Is BRS trolling us?

[DmitryB]

Is BRS trolling us with their canisters or is it just me? If you order their RO/DI system or anything like that, those canisters come sealed with such force that you may need something industrial to open them again. I'm currently staring at the jumbo ozone air dryer and I can't open it out of the box. This is absurd and unnecessary. A quarter of the force would be good enough to seal anything in there. I may literally have to return it because I can't open it. Is it just me? Do I need to eat more spinach? Are they screwing with us?

 

[exnisstech]

PS do you have a piece of exposed wood you screw the bracket onto and the hit the wrench with the ball of your hand or a mallet?

 

[angsess]

I don't have the jumbo, but I had to get my husband to open their standard size canisters that came with my DI add on system. He was worried they were going to crack or he was going to break the wrench.

 

[vetteguy53081]

tHIS IS LIKELY THEIR SUPPLIER DOING THIS

 

[DmitryB]

I don't have the jumbo, but I had to get my husband to open their standard size canisters that came with my DI add on system. He was worried they were going to crack or he was going to break the wrench.

It's preposterous!!! There is no need for this, even if there was liquid in it, nothing would leak out with a moderate seal. I wish I had a husband to open it for me!

Even that tool they provide doesn't work because it just slips off.

 

[DmitryB]

PS do you have a piece of exposed wood you screw the bracket onto and the hit the wrench with the ball of your hand or a mallet?

I can find some wood. But what am I hitting?? Besides the wall.

 

[UncommonSense]

I’d recommend getting a pair of “strap wrenches”

These work excellent for wrapping around large, round-ish objects to get enough purchase to loosen/tighten them…

In your case, you’d have one strap wrench on the head of the canister, and one on the body so you can squeeze the two wrenches handles together to break the canister loose!

 

[DmitryB]

I’d recommend getting a pair of “strap wrenches”

These work excellent for wrapping around large, round-ish objects to get enough purchase to loosen/tighten them…

In your case, you’d have one strap wrenches on the head of the canister, and one on the body so you can squeeze the two wrenches handles together to break the canister loose!

 

[exnisstech]

You don't have a wrench?

 

[DmitryB]

You don't have a wrench?

Oh you mean the doohickey they provide to open these? I got that!

 

[exnisstech]

Oh you mean the doohickey they provide to open these? I got that!

Hit the handle on that with the canister mounted to something firm. A quick blow works better to loosen things than steady pressure. I treat them like oil filters, hand tighten only and use the wrench for removal. I wouldn't be surprised ibe there assembles in a machine which gets them tighter than needed.

PS don't tank offense because sometimes things get confusing when something can be flipped around. Righty tighty lefty loosey

 

[Reefer Matt]

My experience has been you have to mount them on the wall first, or tap on the handle of the wrench while holding back on the body. They are tight, and there are lubricants to help.

 

[get-salty]

haha i dont think its a big deal my man.
you have to remember, this hobby isnt just reefing gear but also plumbing and electrician..

ive used an oil filter wrench to open one. regular wrenches just arent big enough

 

[exnisstech]

regular wrenches just arent big enough

Sure they are

Oil filter pliers work better tho.

 

[KrisReef]

So, before these filter cartridges that are filled with loose media and put into a shipping box, Joe the Packer is responsible to use the wrench and a 4’ cheater bar to snug shut the filter in order to prevent loosening and spillage from the container during over the road shipping. Too many spill reports from the customer would cause Joe to suffer a season of unemployment.

Lay the filter on the floor and slide the filter wrench onto the canister so that standing on the filter you can put your other foot on the wrench and step down on both to crack the canister open at the threaded end. If it cracks elsewhere place the assembly back in the box and apply to BRS for a replacement or a refund.

Step softly!

 

[get-salty]

Sure they are

Oil filter pliers work better tho.

I mean, i used to carry one of those big wrenches in my back pocket. But now that i am older, its just too heavy...

; p

 

[UncommonSense]

If it cracks elsewhere

This is what always makes me nervous when really reefing on these filter housings!

The bolt (technically screw) pattern on the head of a BRS universal 2.5” filter cartridge housing is 1.5”x1.25”, 2” diagonally… the OD of the housing is ~4.5”… that’s a LOT of force to put on four little screws 2” apart at maximum!

That said, despite having yet to break one of these filter housing heads, the idea of supporting the head while really yanking on the housing body to loosen it still makes me feel more comfortable! (Particularly with the universal 4” housing size!)


— As an afterthought, I’ve seen people have some luck from physically heating the filter housing, causing it to expand in diameter by a few thousandths of an inch, loosening the threads! (This can be accomplished by running hot water over it, or leaving it out in the sun for a bit!)

 

[BryanM]

Even that tool they provide doesn't work because it just slips off.

That tool should not be slipping off.

Are you using the tool at the very top of the canister? This is where it will be most effective.

And I am guilty of this a fair amount: Double check you are actually turning it the correct way... I really have many times trying to remove things, including these canisters, and was actually tightening them

 

[DmitryB]

That tool should not be slipping off.

Are you using the tool at the very top of the canister? This is where it will be most effective.

And I am guilty of this a fair amount: Double check you are actually turning it the correct way... I really have many times trying to remove things, including these canisters, and was actually tightening them

Yep all the way at the top and I do the "is this clockwise or counter-clockwise?" check every time.

 

[slingfox]

I remember the first time I tried to upon one of try RODI canisters and it was a painful process. Then I used the proper tool from BRS and a strap wrench to hold the unit still and it opened just fine. Subsequent openings have been much easier (just the BRS tool is enough). Once you get the canister open once you will figure out the process which works.