swapping tank regs **PICS**...

[-homerj-]

well, the reg on my pe 68/3000 fiber wrapped tank is leaking. it's acutally been leaking from the valve stem for a long time but that's never been a huge problem. now it's leaking from somewhere else making it unusable until i either get it fixed or get a new reg. sending it off doesn't seem very cost effective but seeing as how small steel tanks are dirt cheap i was thinking about buying one & swapping the regs. problem is i've never done it & 3000psi is nothing to mess around with if you don't know what you're doing. can somebody help me out?

[p8ntslinger]

I am not the "adventurous" type, so if I were you, I'd just send it in and have it done right. You do it yourself, best scenario is it comes out good and all is well, but the bad is that 1. it turns out ok, but it messes up the tank and it voids the hydro, or 2. the next time you fill it, it blows up and you die.

Not worth the risk, imo.

[Hal]

Get a Ninja. http://www.ninjapaintball.com

[j-warner]

It's not that difficult to swap the regulator. The biggest safety concern is to make sure the tank is COMPLETELY empty before you unscrew it. Players have to remove there regulator all the time when they fly to events. Just get a deep well socket that will fit the fill nipple and use that for leverage to unscrew it out of the tank. If you have a replacement regulator, just screw it back in, and tighten it down. The rubber o-ring makes the seal. It's no bis deal.

[-homerj-]

thanks for the responses guys. i might go the ninja route. if not though, how do i get a good enough grip on the fiber wrapped tank without damaging it?

[j-warner]

Strap wrench, you can get them most anywhere that sales tools.

[-homerj-]

got one already. didn't know i'd be able to get enough of a grip on it with that or not. i think i'm gonna give this a shot.

[chfpaintball]

If you can't get enough grip with the strap wrench you can always use a vice grip, but just be sure to put some thick rubber between the vice grip and the tank so you don't scratch the tank.

[-homerj-]

finally got around to putting a new reg on this tank. couple of questions. the only way i could get the old reg off was to put a pair of vice grips on it & another pair just below the reg at the top of the tank's neck. i finally managed to get it off but i did scratch the tank a little where the vice grips were clamped down at the top of the neck. will this be ok? how tight should the reg be? i've tightened it as much as i can by hand using the vice grips.

[-homerj-]

did i completely f it up or what?

[miltiajt]

i dont think so, i know iv seen a lot of tanks like that but just wait on the tank man jeff w. to make a comment on that one

[j-warner]

I would feel better about this if I had it to look at. But from what I can see, I don't think you have a problem.