tricks for a leaky soda siphon?

[Swamp_Fox]

Hi folks! I'm putting together a modest home bar and, being a traditionalist to the core, I picked up a '60s or '70s vintage Soda King seltzer siphon to go with it (I'll drink my whiskey neat before I make a highball with seltzer from a disposable bottle, thank-you-very-much!).

I filled it to the prescribed level, assembled it, loaded a cartridge in the holder, and tightened it down. When the CO2 cartridge started to go, water immediately started dribbling out the spout. I put my thumb over the spout and it started gurgling around the neck and even around where the charge holder screwed on. So, the thing seems to be leaking gas from every possible place! The gaskets don't look bad--they're still flexible and not cracked.

Does anybody have any pointers / is there any trick to assembling these things, or are the gaskets just shot?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nobert]

I'm not an expert (though I have used these things), so I'm just making stabs in the dark. It has all the parts, including the tube leading from the nozzle to the bottom of the bottle? Did you use cold water or room temp? I think CO2 dissolves more readily in warmer liquid. Not much help, I imagine, just my best guesses.

 

[Stanley Doble]

After that much time it is definitely possible the seals have lost some resiliency. Are new seals available? If you can take it apart and put in new seals chances are it will work like new.