[VAC] Re: VAC . gas lines

["Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer" <geraldj@xxxxxxxx>]

Clean the flare and mating surface. Clamp them tight with no help. Use
two wrenches, one on each part. Tapered threaded fittings need a good
pipe dope. Rated for gas applications.

Check all fittings under pressure with a heavy spritz of soapy water.
Watch for bubbles. If bubbles appear from the connection, clean and
retighten flares, turn tapered threads further together. Sometimes all
that fails and it takes new fittings with less damaged threads to
achieve tightness. No amount of leak is tolerable or safe. If bubbles
appear at crimped connections (like hoses to fittings) replace the
assembly.

I have fewer leaks from teflon tape than from teflon pipe dope on
hydraulic fittings, but bits of teflon tape are a problem plugging small
orifices. Pilot burner orifices are about the size of a hair and so very
vulnerable to slight contamination by shredded bits of teflon tape.

Gerald J.