CO2 Bottles, and regulators?????

Posted By: 65racer

CO2 Bottles, and regulators????? - 02/26/09 03:18 AM

Just curious, I am planning on changing my set-up, for my shifter, to be air shifted, and have been rounding up some parts, and was wondering which CO2 bottle would be the best to use, I was looking at the 10 oz bottle, with the dual adj regulator, 0 to 125 lbs, and thought I would see what you guy's are using, and also how much use do you get out of your bottle fills, all season, half season, I know this mainly depends on how many runs that is made during the season, I average around 200 passes a season, and I am trying to get some info, before jumping head first into this.

Thanks Dave

Posted By: ProStDodge

Re: CO2 Bottles, and regulators????? - 02/26/09 03:59 AM

I know when I was running a CO2 shifter, and throttle controller, I had a 10oz bottle and usually only had to fill it once or twice a season. Just remember not to leave it on all the time.

The dual gauge regulator is needed, the single gauge units are for air not CO2.

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Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: CO2 Bottles, and regulators????? - 02/26/09 11:58 AM

Quote:

I know when I was running a CO2 shifter, and throttle controller, I had a 10oz bottle and usually only had to fill it once or twice a season. Just remember not to leave it on all the time.

The dual gauge regulator is needed, the single gauge units are for air not CO2.

FWIW... CO2 is a liquid under pressure and the valve on the bottle should be keep up so the regulator doesn't regulate liquid. It's made for gas vapor.

Posted By: MegaDart

Re: CO2 Bottles, and regulators????? - 02/26/09 12:14 PM

Dave, whatever you do just make sure you have a spare full bottle! They have a bad way of being empty at all the wrong times [don't ask me how I know]
I switched my dragster to electric shift just for that reason. co2 can be tricky and likes to leak so I shut the bottle off after each pass. Single guage regulator is fine, I just put one in the digger. You do have to attach a guage to adjust line pressure then your done. I replace my bottle when psi drops below 500 on a warm day.

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: CO2 Bottles, and regulators????? - 02/26/09 12:45 PM

Quote:

Dave, whatever you do just make sure you have a spare full bottle! They have a bad way of being empty at all the wrong times [don't ask me how I know]
I switched my dragster to electric shift just for that reason. co2 can be tricky and likes to leak so I shut the bottle off after each pass. Single guage regulator is fine, I just put one in the digger. You do have to attach a guage to adjust line pressure then your done. I replace my bottle when psi drops below 500 on a warm day.

I was gonna mention the same thing and then the phone rang. You defenitly need a backup for sure. I would use the gauge to set it up and then remove the gauge because it would break real easy with tire shake.
I also agree with going electric because that CO2 tank will cost you a run sooner or later by being MT. On our TAD we changed the bottle every run because if it went MT, not only would we lose a run(big bucks) we also risk losing the engine when we lose the tranny without any air. I have 6 or so clys and would weigh em after each run to make sure there was enough for another run. We could get about 3-4 runs per 10 oz bottle. I'm sure a lenco uses more air than a shifter does though.
When I used it on my powerglide it would last at least 10-20 runs but eventually switched to elec for the shifter because CO2 was a big pain in the butt worrying about running out all the time.