Leaking overflow box....stumped.

redfishbluefish

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I don't get it???? Something is not sitting flush. I can't see how that is not sealing??? I'm puzzled!
 

redfishbluefish

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No sarcasm. I'm really not understanding why this isn't working. I'm at a loss!
 
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Jakepen

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Yeah I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Should I add the standard gasket like this?

image.jpg
 

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I too am at a loss.. I don't see how its leaking unless something is cracked. Show us the other side of the bulk head where you have it installed.. Inside of the tank
 
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Jakepen

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Yup, I’m stumped. Don’t know what else to do.
 
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Jakepen

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Should the hole for the bulkhead have this much room left over?

D70394BE-936F-47BF-8314-151D3077A6F7.jpeg
 

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No.. bulkhead is not right.. did you drill the hole? You may have to drill for next size up.. but baised on pic, looks like hole is slightly too big
 

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A little 'slop' around the bulkhead really isn't a big deal, as long as the gasket covers it. BTW, even if you only filled the external box, the paint may still be the problem. Water will get around the threads and make its way past the gasket to the painted surface. I think you have to remove enough that there is clean glass showing past any and all chips. In fact, I'd not have paint between the two boxes at all, won't see it anyhow. If that fails to work then you may have to resort to the proverbial band aid: silicone sealant.
 

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Personally, I don't think the hole size is an issue. It would still seal, if you didn't have numerous sizeable chips along the edge. Those chips may be your problem, but I would at least try to change that gasket. IMO, this is not a good gasket.

image-jpg.648644
 
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Jakepen

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I took the gasket sheet off, and doubled up the gaskets. Still leaks, so I think the next option is to silicone it?
 
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Jakepen

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The gentlemen at modular marine I am emailing with, told me when I silicone to just leave the gasket off. Said to run a bead, and just put the over flow box on like normal. Seems weird to me, is this good advice?
 

don_chuwish

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I guess since the silicone won't stick to the gasket anyway it makes sense. Are you certain where the leak is coming from? I'm wondering if a little test without the overflow box might be useful. Install the bulkhead on the glass by itself - gasket on flange (wet) side only. Plug the bulkhead and see if it leaks. The dry side of the glass and the dry side of the outside overflow box should never see any water at all - so that chipping on the back of the tank shouldn't even matter. It's either getting past the inside tank gasket/flange or the nut/gasket inside the overflow box.
 

TheKyle

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I recently installed 18” modular Marine overflow. I had the same leaking issue from what it sounds. Water was leaking through the bulkhead threads on the in tank side when I turned the power out. Bought a second pair of gaskets from brs to install on the inside. Now it works fine. Should come with two sets of gaskets to begin with imo. This is what other brands do. Besides this issue I love the overflow box by the way.
 

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The gentlemen at modular marine I am emailing with, told me when I silicone to just leave the gasket off. Said to run a bead, and just put the over flow box on like normal. Seems weird to me, is this good advice?

Yes, true ..... see my post #16 earlier in this thread LOL. But make sure you clean off the paint so that the silicone has clean glass to adhere to.
 

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I have overcome chips like that by drilling and siconing another thin sheet of glass over the chip to create a good suface. Might even be able to use the supplied template. Can also just silicone eveything without the gaskets assuggested.
 
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Jakepen

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I guess since the silicone won't stick to the gasket anyway it makes sense. Are you certain where the leak is coming from? I'm wondering if a little test without the overflow box might be useful. Install the bulkhead on the glass by itself - gasket on flange (wet) side only. Plug the bulkhead and see if it leaks. The dry side of the glass and the dry side of the outside overflow box should never see any water at all - so that chipping on the back of the tank shouldn't even matter. It's either getting past the inside tank gasket/flange or the nut/gasket inside the overflow box.
Yeah I think I’m certain. It actually doesn’t leak when I have it running, only when I intentionally clog the primary, maybe even the secondary I can’t remeber. Once the water in the box rises past the bulkhead is when it starts to leak. And last night I had the water in the tank below the drains, I poured water in the overflow box by hand, and it leaked.
 
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Jakepen

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Yes, true ..... see my post #16 earlier in this thread LOL. But make sure you clean off the paint so that the silicone has clean glass to adhere to.
Just makes me nervous I guess, what if it doesn’t seal? How do I get the box off then. Would it be better to fill the chips and smooth them out, let them cure and then install the gasket?
 

don_chuwish

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Yeah I think I’m certain. It actually doesn’t leak when I have it running, only when I intentionally clog the primary, maybe even the secondary I can’t remeber. Once the water in the box rises past the bulkhead is when it starts to leak. And last night I had the water in the tank below the drains, I poured water in the overflow box by hand, and it leaked.

That helps - gotta be going through the threads from the outside box. Technically they aren't designed to be wet - pipe would normally take the water from inside the bulkhead and the outside would stay dry. A little silicone or even teflon tape on the threads might do it. You'd still be able to unscrew it even with a little bit of silicone on the threads - really doesn't need to be much.
 
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Jakepen

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That helps - gotta be going through the threads from the outside box. Technically they aren't designed to be wet - pipe would normally take the water from inside the bulkhead and the outside would stay dry. A little silicone or even teflon tape on the threads might do it. You'd still be able to unscrew it even with a little bit of silicone on the threads - really doesn't need to be much.
Good idea, I’ll try Teflon tonight. If i silicon without the gasket, do both sides correct?
 

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