can anyone tell me how to know when the tip needs replacing on a turbotorch extreme air/acetylene torch?

i've had mine a while and it's been great but now when i try to light up it just pops. if it does light it only burns yellow, won't get to the blue flame stage, and is making way less noise, sort of sounds like the cylinder is running out but it isn't (gauge still shows nearly full)

it sounds like most people use these with the gas turned full up, i've been using it just beyond the yellow zone, ie take it into the blue to light it then wind the gas back so it is just blue - big mistake?

i am not sure about your set up but my turbo torch is designed to run full blast. if not you can burn the tip up.

what you are describing with the popping and such with your tip sounds like it needs to be taken apart and the orifices just needs a good hot vinegar bath (cleaning)

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If it is burning yellow there is not enough air to the flame, but if the flame is also limpid, then the orifice is probably plugged up.

Sometimes the tip need to be removed and the orifice need to be removed with an allen wrench. I usually file it lightly and run a tip cleaner through the orifice. Careful not to loose the rubber gasket. This often happens when solder falls into the tip. GOOD LUCK

You may have had a drop of solder fall into the tip blocking off the air flow. Full bore is the way is should run or you will burn the tip.

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thanks for the help all, i gave the orifice a hot vinegar bath and a good scrub out with some tip-files but no improvement, the guys at the supply store (Excel in SF) reckoned the tip had sprung an air leak somehow and switched it out for a new one, so it's RTV for the old one i guess, and back to work for me