New Jobo tank leaks...

[kodachrome64]

I bought a Jobo 1510 from Freestyle (single 35mm roll tank) to replace my el cheapo SS tank, and I absolutely love the design and the reel.
The problem is that after about 10 rolls of film, the top started leaking. I never had any leaks before, and it's my understanding that the Jobo tanks are not supposed to leak. This is quite annoying because fixer flies everywhere as I am agitating. I love the smell of fixer and don't personally mind it, but other people may, and my fixer cologne isn't as pleasant to others I'm sure. Bottom line is that I don't want the tank to leak.

I found an older post on here that said something about the top on Jobo tanks may leak after a few years, and one person offered a solution of putting the top in hot water, placing it on the tank, and letting it cool. I tried this and I think it made it even worse. I contacted Freestyle, and I got a response stating that it's normal for tanks to leak to some degree, and that I could send the tank back if I want to (which I really don't) or I could put black electrical tape around the tank while processing. That doesn't seem practical to me.

Has anyone had this issue or know how to fix it? I really don't want to have to send the tank back and wait a week to do any more processing.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[CCOS]

My own 1520 jobo tank which is at least 10 years old and made many rolls og 35mm rolls are not leaking at all.( only is I put to much chemistry in it), so back to Freestyle with it I would say.
Not even my two 2840 tanks leaks, same age....

But from where does it leaks? the (red)cap or ?

Jesper

 

[kodachrome64]

The red cap is where it leaks from. I really don't want to be a week without a tank, so I'm trying to avoid sending it back.

 

[galyons]

Perhaps a silly question, but does it have the top for hand development rather than fitment on a Jobo processor? The hand development top is a big orange plastic cap. Rotary processing cap is either a cone with gearing around the top opening or a magnet for nob Jobo lift use.

Never had one leak for hand or rotarty processing,

Cheers,
Geary

 

[kodachrome64]

It's the orange/red cap for hand development. It does not have a cog for Jobo processors.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I've been running the 1500 series of tanks for about 25 years now, I have three tops and obviously three orange caps.

To a certain extent, all of them leak slightly, none are positively watertight when doing inversion agitation!

Over the years I have resorted to many tricks, but usually wear a pair of rubber gloves designed for hand washing of dishes when hand developing film in the 1500 tanks.

It is possible that when they were new, they didn't leak, but I cannot remember.

If you wish to expand your tank one day to enable you to develop 4 rolls at a time, then purchase the 1530 extender module, along with the centre core extender and three extra reels.

The Jobo tank system(s) is a really good and complete system for developing film and/or paper, give it time and you will be able to realise the full potential, if you so desire.

Gloves are cheap, film and chemicals aren't!

Mick.

Ps:- I mainly develop with these tanks in a rotary processor these days, but do inversion developing about 15 -20 times a year for single developing sessions

 

[Bluechapel]

Same thing: I have many of these tanks in an abundant range of sizes and configurations (up to the 3000 series). The only one I've ever had leak (other than because of an overfill during rotary processing) was because the orange/red ring that slides down over the little teeth to lock it onto the tank had managed to kink/break one of the teeth under it. I pulled of the offending tooth and it sealed tightly. the only other problem I had was simple user error of not getting that ring pushed down all the way around the tank-which you won't really notice during hand/inversion processing: it does become evident during rotary because you can see it 'wobble' as it spins.

 

[juanito]

Same here, they do leak. To avoid this I bought a CPE rotary processor.

 

[kodachrome64]

Well the leak is definitely coming from the rubber top; it did not leak when I got it. The SS tank I had "leaked" a few drops here and there, but this tank is leaking significantly enough to fling fixer everywhere. I know it's not supposed to be like this...I guess I'll keep messing with the top. I don't mind getting it on my hands; it's the other items in the room that I don't really want to get chemicals all over.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Those little red tops are available as replacments from anyone who has converted a tank from manual to rotary processing using the cog. They should be avaialble from many photo dealers. Placing them under unde strain can deform them and cause leakage, but I have a number of tanks with and without cogs for both types of processing.

The red cap and black top should meet smoothly all the way around or it will leak, and the center of the cap should be pressed firmly down onto the black top opening. The black inner post should mate firmly with the black cap.

PE

 

[Jerry Thirsty]

I always store mine with the orange cap loose. I thought I read somewhere that leaving them on tight all the time would cause the rubber to stretch out, and then you get leaks obviously. My oldest one is maybe five years old, and it doesn't leak yet, so maybe that advice is good for something.

 

[kodachrome64]

I read somewhere to store the cap separate from the tank as well. I haven't even "stored" the tank, since I've used it every day since I bought it. But when I'm not using it, the cap is not on it. I guess it's time for a new cap...

 

[Nick Zentena]

The only time mine leak is if I don't fit the lid right.

Think about it. The things are intended to roll on their sides potentially unattended for quite a while. Often with very little chemistry. If they leaked by design you'd end up filling the processor up with chemicals.

You say the rubber top is leaking? Are you sure it's pushed on well? Other then that how hard are you inverting? I can't imagine with a small tank you could be that forceful but new ones shouldn't leak.

 

[Shelly Grimson]

TWo thoughts. First did you press in the inner core of the red top piece before putting the tank on the rollers? I do that and it seems to allow expansion outwards if pressure builds up while in the processer.
The other hint is to always leave the parts separate when not in use to allow the soft plastic to remain in shape so that it fits snuggly when it is used. I do notice the slight leaking sometimes but since I always put in 300 ml not 250 per roll, I have no worries about running out of developer. And of course I always wear latex or nitrile gloves during any processing so I can wipe up any drippings with a cloth immediately after the time runs and the tank is removed.

 

[haris]

As Shelly said, try to press inner core of red top inside, and then to put red top on tank. That is what Jobo manual said to prevent leaking. Jobo manual said to keep red top sepatrate, that is not to put it on tank when is stored.

See at: http://www.jobo.com/jobo_service_analog/analog_frei/bedanleitung_pdf/Tanksystem_1500.pdf (picture No10)

I recieved my Jobo 2520 tank with red top below the tank, and that is how I store it.

 

[kodachrome64]

Thank you haris for the manual. I found something that works! Similar to what you said, if I put the top on then push the top center in, it creates a seal much better. This is not in my Jobo instructions, but it works much much better.

Thanks to all!

 

[pentaxuser]

Mine leaks very, very slightly on inversion but certainly not enough to go everywhere. As others have said pushing the top in helps as it creates a slight vacuum by expelling some air and external air pressure does the rest. I'd endorse the idea of not placing the top on when storing as this destroys the tight fit to an extent. I'd doubly endorse the idea of not storing the tank with the plastic top( not red cap) clamped down as if you were about to process. This will weaken the seal mechanism that holds the top on and then the leak becomes serious and could result in a crucial loss of chemical.

pentaxuser