TheKillerPenguin

I was just given a c02 tire inflator, and looking down at the c02 cartridge, it says it shouldn't be heated above 120*F. I'm concerned that if it's a 100* day, if it's exposed to direct sunlight for too long it could explode. Is there any justification to thinking this?

jsharr

I think you should err on the safe side. Go get one of those huge Igloo coolers with wheels and a handle, and when you ride on hot days, ice down your inflator in the cooler and ride with one hand on bars and one hand pulling the cooler.

jaldridge

The carbon dioxide cartridges I'm familiar with have overpressure safety release mechanisms, but I don't know if that is universally true. - Jim

Ebbtide

No, not really.

armia

They will explode. At 100F and above co2 changes into pure nitroglicerin. you hit any pothole and you'll be up in the air. think about what that co2 will do to your tires!

TheKillerPenguin

I might just carry one around to throw at idiot drivers if thats the case

martin_j001

The do make for a good defensive weapon if the need were to arise--empty or full!!!

TheKillerPenguin

I wish I had one of em yesterday. Some asshat decided to pass a line of cars coming towards me, coming into MY LANE and almost hitting me head on while he was going 75. I'm lucky I didn't wind up swerving to the left when he was coming, since I was looking down, not forward at the time.

Brillig

Just make sure you point it backwards. Then if it does explode you'll get a burst of speed that will impress onlookers.

slvoid

I don't know if they'll explode. If it's stressed, a crack'll form and if designed properly, the crack propagation thickness is greater than the thickness of the catridge, so instead of having the crack suddenly expand and rip through the cartridge, it'll just cause a tiny leak.
They use the same cartridges in motorcycles and people store em under their seats in the sun all the time.

suntreader

Rocket power!

armia

now, this guy seems reasonable....

alraicercsu

the chances of exploding are very small and the point of failure will be at point were the CO2 normally exits at the seal, there is a very small chance of one failing at any point. You will be safe.

1955

Not if you fill it with gun power, run a fuse from it and light it.

Many, many years ago some "friends" of mine used to do just that, quite the mini pipe bomb.

Happy to still be alive.

Spammy

I'm actually going overseas in a few weeks with my folding road bike to participate in the London-to-Brighton bike ride. I usually pack CO2 cartridges under my saddle on my main road bike. Is there any danger in packing C02 cartridges in luggage that goes under the plane? Is it illegal to bring such high-pressure cartridges on a plane?

I just assumed it was a no-go in the past but never really....asked. Well?

Thanks

TheKillerPenguin

If they find those in your bags, you're going to be vacationing at sunny Guantanamo Bay for the next few years.

Remember to pack your suntan lotion.

webist

I keep 'em in my seat bag in Southern AZ. Haven't had any problems.

Brillig

Especially since you and your bike are in northern Connecticut. [rimshot]

Larry3x2

This will put this risk into proper perspective. My son tells me they use these cylinders in paintball guns. If those guys aren't exploding them with monotonous regularity, I think we're safe.

Larry

TheKillerPenguin

Yeah, I play paintball too. But the cylinders are in use a lot of the time, so they keep themselves cooled off even in hot weather. I was just concerned because a c02 cylinder would be sitting in my pocket without being in constant use, although it seems I was just being paranoid

suntreader

It's definitely illegal. Always has been.

slvoid

It won't explode in a plane either. I mean, these babies are pressurized at 1500-2000 psi. If the plane were to ascend into OUTER SPACE where the pressure is 0, a 1500psi cartridge would increase to 1515psi.

stealthbiker

Same cartridges used in bouyancy compensators for scuba diving. Frequently left in trunks of cars or the sun during hot weather. Never known one to explode. Probably plenty shipped on airplanes as well.

hi565

I was going to say seat bag.

If its in your seat bag it wont be getting direct heat you shoudl be ok.

Wildwood 

I had one explode in my car one summer, while parked in the sun. There were 3 cartridges in the cardboard box they came in, the box was on the floor and the windshield was a casualty of the explosion. Maybe it was a faulty cylinder as only one of the three was affected.