Removing, But Not Replacing, a High-Pressure Gauge

[whovous]

I am looking for a short-term fix in my ongoing leak saga. I am not sure how I did it, but I managed to bang up my regulator pretty good, to the point where the leak from the low-pressure gauge was highly audible as well as cold.

I refilled my tank and replaced the low-pressure gauge, but after going away for five days, my tank is very nearly empty and I am pretty sure it is the high-pressure gauge. I will have a replacement in a few days. I am also in mad-scientist mode on a gauge-free regulator. But I need to do something for the next few days and neither of those options are available to me.

What happens if I remove the high-pressure gauge, get the tank refilled, put the manifold back on and turn on the gas:
A) The gas shoots out of the gap where the gauge once was, or,
B) Nothing?

I want the answer to be B, but it is not the sort of thing I want to do a trial and error run on.

 

[z-bob]

If you don't need the gauge, why not replace it with a pipe plug? (I think it's 1/4" NPT threads) I would use brass.

 

[day_trippr]

Is this a trick question?

If you remove the high pressure gauge from your regulator that's gonna be a 1/4" NPT hole - potentially reverse threaded - in the high pressure rail through which your cylinder will quickly reach atmospheric equilibrium if left opened.

It'll be exciting, that's for sure. Be sure to take a video

Cheers!

 

[whovous]

If you don't need the gauge, why not replace it with a pipe plug? (I think it's 1/4" NPT threads) I would use brass.

Because I don't have a pipe plug and I want to use the tank now. In a few days, I can replace the gauge and won't need a plug. In a week or so, I might even have my mad-scientist idea working. But I need to fill my tank and bottle tomorrow for a homebrew competition. Entries are due on Monday.

 

[whovous]

Is this a trick question?

If you remove the high pressure gauge from your regulator that's gonna be a 1/4" NPT hole - potentially reverse threaded - in the high pressure rail through which your cylinder will quickly reach atmospheric equilibrium if left opened.

It'll be exciting, that's for sure. Be sure to take a video

Cheers!

Maybe a stupid question, but not a trick one. I've seen, or I think I've seen, some devices to which attachment of a gauge is optional, not mandatory. Presumably, screwing in the gauge in such a set-up triggers a release valve, or something like it. If the valve is not triggered, then the gas does not come out.

That is what I want to happen if I remove the high-pressure gauge. If that is not what happens, I need to move on to Plan B, though I feel like I am closer to Plan Z overall. Regulators have not been my friend lately. My fault? Doubtless, but still not my friend.

 

[whovous]

Sigh. It turns out that filling the tank tomorrow is not going to be nearly as easy as I thought. Dick's Sporting Goods does nothing larger than a paintball tank.

I happen to have two 20 oz tanks which should be full. I also have a regulator on my Synek that fits the tanks. Can I adapt them to a ball-lock keg? I guess I am going to try.

Can I get a 1/4" NPT left-hand thread plug at Lowe's or some similar place that is open Sundays? Though I fear that will not help me if I cannot fill my canister.

 

[z-bob]

Sigh. It turns out that filling the tank tomorrow is not going to be nearly as easy as I thought. Dick's Sporting Goods does nothing larger than a paintball tank.

I happen to have two 20 oz tanks which should be full. I also have a regulator on my Synek that fits the tanks. Can I adapt them to a ball-lock keg? I guess I am going to try.

Can I get a 1/4" NPT left-hand thread plug at Lowe's or some similar place that is open Sundays? Though I fear that will not help me if I cannot fill my canister.

It's probably not left-handed. If it is LH, you'll probably need to get the plug from a welding supply shop or some other specialty store. If it's RH, you should be able to get one at Lowe's for about a dollar. This is CO2, right? Should be within the pressure rating of a standard brass plug (about 1000 psi.)

 

[whovous]

I have this regulator:
https://www.kegworks.com/high-performance-double-gauge-co2-regulator-polycarbonate-bonnet
A Taprite T742HP.

Looks to me like the high pressure gauge is left handed and the low pressure gauge is right handed. I am certain the latter is true, as I have already replaced same. This probably does not matter as I am not going to be able to refill my 5 lb tank on Sunday. I may be able to use my paintball tanks in a pinch. My LHBS has an adapter. Of course, that only means I can adapt my leaky regulator to a 20oz tank. I need CO2 NOW, so I may wind up taking that risk.

My LHBS might also have a high-pressure gauge, which might mean I can connect my paintball tank to a non-leaky regulator.

 

[day_trippr]

Reverse threads on the high pressure side is pretty common, and is ostensibly to help prevent stupid things from happening...

Cheers!

 

[whovous]

Reverse threads on the high pressure side is pretty common, and is ostensibly to help prevent stupid things from happening...

Cheers!

I feel smarter just knowing this!

 

[Pkrd]

Reverse threads on the high pressure side is pretty common, and is ostensibly to help prevent stupid things from happening...

Cheers!

It's gonna take more than that to get ride of stupid things from my brewery.

 

[z-bob]

Reverse threads on the high pressure side is pretty common, and is ostensibly to help prevent stupid things from happening...

Cheers!

I learned something today.