I took it apart last night and apparently what happened was a bladder
failure as described below by Will. A few of you pointed out that the
bladder should absorb the pressure increase. If I pump in small amounts of
air now, it leaks out into the cylinder. The accumulator is the type with a
snap ring to hold the end plug on, and a groove is machined inside the
casing to locate the ring. This groove has a 1 inch long opening cut into
it, for snap ring installation I suppose. That cut is where the crack began.
So, I was lucky. Better to find out that the bladder failed this way then
when I really needed it. BTW, I did notice more oil pressure fluctuation
recently, its probably related. Thanks for all the comments.
Bob Kramer
----- Original Message -----
From: <WEmery7451@aol.com>
To: <rgk@flash.net>; <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 12:56 AM
Subject: Re: Accusump explosion
> In a message dated 9/30/02 11:58:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
rgk@flash.net
> writes:
>
> << I'm no physicist, but pressure rises as temp goes up. >>
>
> It sounds to me that air had leaked out of the internal bladder, and the
> cylinder started out being filled full of oil. Oil like water and any
other
> solid fluid doesn't compress very well, and the pressure would soar upward
> rapidly with the least little temperature rise. The cylinder being black
> also does not help matters any.
>
> Better make the next one silver to reflect a little of the sun's radiant
> energy. My problem is that I have black A/C insulation on mine to protect
it
> items being dropped.
>
> With air in the bladder, it would be nearly impossible for it to explode,
> unless the cylinder was damaged and about ready to let loose.
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