Screw loose? M1A1 Tank problem

[FriedLiverAtack]

I recently bought an M1A1 with a 1.5" tube and a spare 1" tube. I used it for several days with the 1" tube with no issues. And then I assembled it with the 1.5" tube and started having problems.

The carto floods and then leaks. First I tried different cartos and then I disassembled and put back together. Now that I sure it is together correctly and have a bunch of flooded cartos I came on here and searched for such a problem. Basically the thread that I found concluded that this can happen if the tank is not airtight. Since I knew the endcap seals were good I turned my attention to the only other possible thing and that is the screw in the side of the tank. Lo and behold when I replaced the screw with the one from the other tube the flooding and leaking stopped.

I'm starting to not like the idea of a screw in the side of the tank. By looking I cannot tell the difference between the two screws. Either there is something wrong with one of the screws or I am doing something wrong. Not sure if I should be screwing the screw all the way tight (where it pushes the carto off-center) or to just turn it until it makes contact. But it doesn't seem to matter either way, the "good" screw doesn't give me problems regardless, and no matter what I do with the "bad" screw, the problem remains.

Anyone out there have this problem, or have any bright ideas? I have a feeling I'm just going to be asking for a replacement screw, but there might be something I am missing.

 

[FriedLiverAtack]

Maybe it isn't the screw, it happened again with the other one. Perhaps it is the the hole in the tube, but I'm tired of screwing with it and losing juice. I put the same carto in a Smoktech tank and do not have any issues. I do notice there is a very slight fracture pattern in the tube radiating away from the hole in both M1A1 tubes and the pattern is more apparent with the one I am having trouble with. I've carefully looked at the endcaps and the o-rings appear to be ok and in place. Since I don't see anyone else with these issues, I'm really wondering what is happening.

 

[Bovinia]

I'm going to let Mike address this problem Fried...I just wanted you to know that your post isn't being ignored.

 

[BuzzKill]

You have a screw loose !! LOL J/K !!!

sounds like one screw is bad to me ! it is a 8-32 size and is very common, I have tons of them just email me for a replacement or get one locally to replace the bad one , they are plastic so they vary .

 

[markfm]

You don't need/want to tighten the screw super tight, to the point where it is forcing the carto off center.

 

[kempo63]

I think any old screw would work. I was thinking that the plastic screw might seem to seal better (plastic on plastic) but after I tried a S.S. one I had at work, I'm not so sure. This one fits looser than the plastic one, but I haven't had any problems at all using it.

I think you're right about the tank needing to be airtight (actually, a vacuum) to keep the carto from flooding. When I remove the screw from the tank with juice still in it, I notice gurgling as the air enters the tank.

 

[markfm]

Advantage of buzz' plastic screw is that they are softer than the tank so shouldn't strip the tank threads.
(i asked about this when he was developing it)

 

[FriedLiverAtack]

The problem is not the screw, it is the hole in the tube. I thought for a moment that it was working with the second screw but soon after I find that it floods/leaks just as much as before. I switched back to the other tube I have (1") and I do not have problems with either screw. Both tubes have fractures radiating away from the hole, but it is much worse on the one with which I am having a problem, see picture.

I am confident that this is not a design problem, just perhaps a QC one. I think I want to have both the 1" and the 1.5" tanks running, so perhaps I can return this tube and get a discount on another complete tank.

 

[markfm]

Any chance you have a tank unfriendly liquid? Were you using the same liquid in the tank body that is okay?

From what I've heard, m1a1 is made with a good material, but plastics can be a pain.

 

[FriedLiverAtack]

Any chance you have a tank unfriendly liquid? Were you using the same liquid in the tank body that is okay?

From what I've heard, m1a1 is made with a good material, but plastics can be a pain.

No this is a new tube, this happened from the moment that I started using it. If there is any juice that can do that I sure don't want to be vaping it. LOL. I'm not fond of any of those anti-plastic flavors anyway, such as sour or cinnamon. Although I must say that the Smoktech tank I've had the longest has become hazed over time, but not cracking or anything.

 

[markfm]

Cool, just trying to go over the possibles

 

[FAAmecanic]

I actually have stopped using the screw to fill thru... it seems to just make a mess as the tank pressurizes during filling and starts spitting juice out. So now I just pop the carto out the bottom and fill....

So how do you all fill thru the hole and not make a mess.

 

[kempo63]

I actually have stopped using the screw to fill thru... it seems to just make a mess as the tank pressurizes during filling and starts spitting juice out. So now I just pop the carto out the bottom and fill....

So how do you all fill thru the hole and not make a mess.

Just using an 18 gauge needle and allowing the air to escape through the screw hole while pumpin' in the juice.

 

[BuzzKill]

I use the syringe we sell and only insert it 1/2 the way in , also burp it a bit but I get no leaking , I also do me LAZY mans way and pull the screw out and just stick my bottle of juice into my drip tip and squeeze the juice in QUICK FILL.

 

[908Tracy]

I always fill through the fill port with the syringe Mike sells with the rebulid kit. Easy peasy! (but I've never had a leaking issue of any kind.)

 

[arkador]

I am filling with a 22guage needle. It is probably too small to work as effectively, it takes over a minute for the suction insite the syrenge to fill, but is definetely small enough to fill through the screw hole. Plus, they are $.25 for needle and syrenge at the Walgreen Pharmacy. I assume they are intended for diabetic injections.

I could always take the needle off and fill the srenge, then put the needle back on to fill the tank. to me, sliding the tank up to fill through the top seems too mych of a pain in the ..., that is why I bought a tank with a fill hole in the first place.

 

[FriedLiverAtack]

I find that this tip for a bottle is the easiest way to fill tanks regardless if you are trying to fill from the top or through the hole.

Needle Drip Tip

Oh and I returned the tank tube for replacement. It is apparently just a faulty part, and also apparently a rare problem since there isn't anyone else complaining about it.

 

[FranC]

Are you sure the tank isn't cracked and leaking there?

 

[Ma'am]

I had the same problem with my tank. It started flooding and from examination, I saw the same little spider web cracks around the screw hole. I think those come from removing and tightening the screw, not a juice problem because it's just right there.

It was an easy fix though. I took one of the tiny little orings off one of my old drip tips. Pushed it up against the screw head and used it as a washer, sealed it right up and problem solved. Been using it this way for a couple of months now and still working great.

 

[Bovinia]

Ma'am what a great idea using that little o-ring!

Glad you are getting a replacement Fried. I already had some 18gauge needles so that's what I use, just squirt it in slow and let the air escape thru the screw hole as I fill. Only time I seem to get any leakage is if I top off a tank when it's still nearly half full...before I leave the house.