CO2 Leak?

[takatsu]

I reckon there are many threads about this already, but couldn't find my exact question discussed.

I'm wondering if you actually always know if theres a leak in a magazine loaded with CO2 or any sort of gas? Can you hear it or feel it (its supposed to be cold isn't it?) I always read about people hearing it hiss...

I don't have much experience with gas weapons. Anyway, inserted a new cartridge, with a bit of lubricant on the tip of the canister before piercing it and sealing it. Tightened it properly, so there was only one small sound of it being pierced and air releasing just before sealing it.

Aftewards, I fired off maybe 50 rounds, just to test out this new magazine. It fired fine, and consistently. Then i put it down for the night. Nothing out of the ordinary. Next morning, most of the CO2 was gone, dry fired it a few times and it was all gone.

Is this normal? Or did it leak? My other mag lasted two-three days, around 50-75 rounds each day. Max number of shots should be around 150-200 for this gun.

People have often said not to leave gas in a magazine, but others have mentioned there's nothing wrong with it, or it doesn't affect it that much. Some even say it's healthy to keep a pressure on the seals to keep it "in place". But I decided to test it myself.

So since the two mags acted differently, one has a leak?
Do you always know when its leaking is the question.

Thanks

[Drake]

Don't leave open Co2 overnight, it freezes your seals. This is true for paintball, pellet guns, airsoft, etc. Co2 cartridges aren't like propane, you can't leave them in the mag for extended periods.

[voorhees -FWA-]

What I do to check for gas leaks is use a glass vase filled with water, gas makes bubbles and the leak can be pin pointed, I love WE GBBR magazines... *sigh*

[takatsu]

Originally Posted by Drake

Don't leave open Co2 overnight, it freezes your seals. This is true for paintball, pellet guns, airsoft, etc. Co2 cartridges aren't like propane, you can't leave them in the mag for extended periods.

oh does it? I know its cold but half say its alright, half say the pressure on the seals isn't good, so I thought it has nothing to do with the gas touching the seals...



And, voorhees so you put the mag into water? :O

[voorhees -FWA-]

Yes, water isn't going to hurt anything. I've done it to almost all my gas magazine with suspected leaks. I use water because it's clear and you can pin point exactly where the leak is. A couple of my WE magazines were leaking and it sounded like the leak was from the fill valve. I dunked them in the glass vase filled with water and I could see that it was actually leaking from a small area on the seal at the bottom of the mag by the fill valve. Saved me time and money, I could have blown a lot of fill valves trying to locate the leak.

Once you take them out of the water, shake off the access water and wipe them down. Apply silicone to the exposed rubber and a shot in the valve ports. Good to go...

[takatsu]

I see. But the question is still do you hear leaks? If you don't, is it leaking bc of an issue or just that it leaks overtime anyway normally. One mag of mine seemed to do that, while the other held the gas

[voorhees -FWA-]

Mags shouldn't leak, but they do. Listening for leaks is like listening for traffic, it's better in my opinion to see if it's leaking. Put a fresh CO2 cartridge in and give it a dunk.

What type of magazine is it?

My WE magazines have a cover that goes over the body, I really hate the design but it makes finding leaks very easy as I can leave the cover off and monitor the valves and the seals all at once.
Example: My one magazine was leaking and I could hear it (didn't dunk it) so, I took it apart put gasket maker on the seal, put it all back together and let it sit for a day. I put gas in it and it was still leaking. I decided to dunk it and the bubbles are coming from the top nozzle, the striker valve was leaking. I could have saved time and a headache if I would have visually seen where the leak was.

Should a gas magazine hold all it's gas? In every instance yes, but this is not the case. Everything man made is made to fail. In a CO2 format, the cartridge sits against a Teflon ring, but there are o-rings beyond that point.
Can you fix it? Yes, but it will take some major dis-assembly of the valve system to see where it is leaking.
Should you fix it? Well, that's up to you. It should hold the CO2 for more than one night, you have a major leak and if you dunk it, you can further diagnose exactly where the leak is coming from.

[takatsu]

Alright makes sense. I'll dunk it in water haha

It's not one that I can take apart the shell, it's full metal one piece mold with a hole in the bottom for insertion of cartridge with exposed release valve parts at the top. Maybe a pic would help....

But anyways I'll be checking whether it leaks in water then. That doesn't rust assuming theyre non oxidizing type metal or end up getting stick in the seals or valves or whatever?

[voorhees -FWA-]

It won't happen, just clean it as you usually would with gun oil or something similar. If you are still concerned out it; there's a more expensive option! Get some mineral oil and use that to diagnose where the leak is coming from. Its clear and will work just like water without the oxidation!

[Rusty Lugnuts]

If it's a WE hicapa 5.1, all your going to get is about 52 shots out of a CO2 cartridge IMHO. at least mine is like that