After all that and it's still leaking

[Jewel]

So i had a leak at my fittings, decided to fix it. Then the fun started. After making a mess, Ya I know what's another mess. Well I went out and got some fittings, I installed a Stockman stand pipe to quiet the return and that was a sucess. It can't handle the pump at full open but it does a good job.

With the help of a neighbour I managed to get the bulk heads tight. I thought really tight but no it leaks again, I put a rubber washer on the underside of the bulk head but one of the returns is leaking there. DUH On my drains the 1 1/2 bulkhead has threads all the way through the inside. One problem I'm thinking is that the pipe that screws into the top side in the overflow goes through the bulkhead a long way and the piece that screws through the bottom for the union doesn't have enough to grab to tighten securley. But what do I know I'm dumb founded and ready to pack it in once again.  Any suggestions would be helpfull

 

[davesolo29]

bulkheads are only supposed to be hand tight..  hope you didnt wreck the rubber gaskets.

 

[Duke]

So i had a leak at my fittings, decided to fix it. Then the fun started. After making a mess, Ya I know what's another mess. Well I went out and got some fittings, I installed a Stockman stand pipe to quiet the return and that was a sucess. It can't handle the pump at full open but it does a good job.

With the help of a neighbour I managed to get the bulk heads tight. I thought really tight but no it leaks again, I put a rubber washer on the underside of the bulk head but one of the returns is leaking there. DUH On my drains the 1 1/2 bulkhead has threads all the way through the inside. One problem I'm thinking is that the pipe that screws into the top side in the overflow goes through the bulkhead a long way and the piece that screws through the bottom for the union doesn't have enough to grab to tighten securley. But what do I know I'm dumb founded and ready to pack it in once again.  Any suggestions would be helpfull

the rubber gasket is inside the tank right? and if your threads are leaking on your piping attached to the bulkhead you should try the pink or yellow teflon tape and use a bunch.. again only go like 1/4 turn past hand tight.

 

[unibob]

I found hand tight and then a little tiny turn with a wrench fixed my leak. How much is it leaking?

 

[Jewel]

it doesn't matter cause when i swing the sledge and put a hole in the tank, nobody will care about a washer

 

[Jewel]

its not leaking bad, just dripping, but it's not what i wanted, i tightened it with a wrench, do you guys put a washer on the underside as well as in the tank?

 

[Duke]

its not leaking bad, just dripping, but it's not what i wanted, i tightened it with a wrench, do you guys put a washer on the underside as well as in the tank?

nope only in the tank. key with rubber gaskets are they should be dry when installed, and the glass must be really clean

 

[Jewel]

And I used the yellow tape.

 

[Jewel]

OK I' will take it apart again, No mess this time I've learned how not make that mess again.

 

[Duke]

And I used the yellow tape.

use more of it and make sure your wrapping it in the direction of the threads.

 

[TORX]

Mine dripped for a day, then stopped and never since.

Sent from my SGH-T989D using Tapatalk 2

 

[Jewel]

I used the whole roll on 8 fittings one was so tight I had to redo it.  Thanks For your help

 

[xxmurrxx]

bulkheads hand tight  then 1/4 turn with channel locks.
Too tight or too loose and it could cause a leak, I had my bulkhead leak but I believe it was caused by me working on my plumbing moving the pipes back and forth putting pressure on the bulkhead.

It sucks but not worth giving up.

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

I had every fitting leaking on my 3 bulkheads.  But i wrapped once with white teflon. ...so imwemt over to lowes in usa got that blue teflon. Amd wrapped them 3 times ..btetter to use more the less

 

[davesolo29]

pipe dope works great too.
too much tape is no good either

 

[Darryl_V]

Seems everyone has problems with bulkheads but the good news is once they are done...they are done.

 

[Jewel]

Ok it's taken apart, i will get some pipe dope later and give it another try.  thanks guys I put the sledge away LOL

 

[Poseidon]

Are you putting pipe dope / tape on the bulkhead?

 

[davesolo29]

i try to avoid threaded fittings... much prefer slip/slip and glue them and use unions whereever possible.

 

[Jewel]

I'm thinking glued fitting would be the way to go, with unions as well