Cannot unscrew RO canister!!!

Mighunter · 05/16/2011, 08:02 PM

I have a BRS R/O unit and I'm trying to unscrew the sediment filter canister with the wrench and I cannnnnooootttt unscrew it. Any advice?

Jeff · 05/16/2011, 08:04 PM

Warm it up if possible

MattAndKim · 05/16/2011, 08:06 PM

Strap wrenches.

Mighunter · 05/16/2011, 08:07 PM

I think its shot. Now its leaking between the sediment canister and the first carbon block canister. It must have broken from trying to open it. Are they supposed to be so friggin tight? The thing is brand new and this is the first time trying to open a canister?

I tried to loosen some of the other canisters but I can't budge them. ***!

James77 · 05/16/2011, 08:38 PM

You can try a 1" or 1.25" PVC pipe on the wrench handle to gain some leverage. They've always been a pita when I e taken gem apart. Maybe some silicone grease on the threads will help for next time .....

Mighunter · 05/16/2011, 08:42 PM

Will be calling BRS tomorrow. I hope they replace it. I was looking for posts from others with the same problem but I guess I'm the only idiot that cannot unscrew it.

Maivortex · 05/16/2011, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighunter

Will be calling BRS tomorrow. I hope they replace it. I was looking for posts from others with the same problem but I guess I'm the only idiot that cannot unscrew it.

Lefty loosy........

Mighunter · 05/16/2011, 08:46 PM

James, nice to see a fellow Rhode Islander here.

Mighunter · 05/16/2011, 08:49 PM

Thanks, even the wrench tells you which way to turn it but I couldn't get it to move in either direction. I turned it so hard I heard a crack. Just my luck. How is BRS with returns?

t4zalews · 05/16/2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maivortex

Lefty loosy........

Easier said than done. I just replaced my filters today and looking down on the canister you have to turn it to the RIGHT not the left. I had to put my RODI unit between my ankles and turn so that the plastic housing wouldnt crack or bend. They really are a PITA

James77 · 05/16/2011, 09:04 PM

Yeah, RI-ers are pretty scarce on RC.....good to see one as well.

BRS is great....I'd be willing to bet they will take great care of you. Are you sure you cracked the housing? I usually lay all the housings flat on a table and use the wrench to pull towards me.

Mighunter · 05/16/2011, 09:10 PM

Mine is mounted to my basement wall. I tried to loosen it keeping it on the wall.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's broken. Its leaking at the top where the two canisters join and I can't push the together any tighter.

Mighunter · 05/16/2011, 09:14 PM

It's not the clear canister that is leaking, it's the joint between the two caps. Just what I need after 2 days in a row where my skimmer overflowed onto the basement floor. Can't seem to get that thing dialed in.

t4zalews · 05/16/2011, 09:27 PM

when it rains it pours...i hate it when that happens

ChuckLawson · 05/16/2011, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighunter

Mine is mounted to my basement wall. I tried to loosen it keeping it on the wall.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's broken. Its leaking at the top where the two canisters join and I can't push the together any tighter.

If it's like mine, there's a male-to-male threaded nylon fitting between the two canisters; I bet that's the part that snapped. I had two of them snap in shipping and couldn't source them locally - I had to have BRS send me out some new ones (I had them the next day).

If your problem is the same, the only bright side is that once everything is disassembled enough to replace this fitting, you can probably clamp the canister head down firmly enough to unscrew the canister.

Mighunter · 05/17/2011, 12:17 PM

Actually called BRS today and they are sending out overnight the fittings you mentioned. I never taken an RO unit apart but I'm sure I'll figure it out. I hop that solves the problem.

Thanks for the response. Now I just have to come up with a system to get the cannister off without breaking that fitting every time.

ChuckLawson · 05/17/2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighunter

Actually called BRS today and they are sending out overnight the fittings you mentioned. I never taken an RO unit apart but I'm sure I'll figure it out. I hop that solves the problem.

Thanks for the response. Now I just have to come up with a system to get the cannister off without breaking that fitting every time.

It sounds like they were unusually tight for some reason; unless your water pressure is way high, you probably won't need to tighten them down nearly so hard once you've got them open.

d0ughb0y · 05/17/2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighunter

Will be calling BRS tomorrow. I hope they replace it. I was looking for posts from others with the same problem but I guess I'm the only idiot that cannot unscrew it.

you need to look harder. this problem comes up from time to time but of course BRS downplays it. BRS claims all canisters are hand tightened, but I swear they must have used a gorilla to hand tighten it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighunter

Thanks, even the wrench tells you which way to turn it but I couldn't get it to move in either direction. I turned it so hard I heard a crack. Just my luck. How is BRS with returns?

yup, that's what happened to mine as well as others who posted the problem.

Orcrone · 05/17/2011, 12:31 PM

I've only replaced one cartridge so far, a sediment filter. Changed it without incident, but it sure was on VERY tight. Makes me nervous about my next filter change.

I generate about 60-70 gallons of RO once every two weeks. I guess I'll make sure I change the filter after finishing my RO generation rather than right before I start. In this way I'll have a couple of weeks to get it back in shape if this happens to me. Beats breaking the unit when I actually need it.

aquaman67 · 05/17/2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighunter

I have a BRS R/O unit and I'm trying to unscrew the sediment filter canister with the wrench and I cannnnnooootttt unscrew it. Any advice?

Gym membership?

Just kidding.

Don't forget to use some silicone grease on your O rings when you re-install.

Otherwise, save the gym membership, you'll be in the same boat next time.

Mighunter · 05/17/2011, 01:23 PM

I was just waiting for that comment! LOL. Funny thing is I was once a huge gym rat and was built like a brick %#$house. Now that I have two kids, 3 and 1 month old, I haven't been to the gym in quite a while and am now replaced the muscle with some attractive fat!

I guess I'll have to buy some home weights!

Donw · 05/17/2011, 02:01 PM

Put KY on the seal and thread when you put it back together. It will come right off next time around.

Don

Mighunter · 05/17/2011, 02:21 PM

Don, is that a joke? Do you mean I have to go to the drug store and explain to the clerk that I'm buying KY for my unit?

Orcrone · 05/17/2011, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighunter

Don, is that a joke? Do you mean I have to go to the drug store and explain to the clerk that I'm buying KY for my unit?

Don't bother explaining. The clerk won't believe you anyhow. Aside from which would you really want to explain to the cute 19 year old clerk that you're buying KY because you're not strong enough to unscrew a container?

Mighunter · 05/17/2011, 02:34 PM

Good point. LOL

05/16/2011, 08:02 PM	#1
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	Cannot unscrew RO canister!!! I have a BRS R/O unit and I'm trying to unscrew the sediment filter canister with the wrench and I cannnnnooootttt unscrew it. Any advice?

05/16/2011, 08:04 PM	#2
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	Warm it up if possible __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

05/16/2011, 08:38 PM	#5
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	You can try a 1" or 1.25" PVC pipe on the wrench handle to gain some leverage. They've always been a pita when I e taken gem apart. Maybe some silicone grease on the threads will help for next time ..... __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

05/16/2011, 09:04 PM	#11
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Yeah, RI-ers are pretty scarce on RC.....good to see one as well. BRS is great....I'd be willing to bet they will take great care of you. Are you sure you cracked the housing? I usually lay all the housings flat on a table and use the wrench to pull towards me. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

05/16/2011, 09:27 PM	#14
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	when it rains it pours...i hate it when that happens __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

05/16/2011, 08:06 PM	#3
MattAndKim Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 161	Strap wrenches.

05/16/2011, 08:07 PM	#4
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	I think its shot. Now its leaking between the sediment canister and the first carbon block canister. It must have broken from trying to open it. Are they supposed to be so friggin tight? The thing is brand new and this is the first time trying to open a canister? I tried to loosen some of the other canisters but I can't budge them. ***!

05/16/2011, 08:42 PM	#6
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	Will be calling BRS tomorrow. I hope they replace it. I was looking for posts from others with the same problem but I guess I'm the only idiot that cannot unscrew it.

05/16/2011, 08:46 PM	#8
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	James, nice to see a fellow Rhode Islander here.

05/16/2011, 08:49 PM	#9
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	Thanks, even the wrench tells you which way to turn it but I couldn't get it to move in either direction. I turned it so hard I heard a crack. Just my luck. How is BRS with returns?

05/16/2011, 09:10 PM	#12
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	Mine is mounted to my basement wall. I tried to loosen it keeping it on the wall. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's broken. Its leaking at the top where the two canisters join and I can't push the together any tighter.

05/16/2011, 09:14 PM	#13
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	It's not the clear canister that is leaking, it's the joint between the two caps. Just what I need after 2 days in a row where my skimmer overflowed onto the basement floor. Can't seem to get that thing dialed in.

05/17/2011, 12:17 PM	#16
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	Actually called BRS today and they are sending out overnight the fittings you mentioned. I never taken an RO unit apart but I'm sure I'll figure it out. I hop that solves the problem. Thanks for the response. Now I just have to come up with a system to get the cannister off without breaking that fitting every time.

05/17/2011, 12:31 PM	#19
Orcrone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 646	I've only replaced one cartridge so far, a sediment filter. Changed it without incident, but it sure was on VERY tight. Makes me nervous about my next filter change. I generate about 60-70 gallons of RO once every two weeks. I guess I'll make sure I change the filter after finishing my RO generation rather than right before I start. In this way I'll have a couple of weeks to get it back in shape if this happens to me. Beats breaking the unit when I actually need it.

05/17/2011, 01:23 PM	#21
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	I was just waiting for that comment! LOL. Funny thing is I was once a huge gym rat and was built like a brick %#$house. Now that I have two kids, 3 and 1 month old, I haven't been to the gym in quite a while and am now replaced the muscle with some attractive fat! I guess I'll have to buy some home weights!

05/17/2011, 02:01 PM	#22
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	Put KY on the seal and thread when you put it back together. It will come right off next time around. Don

05/17/2011, 02:21 PM	#23
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	Don, is that a joke? Do you mean I have to go to the drug store and explain to the clerk that I'm buying KY for my unit?

05/17/2011, 02:34 PM	#25
Mighunter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 66	Good point. LOL

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