please help with bethlehem bravo

[parvatia]

hi, i just got a bethlehem bravo (ive always just had a lynx) and im not using a foot pedal so i got y connections and hooked it up to the propane and my hurricane oxygen machine. it smelled really bad of propane the whole 20 minutes i used it. i didnt change the propane line bc ive used it with the lynx for so long and never had a problem, but im getting a new one just to be safe. now ive only used the lynx and the oxygen system seemed fine with it, but with the bravo its not very forceful...could i be smelling propane bc the torch isnt getting enough oxygen from the hurricane? (it is an older model about 5-6 years old). should i run soap bubbles along the line? i did make 1 pendant on it and it melted it so much faster than the lynx so im really exciting to use it but afraid of all the propane i smell. any help i would greatly appreciate. thank you.

[akmewon]

soapy water on all connections... you should not smell propane at all bro..
was torch new or used ?make sure you check any where gas could leak from too

[j4y]

What do you have your regulators set to? From what I understand, the bravo is a pretty low pressure torch.

I've had mine since march and its been great. No propane smell for me. I've been running my propane at 4psi and my oxy at 12. I read that the valves on the bravo will leak if you go above 25 psi on the oxy or the fuel.

Also, I just got a new L marver from Blast Shield for my bravo. Its a super nice addition to the torch.

[parvatia]

i had the propane psi at like 5-6, it says it runs at 8. the torch was brand new from sundance. it does have me worried bc its a strong propane smell, nothing faint about it. like i said i figured the hose was good bc it never leaked before. i just cut it with scissors, jammed the valve into it and tightened it up with a hose clamp. it really sucks bc its not like i can just call someone to fix it but smelling all the propane something is obviously wrong.

[HPIAdam]

Whats your oxy running at? Do you tune your regs with the torch running? Try 4 or 5 psi for propane next time.
You have a good theory about not enough ox to push all the propane through, its either that or your lines.

[j4y]

Not sure where you read to run your fuel at 8 psi but check Beth's site... they say 2 psi.
http://www.bethlehemburners.com/torches/bravo

And like the others already said, spray a little liquid soap on all your fittings and your hose and look for bubbles/leaks. Regardless of a propane smell, I test everything!

Its totally over kill but you can buy a bottle of stuff made just for testing for leaks. I got a bottle from HomeDepot I use all the time. $5 and you don't have to question your hardware.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100198348/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=leak&storeId=10051

[parvatia]

thanks for the help, you were right it was 2 psi, not 8 psi. i tried it without turning the propane on and never smelled any propane plus the psi held very steady. only when i lit the torch (and then adjusted the psi from about 3 1/2 to 2 psi) did i start to smell it again. it seems to come right from the torch and not the connections or the hoses. the hurricane its connnected to is suppose to be 20psi and 15lpm but i have no idea if its running at full speed? should i try to return the torch? i also did try soapy water and found nothing but like i said i never smelled any propane at all before i opened the valves on the torch which would make me think it isnt the connections or hose but the torch leaking it somewhere other than the burner??? i dont know but thanks for trying to help. it also smelled way worse today at 2 psi than the day before at 8 psi lol.

[p.j.]

thanks for the help, you were right it was 2 psi, not 8 psi. i tried it without turning the propane on and never smelled any propane plus the psi held very steady. only when i lit the torch (and then adjusted the psi from about 3 1/2 to 2 psi) did i start to smell it again. it seems to come right from the torch and not the connections or the hoses. the hurricane its connnected to is suppose to be 20psi and 15lpm but i have no idea if its running at full speed? should i try to return the torch? i also did try soapy water and found nothing but like i said i never smelled any propane at all before i opened the valves on the torch which would make me think it isnt the connections or hose but the torch leaking it somewhere other than the burner??? i dont know but thanks for trying to help. it also smelled way worse today at 2 psi than the day before at 8 psi lol.

is your propane tank almost empty? i can smell propane when i am about finished with my tank, usually about 4 hours(of constant use) before it runs out.

[Icarus]

is your propane tank almost empty? i can smell propane when i am about finished with my tank, usually about 4 hours(of constant use) before it runs out.

Exactly what I was going to say. End of my tanks often smell terrible. That's usually one of the warning signs I look for to let me know my tank is almost dead. Try switching out to a full tank first.

Also, that stuff J4Y linked to is worth it. Leaving soap on brass can cause it to oxidize, that stuff will not.

[LarryC]

Does Mercaptan pool in the bottom of the tank?

[Role]

Also, that stuff J4Y linked to is worth it. Leaving soap on brass can cause it to oxidize, that stuff will not.

/truth

I found out a while back that Dawn dishwashing liquid corrodes the shit out of brass. :(

I use LA-CO pro-grade leak testing fluid now...


To the OP, we have a new Bravo and no propane smells.
Check for leaks now, propane is heavier than air and can pool on the floor until
it reaches explosive concentrations.

[parvatia]

i got a full tank of propane and it still smelled. i dont think anything is wrong with the torch at all to be honest. i think its just not getting enough oxy from the hurricane to burn all the propane. i stared at the torch and i saw heat waves come off it like fumes, i never once saw that from the lynx and also the lynx hissed like crazy, this has no hiss but just huge reduction flames. im getting a homefill unit to go to tanked but will probably have to sell this bravo bc the only reason i got a midrange torch is bc i thought the hurricane would power it. if i have to go to tanked i would rather go bigger and get a cc or phantom or mirage. thanks for all your help.

[Role]

i got a full tank of propane and it still smelled. i dont think anything is wrong with the torch at all to be honest. i think its just not getting enough oxy from the hurricane to burn all the propane. i stared at the torch and i saw heat waves come off it like fumes, i never once saw that from the lynx and also the lynx hissed like crazy, this has no hiss but just huge reduction flames. im getting a homefill unit to go to tanked but will probably have to sell this bravo bc the only reason i got a midrange torch is bc i thought the hurricane would power it. if i have to go to tanked i would rather go bigger and get a cc or phantom or mirage. thanks for all your help.


The Hurricane is not the problem, unless it is not functioning properly.

I'm running the Bravo on 2 M-15s. (less PSI than the Hurricane)
No propane smell, at all, no huge reduction flames.

It sounds like your hurricane is either not running right or you have
something blocking your O2 flow.

If you are mechanically inclined, open the case on the hurricane and
make sure the clear tubing running from the regulator to the brass B
fitting on the front is not twisted.

People often accidentally turn the connector when attaching the hose which
twists the internal tubing and blocks the O2 flow.

Good luck.

[neddowerx]

Also you can run a bravo at 1/2psi gas with good results. It sounds like you have a leak in your gas valve, I've had it happen to me. You should take your valves off and look inside for a metal shard or something sitting in there making it so your valve doesn't seat right. I have found shards from machining the threads sitting in the bottom a few times in beths, easy to check. Also sounds like it could be a defective valve that they would replace for free, esspecially since your torch is new. Check the inside of your gas valves (oxy too since hour already doing the gas ones) and then try less than 1 psi gas to whatever your hurricane can push and see how that goes. Also while running, spray the valves to check for leaks. Good luck, bravos are really nice burners, I know many that like it every bit as much as their phantom.

[DIMBW]

I dont know if is an option for you, but if you have access to a Ktank, you might want to try running off that and seeing of you still smell fuel.

[Raimond]

Try this again... With all the valves off and the gas on, do you smell any gas? Hear any leaking from the torch?
I have a brand new Bravo as well. It's not unheard of that something can get past QA but it is unlikely. I'm betting on a leak at the hose to brass fitting connectors. Did you have the correct size connectors? It should be a bit difficult to push into the hose. If you use one that is too small, the hose clamp will not make a good seal.
Do not disassemble the torch as it is new and you may void the warranty.

[skip]

im sure over a year later this situation was figured out....

[sredinger]

Note on this thread. My Bravo when it runs smells like my ventless propane space heater. It creates CO2 and water vapor and other trace chemicals just like one of those propane heaters that is 99% clean and allowed to run in a house with no vent. I am well ventilated too. On the other hand, my old PMd2 does not burn as clean as the Bravo and smells different than the Bravo. My Bravo creates a smell in the studio like ozone or something--- different than my other torches. I have run it at 2/9 and up to 6/14 fuel and O2 yet still it has that distinctive smell. This is of course different than the smell of propane or natural gas. But still I am thinking that the newer low pressure cleaner burning bench burners might create a different exhaust smell than the older versions.

[BORO]

If I could ever smell my torch, or anything on my bench, time for a bigger vent system.

Only one time did i smell that chlorine smell, and I'm not going back to that shop.