Today I visited four welding supply stores. None of them will refill the 10-oz CO2 cylinders. In addition, I asked about buying a large cylinder so I can do my own refills. All stores said they only exchange if you already own the cylinder. I asked about buying a new cylinder, and was told $300.00 - $400.00

So my question is, what is the 2025 solution to this dilemma?

Found two place to refill mione. A paint ball store and a home brewer supply shop.

Going to be getting medium size bottle to fill off of my self. Rihjt now have a 5lb bottle I had filled and use it for refills when leave bottle on or something stupid like that,LOL

If Shop is not PIA about which bottle or date crap and used NOS bottle or equalivent works good.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Woodfin:
Today I visited four welding supply stores. None of them will refill the 10-oz CO2 cylinders. In addition, I asked about buying a large cylinder so I can do my own refills. All stores said they only exchange if you already own the cylinder. I asked about buying a new cylinder, and was told $300.00 - $400.00

So my question is, what is the 2025 solution to this dilemma?

K+R

I have used several of the K & R units, even bought them from Steve "Air Armed", the original designer and builder, later went to work for Kevin Rodden and sold Kevin the design. My return to CO2 is simply personal reference. And I will find a solution, just though someone on this sight might be helpful.

Besides shifting what are you going to use the Co2 for?

Unless using an SLE there is no way I would use air to shift. JMO though.

If you have a local fire extinguisher place try them. That’s where I got mine filled until the track opened.

If you find a used 10lb bottle on Facebook or Craigslist, you can fill your little bottles yourself from a mother bottle. Also, if you have someone who fills nitrous, you can use that - the SLE doesn't care.

Last month I replaced my 10 ounce bottle with a 2.5 pound bottle. I encountered the same issue I had been using a beer distributor to refill the smaller 10 ounce bottle ($10) that was until he got tired of blowing the safety disc's out and stopped.

So, plan "B".

I bought a new 2.5 bottle and the really nice bracket to mount it on my 1 5/8 roll cage (Thanks Motion Performance in Dewitt, Iowa). When I went to the welding supply store to have it filled they would only exchange my bottle. That was not going to happen, so back to the beer distributor and a crisp new $10 and "oh happy day" I'm back in business.

I now have two 10 ounce bottles, a spare gauge and the brackets for a 1 5/8 cage for sale.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Woodfin:
Today I visited four welding supply stores. None of them will refill the 10-oz CO2 cylinders. In addition, I asked about buying a large cylinder so I can do my own refills. All stores said they only exchange if you already own the cylinder. I asked about buying a new cylinder, and was told $300.00 - $400.00

So my question is, what is the 2025 solution to this dilemma?

Find a used NOS 30 lb bottle. It is the same as a CO2. Take it down and exchange it for a CO2 bottle. That is what I did. Make sure to get one with the tube that goes to the bottom or you will have to flip it upside down to refill your 10 oz bottle.

Dave

I believe electric shifting is the better way to shift IF you have a programmable shift control that allows for activation only during the run and only the number of shifts needed. Without programmable control the solenoid (30+ amp) can be activated multiple times and possibly extended periods of time.

I use co2 because it’s the only activated cylinder that works with a 3 speed Cheetah. I plumb the electric over air solenoid directly on the air cylinder air entry. This uses the least amount of air to cycle piston. My air line to tank is short at 2’ long and use a fixed regulator (100*). When I turn my co2 tank off at the end of the day the system will maintain the pressure for weeks on end… no leaks. My trans only makes one shift during a run and I get 300+ runs out of a 10 oz bottle. I have three 10oz bottles and a friend that I see every other year is usually exchanging my last empty with one that he filled.

I prefer co2 over compressed air because it’s dry, but would change to compressed if it was the only option.

I only use air for SLE. We have a couple racers at the track that can fill our bottles thank goodness. Just had one filled today.

It is dated 12/96 lol. No way any gas company will fill that.

quote:

Originally posted by moparacer:
I only use air for SLE. We have a couple racers at the track that can fill our bottles thank goodness. Just had one filled today.

It is dated 12/96 lol. No way any gas company will fill that.

The 10 oz bottles are exempt from date cert requirements. I believe there is an 'E' stamped next to the date to indicate that.

quote:

Originally posted by Lenny5160:

quote:

Originally posted by moparacer:
I only use air for SLE. We have a couple racers at the track that can fill our bottles thank goodness. Just had one filled today.

It is dated 12/96 lol. No way any gas company will fill that.

The 10 oz bottles are exempt from date cert requirements. I believe there is an 'E' stamped next to the date to indicate that.

Interesting I didn't know that.I tried to get the old ones I have filled years ago and the guy that sells gas in our town told me they were probably too old. Will have to look and see if there is an E stamped on them.

Might try places that do sell paint ball guns!

I fill my using my Mig Mix bottle from my MIG welder. Only takes about 3-5 seconds to fill enough for a year.

quote:

Originally posted by 1leg:
Might try places that do sell paint ball guns!

I fill my using my Mig Mix bottle from my MIG welder. Only takes about 3-5 seconds to fill enough for a year.

This is interesting! Do you turn the MIG bottle upside-down or any tricks like that?

quote:

Originally posted by Lenny5160:

quote:

Originally posted by 1leg:
Might try places that do sell paint ball guns!

I fill my using my Mig Mix bottle from my MIG welder. Only takes about 3-5 seconds to fill enough for a year.

This is interesting! Do you turn the MIG bottle upside-down or any tricks like that?

I did not turn it upside down. Bought and adaptor off Amazon and like I said I just turned the mig bottle on for like 3-5 seconds. Had a scond person turn off the cO2 bottle. Put it in the car and used it for almost a year. I don't remember how many pound the gauge said.

A buddy of mine that does HVAC gave me a co2 bottle that I use to fill the one in the car. Connect them, turn the mother upside down, and open the valves.

As to electric or air for shifting, you'll never see an electric shifter in any car I have. Been there done that. Electric fail and when they do, stuff gets melted. No thanks. I can run the shift solenoid off a 9 volt battery that's on my car now....The only time it's ever failed me what when I forgot to turn on the bottle. My electric let the smoke out in a grand way....never again.

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
Unless using an SLE there is no way I would use air to shift. JMO though.

why?

quote:

Originally posted by seabass:

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
Unless using an SLE there is no way I would use air to shift. JMO though.

why?

The hassle that Larry is asking this question about. I don't ever even think about my shift solenoid. The thing was on my car when I bought it and it just works. Unlike Mark, I have never had a single problem with my wiring or letting the smoke out of anything.