe it out.Upvote 0
I was also recommended to use this one before:
Oatey 8 oz. All-Purpose Leak Detector 302092 - The Home Depot
The Oatey 8 oz. All-Purpose Leak Detector is designed to form large bubbles to indicate even the smallest leaks in many types of piping applications. Detects leaks quickly on all types of tubing, valves,
www.homedepot.com
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Also forgot to tell you if you use a uv flashlight the bubles will glow with the spray easier tobsee the leak
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You shouldn't worry about water getting inside a tube through a pressure gauge because:
I.e. there is no chance of water getting inside really. I think most used soapy water, no problem. Just do not overspray and don't submerge the gun
- if there is no leak, then it's airtight and watertight as well.
- If there is a leak, then air will push the water out.
I do get your point however this may depend on each design. Like the Benjamin design, at least some of the aftermarket regs with spacer for gauge attachment & such. The Benjamin has a metal section inside the tube sealed with an o-ring on each end and free air space all around it, NO threads on tube and gauge threads into the smaller o-ringed section only. Most you can even move a bit side to side leaving a rather large gap for water to fill the air tube to adapter block with water (soap,other) easily. This is perhaps a 2" section of your air tube that must be dissemble completely to clean well.
Likely if the gauge is screwed into the air tube and sealed on the thread (tapper) no water/other could get deeper than the 1st thread or so, no deeper than a good quality oil spray couldn't clean out.
Now on dunking in the tube (NO, at least not for the general newbie population) I recall the 1st tuner on the internet I recall reading this from. He did it in extreme cases so lot's of home folks thought hey great idea and he does it , and it does work. BUT he left out (and many didn't think of) HE (you should too) totally disassemble every single tiny piece to extra clean & lube before a complete rebuild.
John
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Actually water can get inside. For example my Benjamin marauder and pistol uses a gauge port with gauge. The soapy water will get inside the tube where the gauge port is. It won't be able to go into the air tube in other parts, but it get around the gauge port and that will rust. I have taken my marauder and pull the gauge port out. It is all rusted. Inside the air tube where he gauge port sit is also rusted. So yeah depends on your gun water will get inside.You shouldn't worry about water getting inside a tube through a pressure gauge because:
I.e. there is no chance of water getting inside really. I think most used soapy water, no problem. Just do not overspray and don't submerge the gun
- if there is no leak, then it's airtight and watertight as well.
- If there is a leak, then air will push the water out.
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Beware of dishwashing soap. Some of them contains lemon juice or other acidic substance. I found a brown rust line down the barrel inside the shroud once for using this. Did not see it running down the barrel.
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I had a slow leak somewhere on my M3 awhile back. Very slow.......couldn't find it.
Bought the pump spray and found it in about 30 seconds. Fixed it in about two minutes. And very little mess.
Bought the pump spray and found it in about 30 seconds. Fixed it in about two minutes. And very little mess.
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Welding supplies carries leak detector that is what I use, it takes very little for a leak to show up. Any of that stuff is subjected to rust if you don't wipe it off good. You sure you were using clean air on that marauder, that's another possible reason for the rust in that area. I may have missed it but what gun are you having troubles with ?
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Totally agree, all the valid points! I used soapy water a few times to try to find a leak in AEA and I would always clean up quickly and then follow up with a compressed air blower and oil to displace any water remaining. Since then, I moved to a special leak detector and dont' look back, much easier to use and less to worry. While it says that "won't corrode pipes when used as directed", I still follow through the same cleanup and oiling procedure as with soapy water of course. And thank you for the note about the Benjamin airtube design, that's very important for me. I just recently got two Marauders in my arsenal, and I did not have any leaks (fingers crossed), but I'll be extra careful around the air tubes. Cheear!
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There may be carbon steel parts in some airguns but primarily aluminum is used. Especially for the airtube. I have seen descriptions that talk about "steel" bottles on airguns but I am pretty sure this description is in error. Now the common way to describe aluminum is it doesn't rust but in reality is oxidizes more aggressively than carbon steel but the oxide is very adherent (instead of flaking off like iron oxide). Anyway, a little soapy water isn't going to harm at least the vast majority of airgun parts because they are aluminum. Trigger parts are typically steel, hammer may be, barrel should be but you don't need to put soapy water on these parts.
I have a little bottle of soapy water from a big box home improvement store I use. It has a ball shaped applicator attached to the lid. It is sold for detecting leaks in natural gas or propane lines in a house. The ball applicator allows putting the mixture where it is needed and only where it is needed. Still it's a good idea to clean up afterward. The areas you should use the mixture on should be at pressure so the water is not going to go inside. I guess maybe the gauge area of my Prod might be an exception but it's never leaked so I've never put soapy water on it.
I have a little bottle of soapy water from a big box home improvement store I use. It has a ball shaped applicator attached to the lid. It is sold for detecting leaks in natural gas or propane lines in a house. The ball applicator allows putting the mixture where it is needed and only where it is needed. Still it's a good idea to clean up afterward. The areas you should use the mixture on should be at pressure so the water is not going to go inside. I guess maybe the gauge area of my Prod might be an exception but it's never leaked so I've never put soapy water on it.
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