98c has small leak

[gnarlynick]

I have an early 2000's Tippmann 98 Custom which is having a small air leak where the air source enters the valve. This is the valve where the air source screws into the bottom of the valve, not the pressure fit one in later 98c models. I have a vertical adapter threaded into the valve from the front grip.

I've tried adding thread seal tape and still get a slight air leak in that area once the marker is gassed up. Is there a better method to seal those threads that's apparently not occuring to me?

[Trbo323]

The guys here have about 100 different methods of sealing threads. My go to is Teflon tape. 4 or 5 wraps and on the 98c you have to screw it in pretty tight

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[gnarlynick]

Ya, I've got PTFE tape rated for gas and water lines. It's about twice as wide as the male threads from the vertical adapter so I've tried both folding it in half and wrapping around 3-4 times as well as cutting the width in half and wrapping it 4-6 times around with similar results. I screw the adapter into the valve as far as it will go, looks like it hits the backside of the plug at the barrel-end of the valve and can't screw in any further.

Curious if I should be using blue or red loctite or something.

[Trbo323]

Ya, I've got PTFE tape rated for gas and water lines. It's about twice as wide as the male threads from the vertical adapter so I've tried both folding it in half and wrapping around 3-4 times as well as cutting the width in half and wrapping it 4-6 times around with similar results. I screw the adapter into the valve as far as it will go, looks like it hits the backside of the plug at the barrel-end of the valve and can't screw in any further.

Curious if I should be using blue or red loctite or something.

Honestly I'd look at the swivel fitting next. I've had a 98 that I thought it was leaking at the threads and was doing everything you are doing and then finally sorted out it was leaking at the swivel fitting and not the threads

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[gnarlynick]

Honestly I'd look at the swivel fitting next. I've had a 98 that I thought it was leaking at the threads and was doing everything you are doing and then finally sorted out it was leaking at the swivel fitting and not the threads

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What is the swivel fitting?

[gnarlynick]

Oh are you referring to the fitting for the response trigger?

[markdem]

I agree with trbo. Sounds like the air line may have a leak. But if your reaaalllyy wanna try a different method of sealing, you can try loctite 545. I believe this is what tippmann used from factory

[Trbo323]

No the factory air lines that go into the valve, just under where you place the wrench the line can swivel. It's actually really hard to get out to swivel but it can so it's a good idea to check that spot because if it leaks it's really easy to think it's the threads into the valve that it's coming from

Mix up some soapy water, go fairly heavy on the dish soap and basically spray everything, that should help you pinpoint where it's coming from

One thing to do that you may not be aware of, on the 98 you can just remove the whole valve body from the marker, take the aluminum valve core out of the power tube and reconnect it to the air line and then pressure it up to find any leaks. A leak on a 98 has to be coming from the air line or the valve core, nothing else can cause a leak it's just a matter of which connection or o ring (assuming it's a connection or o ring and not something wild like a pin hole in the air line itself)

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[Buff_phroggie]

Make sure it is where the thread goes into the valve and not the adapter. There is a chance the vertical adapther is leaking

[gnarlynick]

Make sure it is where the thread goes into the valve and not the adapter. There is a chance the vertical adapther is leaking

It's a BT 3 piece adapter. I've checked all the o-rings and they look good. Problem is I can't gas the marker up with the receiver halves split because the vertical adapter needs the receivers to hold it all in place once pressurized. I put my ear up to the marker when gassed and I hear the faintest on whines coming from the bottom of the valve, although to your point, I can't be truly sure it's not coming from the vertical adapter. I do have the original gas line that I can put back instead of the vertical adapter to see if that changes things.

[gnarlynick]

I'll have to see how I can confirm whether it's the o-rings on the vertical adapter or the threaded part of the valve. Because the vertical adapter is in three press-fit pieces, I can't pressurize it until both receivers are fastened together to hold everything in place. At that point, the air leak sounds like it's coming from the bottom of the valve but I can't be 100% certain I'm not just hearing a leak from the adapter connections. The o-rings themselves pass visual inspection

[FlightMedic938]

Replace the O rings on the transfer tube and teflon the threads of your macroline while you have everything apart.

[Buff_phroggie]

O rings are cheap, when in doubt swap and lube. I 100% know the problem and can't think of a safe way to check it. Emphasis on a safe way. Some wood clamps might hold, or might propell pices at your face with 800psi of force.

[Trbo323]

Replace the rings. You can't tell if they are good enough by eye
Replace and oil

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