Leaking T500

[Capt-Cudellez]

Hi, I treated myself to a T500 before Christmas, after a cleaning run, and a couple of successful runs pulling 94-95% it has developed a leak.

Today I noticed a not insignificant amount of alcohol running down the column, coming from where the reflux cooling coil exits the column and in to the block where the cooling water temp is measured. I stopped the run immediately, and after letting it cool took all the packing out, it looks like the cooling coil just goes trough the column wall, and there is no nut or anything to tighten internally, so I guess it relies on it just being a naturally tight fit (or not in my case)
Have any other T500 owners had a similar problem, and if so how did you fix this.
Cheers
Cudz

[Andy]

Crusty had the same problem but that was way back.

They did have a recall due to this problem some time mid last year.

I would take it back and get a replacement.

Edit to add, Just found the thread where Brian (Crusty) talkes about his problem.

The SS site no longer has the recall, they must have thought they got them all.

http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=285

[Capt-Cudellez]

Doesn\'t look to be the exact same issue, my the leak is not from the condenser, but from the other side of the column. I’ll contact the shop.
I was really pleased with the results on the first couple of runs, but I was slightly concerned when it arrived to find the column end cap to be made of plastic. With all the talk of high % vapour and plastic being a big no no, I’m just wondering what everybody else thinks about this?

[Andy]

Where are you Cudellez ??

.

The way I see it, the plastic is nothing more than a dress piece, the spirit never actually comes in contact with it.

Or I could be completely wrong.

[Capt-Cudellez]

I\'m in Scotland Andy. Thats what I thought at first, but when I look down the column with a torch you can see the plastic with the thermometer port at the end of the column.

[freelancement]

Send it back, they should just do a straight replacement. Its under warranty, leave it to still spirits to sort it out