CO2 Cartridge Shelf Life?

Try it to see if it works!

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- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
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"rsquared" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I found a CO2 cartridge in my work bench. I have no idea how old it
is. Do they have a shelf life?

The cartridge is in good shape - - no corrosion, but it could be a
couple of years old.

rsquared

Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it? :-)

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Try it to see if it works!

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
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"rsquared" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I found a CO2 cartridge in my work bench. I have no idea how old it
is. Do they have a shelf life?

The cartridge is in good shape - - no corrosion, but it could be a
couple of years old.

rsquared

rsquared said:

I found a CO2 cartridge in my work bench. I have no idea how old it
is. Do they have a shelf life?

The cartridge is in good shape - - no corrosion, but it could be a
couple of years old.

I have probably a dozen or more here (usually just carry a pump) -- last
time I bought 'em was probably 5 years ago or more. (Aaack -- bet it was 6
or 7!)

Carry a fresh one AND your oldie, and try the old one first.

Brilliant Bill

Well don't try it on a flat during a ride; try it
"before" a ride.

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- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
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"Bob Palermo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it? :-)

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Try it to see if it works!

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
(Remove XSPAM)

"rsquared" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I found a CO2 cartridge in my work bench. I have no idea how old it
is. Do they have a shelf life?

The cartridge is in good shape - - no corrosion, but it could be a
couple of years old.

rsquared

rsquared said:

I found a CO2 cartridge in my work bench. I have no idea how old it
is. Do they have a shelf life?

The cartridge is in good shape - - no corrosion, but it could be a
couple of years old.

rsquared

Dear R^2,

Assuming that it's an intact cartridge and not one that was pierced
with a valve . . .

CO2 cartridges have essentially an indefinite shelf life, barring
corrosion or cracking (which will be rather noisy and obvious).

There's no valve to leak, The sealed metal cartridge is able to hold
enormous pressure (900 psi) until the seal is punctured.

If you're desperately curious, weigh it on an electronic postal scale
and compare to a similar cartridge. If it did somehow leak, it would
weigh noticeably less.

Here are some pictures with sizes and weights:
http://www.aerotechnic.com/accessories/C02Cartridges.htm

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Quoted message said:

Here are some pictures with sizes and weights:
http://www.aerotechnic.com/accessories/C02Cartridges.htm

One thing to be careful about: the threaded and unthreaded
versions of each size may not be the same length.

I discovered that the hard way the other day when I had to
stuff a rock in the cup of my inflator to get an unthreaded
cartridge to pierce itself.

Then I went home and measured. 2-3 mm shorter. Just
enough.

Then I went to a LBS and checked. Same deal with a
different brand.

To recap: threaded = longer; unthreaded = shorter; gravel = a tool.

--Blair

But if you try it before the ride, then you can't use it during the ride.
These are one shot deals, at least the ones I use are.

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well don't try it on a flat during a ride; try it
"before" a ride.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
(Remove XSPAM)

"Bob Palermo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it? :-)

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Try it to see if it works!

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
(Remove XSPAM)

"rsquared" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> I found a CO2 cartridge in my work bench. I have no idea how old it
> is. Do they have a shelf life?
>
> The cartridge is in good shape - - no corrosion, but it could be a
> couple of years old.
>
> rsquared
>

LOL! Use it before a ride, and have another
(newer, known-good) one during the ride.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
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"Bob Palermo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

But if you try it before the ride, then you can't use it during the ride.
These are one shot deals, at least the ones I use are.

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well don't try it on a flat during a ride; try it
"before" a ride.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
(Remove XSPAM)

"Bob Palermo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it? :-)

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Try it to see if it works!
>
> --
> - Zilla
> Cary, NC USA
> (Remove XSPAM)
>
>
> "rsquared" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
>> I found a CO2 cartridge in my work bench. I have no idea how old it
>> is. Do they have a shelf life?
>>
>> The cartridge is in good shape - - no corrosion, but it could be a
>> couple of years old.
>>
>> rsquared
>>
>
>

<[email hidden]> wrote: (clip)To recap: threaded =
longer;(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Haven't you been following this thread? You never recap them--throw them
away. ;-)

Leo Lichtman said:

<[email hidden]> wrote: (clip)To recap: threaded =
longer;(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Haven't you been following this thread? You never recap them--throw
them away. ;-)

Leo. Leo Leo Leo.

LEO.

L

E

O

..

..

..

..

rsquared said:

I found a CO2 cartridge in my work bench. I have no idea how old it
is. Do they have a shelf life?

The cartridge is in good shape - - no corrosion, but it could be a
couple of years old.

I've never heard of one leaking in a few years. If you wish to check,
then find a balance and weigh the questioned one against a new one.

I'd say take it with you for flat fix. That will add a frisson of danger
from uncertainty to your otherwise dull ride <g>

-paul

Quoted message said:

rsquared said:

I found a CO2 cartridge in my work bench. I have no idea how old it
is. Do they have a shelf life?

The cartridge is in good shape - - no corrosion, but it could be a
couple of years old.

rsquared

Dear R^2,

Assuming that it's an intact cartridge and not one that was pierced
with a valve . . .

CO2 cartridges have essentially an indefinite shelf life, barring
corrosion or cracking (which will be rather noisy and obvious).

There's no valve to leak, The sealed metal cartridge is able to hold
enormous pressure (900 psi) until the seal is punctured.

If you're desperately curious, weigh it on an electronic postal scale
and compare to a similar cartridge. If it did somehow leak, it would
weigh noticeably less.

Here are some pictures with sizes and weights:
http://www.aerotechnic.com/accessories/C02Cartridges.htm

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Ahh! Nice suggestion! I am not very well grounded in science(s). The
idea that the difference in mass would be easily measurable did not
occur to me.

rsquared

Leo Lichtman said:

<[email hidden]> wrote:
(clip)To recap: threaded =
longer;(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Haven't you been following this thread? You never recap them--throw them
away. ;-)

Sure you do. You save the used ones and then marry
them by putting them end-to-end, just like diners do
with those "not labeled for resale" ketchup bottles.

It'll save your life one day. You watch.

--Blair