A slow SPG is a bad thing?

[hsinhai]

Its no longer slow-reacting according to the OP.

Until next time it is..

 

[divad]

Until next time it is..

And that's applicable to everything...and nothing

 

[happy-diver]

There's a tiny hole chamber stuff leading to the bourdon tube similar in size to the spool hole

I grab a syringe and squeeze some phosphoric acid in or vinegar, flush with water and then air

twist a soaked cotton bud in there to clean the lumps out of burnt grease and various other scum


This is called revitalising the classic older stuff that is no longer available for posterity and to be used


Then there's also these little buggers

a crapped out spg is a crapped out spg but a blocked spg is far from a crapped out spg

 

[АлександрД]

it could be much more simple problem.

good HP hoses and some SPG has tiny hole for air to prevent air loss due hose or Bourdon tube exploding.
(in the middle)

after some years of use it could be a little oxidized (carbonized etc), and this pinhole, initially small, could became more smaller

So... once I`d offered very simple method to repair it
(common disclamer for this forum and some countries : All written below is just information, and not a solicitation or guidelines for action. All written below you can do just on your own risk)

(common disclamer for this forum and some countries : All written below is just information, and not a solicitation or guidelines for action. All written below you can do just on your own risk)

if you do not wish to spent the time - take Gypsum Screw (Drywall Screw) like

place the tip of this screw in to the center of pinhole, and make some light hits on the screw (by wooden handle of screwdriver or something like it). Or just press on the screw and shake it a little.
I did it with my HP hose, when small hole on it was stuck.

Such screws has very sharp tip and hardened steel, and it can help to make small hole.

Cheers!

 

[g1138]

Would not recommend repairing an SPG just by soaking.
This is what's behind the dial.

It's a metal bourbon tube that flexes with pressure. The flexing effects the spring coil, which turns your needle.

Now let's ask a question: Does corroded metal have more or less flexibility? Less
Can corroded metal be restored back to original flexibility? Not really.

Also for knowledge of SPG testing, you need to test reliability not just for max pressure, but also the range of pressures. Corrosion will effect the reliability of accurate reading in a way that makes the needle move inconsistently.
Take for instance my worst SPG bench test against a calibrated master gauge.

Master Gauge reading / SPG reading
3000psi / 3000 psi
2500psi / 2500psi
2000psi / 1900psi <- reading low
1500psi / 1600psi <- reading high
1000psi / 1200psi <- high
500psi / 800psi <-High!
200psi / 500psi <-No...just no

So at 500psi reading, your actual tank pressure would be 200psi. I took that SPG out of service. Moral of the story, don't trust just the max tank pressure reading. Bench test your gauges at multiple critical pressure readings.

 

[Zef]

A slow reacting SPG is symptomatic of water infiltration through the orfice which is likely already into the bourdon tube. I would toss it and get a new. I was diving with a guy who ran out of air because his needle stuck at 1000psi or so.

The guy did not run out of air because his needle was stuck at 1000psi, he ran out of air because he relied on a piece of gear that was telling him something and he did not know how to interpret the message.

If one looks at their SPG and note the reading and then note the reading a few minutes later one should note a change. It is expected that throughout the dive the amount of air carried will diminish, at least unless one is holding their breath the entire time between checks....if the needle has not moved when the spg is subsequently checked it is an indication of a problem. If the diver ignores this then they are likely to experience and OOA emergency.

Did the SPG fail? yes, was it the cause of your partner's ooa issue? nope.

In the US we say: "I dropped the egg and it broke", when we drop an egg on the floor. In one of the foreign countries I have lived in the expression in this situation translated from the local dialect would be: "The egg fell from my hand and broke itself". There is a stark cultural contrast of responsibility/accountability with regards to how the egg became broken. Just like your partner running out of air....it was not the SPG, despite it being buggered.

-Z

 

[divad]

There's a tiny hole chamber stuff leading to the bourdon tube similar in size to the spool hole
I grab a syringe and squeeze some phosphoric acid in or vinegar, flush with water and then air

Sounds like you're just blowing liquid deeper into the bourdon tube.

 

[Nathan Doty]

I thought of the airline being an issue as a well, it got the same cleaning as the gauge. Then I swapped gauges between my other lines. All 3 gauges sweep to the same levels and at the same approximate speed. I used 2 tanks at different pressures, both are below 800 psi, I need to fill... I'll check them full once they are filled.

It will get permanent decommission if it acts twitchy.

I've lost track of dangerous hobbies I've had. The correct thought process is what will I do WHEN my equipment fails, not IF it fails.

 

[g1138]

I thought of the airline being an issue as a well, it got the same cleaning as the gauge. Then I swapped gauges between my other lines. All 3 gauges sweep to the same levels and at the same approximate speed. I used 2 tanks at different pressures, both are below 800 psi, I need to fill... I'll check them full once they are filled.

It will get permanent decommission if it acts twitchy.

I've lost track of dangerous hobbies I've had. The correct thought process is what will I do WHEN my equipment fails, not IF it fails.

Why not concentrate efforts on preventing equipment from failing? Prevent wear, routine maintenance, & gear replacement when warranted. The risk VS reward matrix for an SPG you don't fully trust swings into the negative for me.

The industry doesn't service SPG's for a reason, we only check accuracy and call it "calibration". But it is a standard to replace when not accurate.

 

[happy-diver]

Very extreme example and you do have to suck it out again, that depends
how much liquid gets past the hole if any, and if you use a needle or a drill
or if you soak in a vessel or a vibrating machine with only 10mm liquid in it
soaking the threaded part only not the entire gauge although you can do it

and if you think about it, admirably as you did

and working with very hot water promotes evaporation

Sounds like you're just blowing liquid deeper into the bourdon tube.