compression fitting tightness?

[USMCGrunt]

How tight should Bitspower compression fittings be torqued? Just as finger tight as possible?

 

[bacon11]

The collar or the fitting threaded into the block/radiator/pump?

 

[USMCGrunt]

Well...both I guess...I was mostly just asking about the threading into the components but the compression against the hose is good to know too.

 

[Crispy002]

Finger tight for both. If you strip the threads between the fitting and block both pieces will be ruined. The collar can be tightened significantly, but finger tight is sufficient.

 

[bacon11]

I found that when tightening the collar on fresh tubing, it doesn't want to go down all the way when finger tight. After a leak test (hour or so), you can finish tightening them because the tubing has deformed a bit around the fitting.

 

[haste]

17 in/lbs

 

[USMCGrunt]

Well, I imagine I tightened them well past 17in/lbs as I originally tightened everything as much as I could by hand though im glad I didnt crack and of the components. Been running for a total of about an hour or so and its dry so no complaints. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[manofthem]

I tightened as much as I could by hand last time, and somehow the oring on my comp fitting on my res screwed up (distorted) and leaked, and within in te first 5 minutes. It sat on my DVD drive so no harm. make sure those rings are good. (this was on a koolance fitting)

 

[USMCGrunt]

I tightened as much as I could by hand last time, and somehow the oring on my comp fitting on my res screwed up (distorted) and leaked, and within in te first 5 minutes. It sat on my DVD drive so no harm. make sure those rings are good. (this was on a koolance fitting)

I've done the same with all my fittings actually, as tight as I could possibly get them by hand and 4 of them are Koolance fittings that came with the res/pump combo. Maybe you got some messed up rings or you just have stronger hands then me as ive got no leaks and I just ran the GPU loop through a furmark stress test for about 30 minutes...should be enough to warm everything up and make it leak if its gonna.

 

[magoo]

I go as far as I can with my hands, then crank in a few more turns with a needle nose pliers.

You just ahve to be careful and not slip and mess up the nice finish on the ring.

 

[USMCGrunt]

No leaks so far and have been through multiple loop rebuilds, furmark stress tests, prime 95 tests and marathon-ish game sessions and no leaks so finger tight seems to be good to go.

 

[magoo]

How's that third card?

I hope it will be OK. I really felt bad with you having to tear up your loop so many times.

 

[aphasia]

I go as far as I can with my hands, then crank in a few more turns with a needle nose pliers.

You just ahve to be careful and not slip and mess up the nice finish on the ring.

+1
my hands are a bit knackered so i often use pliers. i just can't exert enough pressure on the tiny collars of the compression fittings, even the larger ones (1/2 ID - 3/4 OD). i usually start off finger tightening but after doing a few (bitspower fittings have the roughest knurling), the prints on fingers are pretty much gone.

if the compression fitting is in a awkward spot, i'll use 2 sets of needle-nose pliers (1 to hold, other to tighten). as magoo mentioned, have to be mindful of the threads - finger tighten then a couple of quarter turns with pliers.

to prevent tearing up the knurling when pliers slip (which they will), i wrap the ends of my pliers with masking tape. have to replace the tape after doing a few tho.

another trick i use is to fit 2 'O' rings to the 1/4 thread side. often find 1 'O' ring isn't enough for a good seal. if you unscrew the fitting from block or radiator, can see that the ring as squashed all the way in thus when tightening, you're just grinding metal on metal.