Low press tank fill problem/question/help. Thanks.

[intenseaty22]

If anyone has a clue as to what is going on here, it'f frustrating me. 

So I'm filling a Compatto from a 4500 psi 75 cu Ft tank. The tank reaches under 3000 psi, and I figure I can still get a few fills out of it, so I fill the gun, but when I try to bleed the line, the valve in the gun doesn't close and basically will not stop "bleeding" until the gun is empty. So the only thing I can do is shoot tethered and then bleed the cylinder dry. Is this normal? Is there something wrong with my gun? Do other PCPs behave this way? 

Thank you...

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

Don't know that rifle, but when bleeding it needs to be done FAST!
The old AA rifle had spring loaded fill valve, discovery's & such don't, AA would snap shut pretty well no matter what, discovery needed much faster bleed.
Had a friend who mailed his rifle back 4 times for this problem and it turned out to be his SLOW release bleeder.
Just a thought.

John

 

[intenseaty22]

Thanks John. That doesn't seem to be the problem as I press that bleed as fast and as hard asI can. It seems to do it when the fill pressure is below 3000 though. I'm thinking that perhaps it has a pressure threshold? 

 

[Willie14228]

You mentioned under 3000 psi the compatto specs says 2900 Max psi are you sure you haven't been over filling it? that may have damaged the valve? Its possible you got a piece of grass or something stuck in the valve assembly, I would say put a drop of air tool oil (Key Word 1 single drop in the valve port and then fill it but I advise you to wait for some more experienced folks to chime in on that idea.

 

[intenseaty22]

My understanding was that it was safe to fill beyond that stated max. Have seen several folk saying the same thing that it was what Brocock had said. So, yeah, I have filled to about 3000, maybe a tad more. 

 

[Willie14228]

I know you posted this on another thread, you might mention this to those guys and see what they have to say, also ask about the oil idea, I believe if you put too much pressure in the tank it can deform the valve seal and cause it to start sticking, I noticed it uses a fill probe, If those guys say it wouldn't hurt anything then I would put that drop of oil in the probe then do a very slow open let the oil seep through the valve, close the air supply open your pressure release close it then do another slow fill. Repeat this three or four times to move the oil and valve back and forth

 

[T3PRanch]

Silicon Oil ONLY or it's likely to go BOOM! Never mix any hydrocarbon oil and high pressure (it's called a diesel engine if you do)

Brocock says on their site that the FAC version can be pressurized to 240 BAR

Snip from Brocock Site: Export/FAC Charge Pressure: 240 bar

Thurmond

 

[intenseaty22]

I will call AoA today, although the last time I called it was to no avail. The problem only occurs below a certain pressure. Maybe 2700, can't say for sure. Thanks for all the input. 

 

[Mousefart]

I don't know the Compatto or much about PCPs for that matter, but I do know a bit about check valves. Sounds like you have a check valve sticking in the gun. If it's anything like other valves ive worked on it should work just fine even at low pressures, never mind the 2700 psi threshold you mention. I hope this helps rather than lead you astray, but that's my 2 cents. 

 

[intenseaty22]

Update: This problem had persisted on and off until now that I finally figured out what was going on & got a resolution. 

So I took my gun to be filled by a different tank system and the gun filled, the line bled flawlessly. As soon as I tried to fill with my Omega 75, the problem persisted. So I called AoA and after initially insisting that it must be the gun, they acknowledged that the problem was with the tank bleed valve. (I have the push kind) 

Will upgrade the bleed valve system. Hope this information can help someone.

 

[aa_limited]

you have a puch valve belled system? you press your bleed valve in with your thumb or fingers or do you have a bleed that unscrews out?

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

Thanks for coming back with the update. Would have been a good long while before I thought of that idea, good catch.

Havent seen the push button bleeder in a couple of years ( just out of the game) but always loved them as nothing else would bleed faster.

Do appreciate the followup.
John

 

[intenseaty22]

"aa_limited"you have a puch valve belled system? you press your bleed valve in with your thumb or fingers or do you have a bleed that unscrews out?

Yeah, you push with your thumb. Just took it off and sent back to AoA for an upgrade. This one gave me problems since the beginning, and it was my first experience with PCPs. 

 

[intenseaty22]

@ Spysir. Not this one. Matter of fact, once open & bleeding (my gun's entire cylinder) it would stay stuck open and would not close when released. 

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

Right, I've just seen the one at FT shoots in TN, just might be a reason for that I realize now.

Gald your up & running, or at least will be soon.
Johjn

 

[intenseaty22]

Long due update: So, after much debate back and forth with AoA, I got an email back saying that my argument was plausible. I sent the valve assembly back to them and for a low fee of $75US I got an upgraded valve system to include a "screw" type bleed valve. I received the system a few weeks ago and used it a couple of times. No more trouble with the gun. Worked flawlessly! Except....what I was sent, leaks. Slow small leak, but a leak just the same. I have contacted AoA and they say it is an O-Ring failure. Waiting to hear back from them. I do not like to complain constantly about stuff, but when you spend your hard earned money on very expensive toys, by God I expect them to work as advertised. 

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

Your getting closer now eh.

Good, bad, indifferent, it is always nice to hear how problems are handled ( tho were I a conspiracy person knowing they've heard of this before more than once, ummm .. naturally one does need to balance there responses with the fact they must deal with some people who really just don't know/explain things well daily, so ...).

Some day now ( just one more seal right ?) we will be looking for a shooting report from you.

John