Air vent leak on a Kombat 106

[Roger]

Hi Alex V.
If possible, see if you can find a fiber gasket (or make one if you have the facilities) that will fit in the same place as the O'ring.
How many "bubbles" were coming out....just a few,, right away, or did it take awhile and 'only a very few smal bubbles came out?
It sounnds like it's leaking for sure, but air being pushed out from the inside might be almost normal with the O-ring setup used on your board.
It may be impossible to get a full pressure tight seal.
For now, I would get so non-hardening gasket sealer (Permatex makes one) and put a little of the gasket sealer (you could use bathtub caulk,RTV rubber, or polysulphide based sealer as well) on the O-ring and see if that doesn't stop the internal pressure leaks and still allow you to remove the vent plug.
Use only a tiny bit and make usre it's something soft and rubbery that will break loose when you want the plug out again.
And, as I suggested before, a small square of duct tape over the vent plug hole as a back up.
Hope this helps,

[Roger]

Hi Alex,
Hmmm.... I posted something a couple of hours ago, and it didn't post here...
Oh, well, I have a better idea for your to try now....!
Here's a website with a drawing of a rubber washer that will seal your board
tightly if you can find the correct size at your local hardware or autoparts store.
http://www.metrogasket.com/rubber-washers/index.html

If you can find a rubber washer or "square ring" that's a close to a snug fit on the outside diameter and fits a 9.0 mm thread on the inside, you will get "double sealing".
As you snug up the threads of the vent plug, the rubber washer/square ring will compress from the pressure of the threads , forming a tight seal between the counterbored flat in the vent plug fiting in your board and the underside of the head of the vent plug.
The square ring/rubber washer will also "expand" radially to seal on the outide of the plug threads and the inside of the head clearanced counterbore in the vent fitting.

Also, I think you may be trying to tighten the vent plug a little too tight and are "crushing" the new O-rings.
You only need the plug to "seat" lightly to seal. Finger tight is not enough, but you just need to "snug it" enough so it won't fall out.
Look for a fiber gasket that will fit in the hole and that has a 9 mm inside diameter.
That would work even better.
Hope this helps,

[AlexV]

Hi Roger,

Thanks a lot for the tips. I will try to find this square section gasket, and I will try to combine with the non hardening gasket sealer.

Air bubbles coming out were in the "just a few right away" category with the plug sealed a bit tight.

I am also thinking as a last effort to use the thread repair kit of permatex in case the insert has a crack somewhere. I read about this in the repair guide of the sB website.

Thanks again,
Alex

[AlexV]

Hi Roger,

The idea for the bigger rubber washer was very good indeed.
I couldn't find a square ring, but got an o ring with 9mm internal diameter and a bigger outer diameter. And it seems to be working, as no bubbles come out of the plug during the soap test.

So I guess I can try to put the board in the water now, and pray the damage is permanently fixed .

What happens with the salt crystals remaining in the EPS? Do they produce vapor that could cause problems later on? A friend told me that he takes the salt out using vinegar, that he removes afterwards with a vacuum pump. Is it worth it to get into this kind of trouble?

Best,
Alex

[sauls]

Is it possible to get a new sticker for the front of my board? I've put a significant ding and scratch in my 2008 Futura that goes right to the starboard graphic on the front.

[Roger]

Hi sauls,
You might write to Starboard in Bangkok and ask for the correct sticker, or perhaps have your dealer and distributor ask in your behalf.
I haven't had much luck with replacing the graphics on the demo boards and I have a guy I think is one of the best at repairs/graphics anywhere.
He does better with an airbrush than by trying to "piece together" sticker type graphics.
Hope this helps,

[sauls]

Thank you Roger. The area that we're talking about is fairly small so with your advice I'll probably try some kind of paint touch-up instead.

Thanks for the speedy answer.

Regards
Saul