Cracked chiller housing

[scubadude]

Just curious if anyone has ever fixed a problem like this? I did this by overtightening my connection.

[Reefland]

Rocky,

I can't tell how "split" the crack is but in the past I have had luck just caking the craked PVC with PVC glue over and over again. Prime it (clean it) and just cake the PVC cement over the crack in every way you can. Allow it to dry for about 12 hours and do it again.

Not very elegant but it worked.

[kellymm]

i would do the same i also i would put a hose clamp on each one just to be sure also be sure to use plenty of teflon tape so u won,t have to over tighten it

[Reefland]

Excellent point, now that you mention it I recall overtightening a fitting into MAG pump and cracked it. I wrapped the pump fitting in teflow tape and used the same "caking" method with PVC cement and it sealed it completely.

[scubadude]

I had to use a torch to soften and carve the connections loose but I was able to see how the exchanger was sealed within the PVC houseing. It appears to be a machined bushing seal that is made with an oring inside it. The bushing seal (what im calling it). slips/glues right into a 3" coupler T with 2 - 3/4" fittings (one of which I cracked). I think I can put this back together OEM if not better. Its just finding the shims and orings, actually I think the Orings are fine but I cant take the exchanger off because its hooked to a freon connetion and I would have to recharge the chiller.

Anyone got any hints on where to get the bushings/O-rings?
Heres the dimensions of the bushing

OD: 2 - 5/8"
ID w/ O-ring: 1 - 11/16"
ID w/out O-ring: 1 - 7/8"
OD of exchanger (slides into the bushings w/orings): 1 - 13/16"

My measurements may be a tad off but I think I pretty close, I dont care if I have to spend 20 bucks a couple of times as long as I dont have to buy a new chiller


Disclaimer: Please anyone doing this make sure they have the right person doing this, and if you attemp to do this yourself I take no liability for any information I give out in this thread.

[scubadude]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention, Im very glad I did it this way and not just coate it with some glue and/or teflon tape w/a clamp on it. There had to be alot of restriction inside the exchanger and PVC housing cuz I dumped out a ton of calcium depots after sliding the exchanger out of the housing. So in essence I would say its getting an overhaul. My flow should be better through it. The whole purpose for the shim and Oring is to make sure there is area around the exchanger between the pipe for circulation/SW contact of the exchanger.

[Elmo18]

Reef projects are fun ;) even if they're grosse, dirty, and slimy!

Goodluck with that Rocky. Awesome job taking it all apart

- Elmo