Need some advice please
My Rapid has just started loosing a whole bottle in 2 days !
However I can't hear any leaks from the gun.
What's my best way to find the leak?
Buying some leak detection fluid ?
Where do the most common leaks come from on a rapid?
(I've never stripped my rapid or removed the stock before, but I have repaired leaks on other PCP's before)
Try puting a balloon over the barrel if it fills with air then it is most likely your valve needs new seals. Also check the O ring on the bottle.
Old School.... soapy water solution has always worked for me...
But you need to thoroughly remove the solution to prevent corrosion.
Using compressed air helps....
Check Valve-cover, bottle and adapter..
To check the if you are leaking down the barrel..(main-valve leak)
I use a marble on the crown with soapy solution....
Good Luck,
Stuart
I just remove stock, scope & sometimes barrel, put the action in the bath & look for bubbles.
If it's reg'd that's probably most likely, closely followed by the valve, & any blanking cover.
They're a doddle to strip & re seal, ATM I've got my Scorpion SE in bits, that's an utter pig by comparison.
Quote from: nevadacowboy on February 28, 2026, 05:09:19 PMTry puting a balloon over the barrel if it fills with air then it is most likely your valve needs new seals. Also check the O ring on the bottle.
Great idea and easy to do.
Do you mean the o ring on the neck of the bottle or internal bottle valve seals ?
Quote from: Ca_Varminter on February 28, 2026, 06:20:36 PMOld School.... soapy water solution has always worked for me...
But you need to thoroughly remove the solution to prevent corrosion.
Using compressed air helps....
Check Valve-cover, bottle and adapter..
To check the if you are leaking down the barrel..(main-valve leak)
I use a marble on the crown with soapy solution....
Good Luck,
Stuart
Thanks, I'm a bit hesitant to use water as it's nearly impossible to remove of it from the entire action.
I have now bought some leak spray, which is supposed to be corrosion resistant, so will give it a try with a marble on the crown.
Quote from: angrybear on March 02, 2026, 05:36:56 PMI just remove stock, scope & sometimes barrel, put the action in the bath & look for bubbles.
If it's reg'd that's probably most likely, closely followed by the valve, & any blanking cover.
They're a doddle to strip & re seal, ATM I've got my Scorpion SE in bits, that's an utter pig by comparison.
It's not reg'd, so will try spraying my leak detector fluid over all the blanking covers.
Glad hear they're a doddle to strip.
Are there any tips to make sure I don't cook it up ?
Tnx
Quote from: Rapid44 on March 05, 2026, 11:11:32 PMQuote from: angrybear on March 02, 2026, 05:36:56 PMI just remove stock, scope & sometimes barrel, put the action in the bath & look for bubbles.
If it's reg'd that's probably most likely, closely followed by the valve, & any blanking cover.
They're a doddle to strip & re seal, ATM I've got my Scorpion SE in bits, that's an utter pig by comparison.
It's not reg'd, so will try spraying my leak detector fluid over all the blanking covers.
Glad hear they're a doddle to strip.
Are there any tips to make sure I don't cook it up ?
Tnx
Apart from the seal kit you need silicone grease to help the O rings slide without damage, some kits offer it as an option or eblag under scuba kit,
Check if the underside blank is a dowty washer as the kits rarely include one 3/8 BSP iirc
Quote from: angrybear on March 06, 2026, 01:03:12 PMQuote from: Rapid44 on March 05, 2026, 11:11:32 PMQuote from: angrybear on March 02, 2026, 05:36:56 PMI just remove stock, scope & sometimes barrel, put the action in the bath & look for bubbles.
If it's reg'd that's probably most likely, closely followed by the valve, & any blanking cover.
They're a doddle to strip & re seal, ATM I've got my Scorpion SE in bits, that's an utter pig by comparison.
It's not reg'd, so will try spraying my leak detector fluid over all the blanking covers.
Glad hear they're a doddle to strip.
Are there any tips to make sure I don't cook it up ?
Tnx
Apart from the seal kit you need silicone grease to help the O rings slide without damage, some kits offer it as an option or eblag under scuba kit,
Check if the underside blank is a dowty washer as the kits rarely include one 3/8 BSP iirc
You mention 3/8 BSP iirc
what is iirc ?
I haven't hear of that before
iirc...if I recall correctly?!?!?
The Bottom plug is 1/4" bspp......
Stuart
Quote from: angrybear on March 02, 2026, 05:36:56 PMI just remove stock, scope & sometimes barrel, put the action in the bath & look for bubbles.
If it's reg'd that's probably most likely, closely followed by the valve, & any blanking cover.
They're a doddle to strip & re seal, ATM I've got my Scorpion SE in bits, that's an utter pig by comparison.
Been known to dunk the action to find the most minute leak. Just the bare action with bottle. Trigger, hammer and barrel removed.
Also had the bare action and drip fed the transfer port with with fluid via a syringe to see if the valve is leaking.
To be honest, if I ever get a leak, I usually strip the whole gun down and replace all the seals, including those in the regulator. That normally cures any leaking issues and saves chasing the problem from one seal to another.
If you're working on a Mk1 Rapid, the job is easier than most people think. There's plenty of information available on the forum covering the complete strip-down and rebuild process. Have a look around and you should find everything you need to do the job properly.
Been leaking for months, must have been fixed by now :D
Did my mk2 yesterday
Rapids are one of the most simple rifles to strip. Stripped my mk2 yesterday to the bare bones literally in a couple of minutes, as was getting a puff from through the firing valve into the hammer chamber. A full re-seal and back together in 10 minutes.👍