Don't ignore warning signs

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greggn
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Don't ignore warning signs

Post by greggn »

I run a CCVM ...

Earlier this week I did a strip run and midway through I noticed excessive cavitation/bubbles in the RC outlet hose. The run completed successfully so I made a mental note to tighten-up the hose clamps, which I did, before starting the spirit run.

That spirit run started with excessive bubbles in the hose. A short while later all coolant flow to the RC stopped. I immediately shut down power. To troubleshoot, I swapped the inlet/outlet hoses to see whether the problem was in the hose or the quick-disconnects on the RC.

Almost immediately a drop formed along the inlet side of the RC. Then more. I've got a hairline crack in the CCST (external to the column, near the connection end).

Lesson learned: I never should have begun that spirit run knowing there was an issue ... regardless of how small and insignificant I thought the problem.

BTW, my CCST is over 4 years old and is used almost weekly. I treat it with kid gloves but this demonstrates that CSST is intended to be flexible for installations but is not impervious to constant handling. Going forward, I'll be pressure testing my RC on a periodic basis.
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Bushman
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Re: Don't ignore warning signs

Post by Bushman »

The good news is you were constantly monitoring your runs before something bad happened. Thanks for sharing your experience and sounds like you went through steps to process the problem.
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Yummyrum
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Re: Don't ignore warning signs

Post by Yummyrum »

Thanks for sharing greggn.

You are probably not the first and won’t be the last to have something on the way out give you a warning sign .

Glad you figured it out and all ended well .

I have to say i have always been sceptical of CCST . It always screamed metal fatigue to me but seemed to have proved me wrong .

I certainly hope this isn’t the beginning if a whole lot of CCVM failings .
Oh well , maybe thanks to your experience , it’s time for folk to get another length of CCST as an expendable maintenance measure .
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Rrmuf
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Re: Don't ignore warning signs

Post by Rrmuf »

Thanks for sharing!!!! I don't really know what CSST is :oops: but understand the implications of the failure. :shock:
A good lesson on what can go wrong, and the need to be ever-present!
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still_stirrin
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Re: Don't ignore warning signs

Post by still_stirrin »

Rrmuf wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 5:39 am… I don't really know what CSST is ….
Corrugated stainless steel tubing.
CSST
CSST
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Rrmuf
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Re: Don't ignore warning signs

Post by Rrmuf »

Thanks SS. So this is used for in-column RCs?
-- Rrmuf
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8Ball
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Re: Don't ignore warning signs

Post by 8Ball »

Rrmuf wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 5:39 am Thanks for sharing!!!! I don't really know what CSST is :oops: but understand the implications of the failure. :shock:
A good lesson on what can go wrong, and the need to be ever-present!
+1

My experience is limited to having run only a basic, small copper pot with a riser & Liebig. Lots of terms and rigs mentioned here that are not pot still related don’t fully register to me at times. Thanks for asking
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still_stirrin
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Re: Don't ignore warning signs

Post by still_stirrin »

Rrmuf wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 6:50 am Thanks SS. So this is used for in-column RCs?
Yes. Here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=41579&hilit=dad300#p7104768

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Rrmuf
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Re: Don't ignore warning signs

Post by Rrmuf »

Thanks SS. Crystal clear. :thumbup:
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