Unflush Barb Fitting

[Yeungster]

Does this barb look right to you? I'm sure it's slightly tapered. Screws in ok to begin with with fingers, but then seems to stop suddenly.

On the pic, I've added an o-ring to illustrate the gap thats still there!

I bought the rad from chilledpc.co.uk, and I on the order form it just asked what barb size I wanted (so i selected the 1/2" option).

One of the barbs must have a slightly larger diameter than the other too, as I can't get one in as far as the other, no matter which rad hole I choose.

Any ideas what I should do? Don't want to force it if it's not right

 

[weihk]

have you emailed ChilledPC about this?

from that pic, it looks like a thermochill rad, right? if so, their rads ''shouldn't'' have a problem, have you have any other 3/8 BSPP thread size hole or barb lying about? might just be a case of bad finish on barbs......but like i said, email ChilledPC about this, and ask them to send you another set of barbs.

if all thing fails, goto over-clock.com , they have all things thermochill there.

 

[Yeungster]

Thanks for your reply.

Unfortunately I don't have any other barbs here, as this is my first watercooling set up.

It is indeed a thermochill PA120.3 rad. I'll email them, and see what they say!

 

[weihk]

ahh.......first WC setup.........i remember when i had my first.....it was truly awful experience......lol

anyway, yeah, email ChilledPC first, tell them you have a really crap finish on one of the barb, and ask them send you another set.

thats the easy way......

the other method that i used when i had barbs problems with my PA120.1 and PA120.3, is to FORCE the barb in, using a small spanner, my PA rads has paint in the threaded hole, which stopped all my barbs going by just using my hands.

and i had some really crap finish on some of my barbs aswell, which acted like a stop if i try screwing them in with finger.

but thats not what i recommend.......i was in a hurry back then......lol

 

[Yeungster]

Thanks again for the reply. I've now sent an email, so hoping to hear back on Tuesday.

There's no chance of getting the bad fitting barb in even if I was to use a spanner. The threads are pretty clean now on the rad, but did have a lick of paint on them to begin with.

Really hoping things don't end in tears with this set-up

 

[Allsorts]

@Yeungster - I think you're doing the right thing by not forcing the barb in with a spanner. Doing that is a sure fire way of stripping the radiator hole thread. Ideally, barbs will screw in until finger-tight then a 1/8 to 1/4 turn with a spanner if necessary, so it sounds like the barb on the right of your pic is either badly machined or the wrong thread type. (I take it the barb on the left fits nicely in both rad holes?)

 

[Yeungster]

@Yeungster - I think you're doing the right thing by not forcing the barb in with a spanner. Doing that is a sure fire way of stripping the radiator hole thread. Ideally, barbs will screw in until finger-tight then a 1/8 to 1/4 turn with a spanner if necessary, so it sounds like the barb on the right of your pic is either badly machined or the wrong thread type. (I take it the barb on the left fits nicely in both rad holes?)

The one on the left definately fits in nicer than the one on the right, but it's still not perfect. If there wasn't an o-ring there, there would still be a 2-3mm gap.

The one on the left fits nicer in either rad hole, so there's definately something up with the barb sizes

 

[Yeungster]

Update -I've had a word with the retailer, and this is how they've been building their systems. It doesn't leak and apparently is "normal" for thermochill rads and barbs.

The PTFE tape seals the threads from leaks, and apparently I don't need an o-ring on this setup.

Anybody else got a PA120 rad and barbs?

 

[weihk]

Update -I've had a word with the retailer, and this is how they've been building their systems. It doesn't leak and apparently is "normal" for thermochill rads and barbs.

The PTFE tape seals the threads from leaks, and apparently I don't need an o-ring on this setup.

Anybody else got a PA120 rad and barbs?

i'll check that with Marci from thermochill........that doesnt look too good for a good night sleep.

 

[Yeungster]

I posted this on another forum too, to get as many responces as possible.

Turns out that other thermochill rad owners leave it as illustrated previously. I'm still a little sceptical though.

Think I might order another 2 barbs, and fit the 2 snuggest fitting barbs

 

[weihk]

i'll take some pic of mine later tonight.....have to find me camera first!

but im not using the same fittings as you tho......im on 10/8 hose, and using 10/8 compression fittings which.....does have o-rings.

 

[Mullet]

Mine are not flush and I use a PA120.3 rad. Mind you, they both screw in about the same amount....strange that one of the barbs screws in further than the other.

Also, is that an o-ring I spy on the one barb!!?? If it is remove it as it is a waste of time. You'll have to bang about 10 wraps of PTFE tape around each barb before you screw it in....it should be a nice tight fit (fnaaar).

 

[Yeungster]

Mine are not flush and I use a PA120.3 rad. Mind you, they both screw in about the same amount....strange that one of the barbs screws in further than the other.

Also, is that an o-ring I spy on the one barb!!?? If it is remove it as it is a waste of time. You'll have to bang about 10 wraps of PTFE tape around each barb before you screw it in....it should be a nice tight fit (fnaaar).

Hi, yeah that is an o-ring. Just put it there to illustrate the size of the gap.

I'm definately ordering a couple more barbs, and I'll pick the best fitting ones

 

[Allsorts]

O-rings and PTFE tape serve the same purpose: to form a water-tight seal. If the barb doesn't have an o-ring then you MUST use PTFE tape to prevent leaking. If you do have an o-ring on the barb then you don't have to use PTFE tape, but if you want some extra insurance against leaks then you can wrap some tape around the threads of the barb - just make sure no tape goes under the o-ring.

I'm sure the reason why many people use PTFE tape on the barbs of their Thermochill rad is simply because the barbs they bought do not have an o-ring. For example see the 3/8" BSP barbs on the Thermochill site.

I have a couple of G3/8 barbs with o-rings and I can screw them in by hand until the flanges of the barb and radiator start to deform the o-ring. I think you need to be able to screw your barbs in this far or the o-ring just won't form a seal. You also need a good few threads of the barb screwed in for the Teflon tape to work too.

If the pic from my mobile isn't of any help then let me know and I'll see if I can find batteries for my digital camera (which isn't much better )

 

[weihk]

10/8 compression fittings, with o-rings, FLUSH

 

[Yeungster]

Thanks for the pics guys. I've still been unable to get my barbs to sit as nicely as yours!

I've cleaned up the threads on the barbs, as they were pretty bad, and tightened them up using a spanner this time.

I still haven't put any ptfe tape there yet, but will in the final installation.

Would you accept this fitment now, or is it still worth buying a couple more barbs?

 

[FragTek]

Looks MUCH better. That is definitely acceptable. Mind you once you get a few wraps of PTFE you more than likely won't be able to get them back down that far. But I would say you are golden now, PTFE those barbs and whack em back in.

 

[Yeungster]

Ace, thanks for resolving all my worries everyone!:hands: :rocker:

 

[Mullet]

Thanks for the pics guys. I've still been unable to get my barbs to sit as nicely as yours!

I've cleaned up the threads on the barbs, as they were pretty bad, and tightened them up using a spanner this time.

I still haven't put any ptfe tape there yet, but will in the final installation.

Would you accept this fitment now, or is it still worth buying a couple more barbs?

Aye...on the 3/8s thread to half inch barbs you are using O-rings are not a viable option. As Frag mentions that looks mighty fine....(about the same as mine)...make sure you add plenty of PTFE...the barbs should be nice n tight. Also, make sure you screw them in once.....and once only....by unscrewing the barbs you'll trash the PTFE tape...so if you need to remove the barbs make sure you put fresh PTFE tape on.

This is a lesson I learned in my domestic plumbing duties!!

Good luck!:wavey:

 

[Rob*]

Looks like the supplier has sent you 3/8" BSPT (Tapered) fittings instead of BSPP (Parallel)...

Either that or the fittings are bottoming out when you tighten them up... You will be fine with some PTFE on them in that latest picture though