Advice wanted regarding "Out of Test" PCP Filling Cylinder

[Vic Thompson]

As title : whilst my MDE 7ltre 300 Bar Bottle still has enough gas in it for the present, it's out of test (dated 2012/05) and needs a new Test Certificate before it can be filled again. I've got another cylinder anyway, so strictly speaking don't need the MDE one any longer. My question is, when's the best time to sell it, as is, or after testing ? and what could I reasonably expect to get for it either way around ?

Thanks in advance for any helpful replies, Vic thompson.

[tinbum]

Last time I tested a cylinder it cost £35 to do. A cyclinder could fail the test, so anyone buying it will want this reflected in the price. I think a tested bottle with whip and gauge would make more money than an untested/unknown one.

[angrybear]

The fact the test has run out makes no difference to getting it retested & I'm baffled as to why you've bought a new one
I suspect 2012/05 might be it's date of manufacture so it's only just run out, otherwise it's been full but unused for 5+ years if it was the test expiry

Paying £40 odd for a 5 year test will put maybe £100 on to the sale value because without test it's worth very little.

[gtfreight]

I have just this week bought a new 7ltr 300bar tank with a whip for £180 posted (obviously no air in it) so I'd say about £120-£130 for a recently tested one. Without a test the buyer would be be taking a gamble, so possibly £50 bearing in mind that if it fails, it will probably be scrapped. A retest is around £40. I believe if there's surface rust on the inside there's a possibility that it can be cleaned but how much that costs I don't know.

[gingernut]

Bit tricky this.
I have same problem.

Sell it for £50 without test.
Or pay £46 for test and sell for £100.
Make £54!

I found out that if a bottle fails it costs £25 which doesn't help much.

[aris]

How often do they fail and for what reasons?

In theory - you could fill it yourself with one of these new inexpensive Chinese 300bar compressors. How wise this is on a bottle out of test is anyones guess.