Brand new cutting torch popping

[Butters]

I just broke down and bought myself a new Victor Super range II. I got everything hooked up and the tip of the torch has a rythmic popping no matter what pressures I seem to try (up to 10 act and 40 oxy). I check the tip and cleaned it. It still pops every second.
The heating/welding tip works perfectly. Do I have a dud cutting attachment?
Thanks
:(

[calweld]

Popping like that is almost always a bad seal, either between the torch body and the cutting attachment, or between the torchhead and the tip.

Check the o-rings on the cutting attachment, there should be two of them, are they there? are they in good shape (no cracks, deformation, etc.). Be sure there's no dirt down in the torch body. Look for any dings on the torch tip seats, did you happen to drop the tip???? Try another tip. Did you wrench-tighten the tip? It needs to be, just not too tight. The cutting attachment (with the o-rings) should only be hand tightened to the torch handle (body).

[Butters]

Thank you. I have checked all you mentioned and I wrench tightened the tip and hand tightened the attachment fitting. That is why it is so frustrating. I have gone back over those things, but I don't want to look like an idiot if I go back to the store and it is something obvious. I have not cut the first thing with it. It is fresh out of the box and with all that popping I am afraid to run it.
Could it just have slipped by quality control when they packed it up?

Just got off the phone with Victor support. the guy said to turn the cutting tip with light pressure like I am lapping it. He said I may not have tightened the tip enough... I will give that a try. He said if that didn't fix it, they would replace it. Can't ask for more than that.

[Broccoli1]

but I don't want to look like an idiot if I go back to the store and it is something obvious.


Who give a s.hit? If your LWS will take the time to go over the Torch then I would be all over them- they are one valuable source.

[oldtimer]

I know I'll get laughed at but this works. If there are no dings on the tip seat, spit on it and rub it around the seat, then tighten it down. I have no idea what it does but I've stopped a lot of tips from popping this way. An oldtimer when I was starting out told me this trick.

Since it's new I would take it back and tell them to fix it or exchange it. A new rig shouldn't do this.

[Butters]

Who give a s.hit? If your LWS will take the time to go over the Torch then I would be all over them- they are one valuable source.

Well, the LWS is not very close to me and the nice folks at Victor fixed the problem over the phone. I simply didn't have the tip on tight enough.

[Sberry]

Also there is a tendency for newbies not to turn enough fuel up, if the preheat flame is too short you are starving the tip for fuel, causes rapid popping.

[calweld]

Well, the LWS is not very close to me and the nice folks at Victor fixed the problem over the phone. I simply didn't have the tip on tight enough.

Butters, thanks for coming back and leaving that last post; too many people don't, now this thread you started has a final answer, and may very well help somebody else out. http://slagpit.com/forums/images/smilies/great.gif

[Butters]

No problem. I appreciate everyone quickly offering help. I wish they would put some torque specs on how tight to get some of the fittings. I was under the wrong assumption that the brass would be pretty soft (based on years of twisting off brass screws in woodworking or on carberators). It seems it would be quite a safety issue if someone (even me) didnt have hose fittings or the regulators on tight enough.

[toolaholic]

Did You install anti flash back valves??? Name is close can't remember.

[Zrexxer]

Did You install anti flash back valves??? Name is close can't remember.The SuperRange II has built in flashback arrestors and check valves.

[Mr Meck]

And it should also have one of those handy dandy books from Victor telling everything you need to know about the torch, tips and pressures for the various gasses, lighting it up and etc. I have 4 heads, one for gouging to the left, one for gouging to the right, a #2 cutting, and a #1 cutting. So I don't have to keep changing tips. Unless I get into the big stuff then its a #4 gouging tip.:eek: The head is brass but the tips are copper. Enjoy your new torch.:D:cool: