what to use to tighten the barb?? water leak...

[LandShark]

I was trying to put my w/c rig together this afternoon. and the barbs on the maze4 and the barbs on the rad both leak (not from the tubes)!! they both have o-rings in it and those plummer's "white tape" about a circle around the threads!! what should I do..... :confused:

[hitbyaprkedcar7]

By white tape, im pretty sure you mean teflon tape.

Go to any local hardware store, pick up a pack, and reapply it. Stretch it real right over the threads and go WITH the threads when putting it on. One layer is all you need. After that, use a socket wrench to tighten it back on. And put new o-rings on there. If you bring the barb in to the store, the guy should tell you exactly what you need. Just expect a crazy look when you tell him its for your computer :p

p.s. head over to the folding section real quick, i need your expertise in a thread LOL

[Daddyjaxx]

Did you buy these used? I have never seen teflon tape on any DD block I have ever used? You can get a deep socket, can't remember the size, maybe 9/16" for 1/2" barbs to tighten them.

[damarble]

1 time around with the teflon is really not optimum, although you can probably get away with it. Any plumber will tell you 3 or 6. I don't know how they came up with those numbers but that's the rule of thumb. :shrug:

An adjustable wrench (aka Cresent wrench) will work fine to tighten them down. You want them tight, but don't crank as hard as you can either. Hold the wrench lightly, and when it's tight enough that you have to grip it to get another turn it's time to stop.

[Moto7451]

Try using some RTV silicone. Its easily removable and so much easier to use than teflon tape. It also produces a superior seal.

[Flip-Mode]

Be VERY careful when wrenching down the barb in the acrylic, you can't imagine the amount of torque you apply with a wrench.
We really need to start using torque wrenches here, people are damaging their hardware left and right...

[QuietIce]

If you've got (new) O-rings you shouldn't need tape - the O-ring does all the sealing. Tape just adds pressure to the joint and prevents the barb from being seated far enough to compress the O-ring properly.

When the barb-flare and block are both lightly touching the O-ring (flare - O-ring - block, no air/space) turn the barb 1/4-1/2 of a turn and the O-ring should be compressed enough without putting undue pressure on the acrylic ...

[Flip-Mode]

If you've got (new) O-rings you shouldn't need tape - the O-ring does all the sealing. Tape just adds pressure to the joint and prevents the barb from being seated far enough to compress the O-ring properly.

...
Good point!

[LandShark]

tks for the input guys!

it's new hardware, both the maze4 gpu and dual 80mm rad, from dangerden. the problem is, when I tighten the barb, it does seem all the way in already, at least te o-ring disappeared. as far as the barb on rad, well, when I tighten it, it seems like the o-ring squeezed out of the barb even tho it still have room for hand tightening! so I use some telfon tape to tape around the thread on the barb just in case and it still leaks! it looks like there's just no room for the o-ring sit inbetween the barb and the rad unless you don't tighten it all the way down?!!

[Immortal_Hero]

Thread tape will not do much in this situation b/c the barbs on most blocks and rads do not use NPT. NPT thread is tapered that makes it seal with teflon tape. Standard thread uses an O-rings to make a seal.

[voigts]

Using teflon thread tape with straight threaded barbs with o-rings can cause your leak by not allowing the o-rings to seal properly. It also sounds like you have them overtightened. You just need to tighten them down by hand, and then tighten them down maybe 1/2 to 1 turn more. If you overtighten them, you stretch the o-rings out away from the barbs and it will leak. If you have overstretched them, you may need to take a trip to an ACE hardware or the like and spend $2 on some new o-rings.

[Springbok]

Are you using the barbs that came with the DD block? I know Danger Den uses different sized barbs than most people, you might want to call and ask for a replacement.

[SiGfever]

I would not use teflon with o-rings. As stated it can be the cause of your leak. Just do the barbs hand tight and then 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn should be fine.

[hitbyaprkedcar7]

I play paintball and teflon tape will do you wonders, espicialy with an autococker (for those of you who play) (and for those who dont, yes, it is a funny name :p)

I figured that not as pressurized water would act the same as pressurized (4500psi, 200psi) nitrogen or compressed air.

I have to use teflon tape, as well as orings, or i will get constant leaks. Maybe its because its pressurized and air behaves differently than water?

Sorry if i gave bad information :) As for the 1 time around, 1 time around the entire thread should do fine if your using good teflon. Iv had some brands where yes, i do need 2 or 3 times around (but def. not 6) but most teflon you only need 1 wrap and a lot of the time it usualy overlaps part of it anyway. As long as you wrap it tight and go with the threads, you should be okay