Bauer Mariner ACD Problem - Leaking off air - No Pressure - Help?!!

[SCUBAfy]

Having a problem with my older Bauer Mariner. Pressure was dropping off from its high and was taking long to fill. Replaced 1 stage valves as per Bauer recommendation and ran fine fine but still leaking air off and taking long. Seemed to be leaking from ACD so I rebuilt the ACD today and now first stage pressure wont go about 20psi. Can't find leak or where it is leaking from. Opened ACD again and it looked ok. Tightened everything but still nothing. Is there anyway to safely bypass the ACD completely to get it running again? Or any other ideas of what went wrong? Desperate! Cant find decent picture of ACD in any manuals. C

 

[windyairman]

Hi
Can you post some photos of your ACD unit.
Then some one will either tell you how to bypass back to manual drains.
One the bauer german site you will find all spare parts manuals may help you.

 

[SCUBAfy]

Thanks for the reply. Not sure if that is still the problem. When I started the compressor after the ACD rebuild it knocked like it normally would for about 15 seconds and then stopped knocking. The intake from stage one is still sucking air but it does not seem to build. Wondering if the valve failed or if it is further along in the second stage?

 

[rcontrera]

You may find that your ACD is an aftermarket installation since they are pretty rare direct from Bauer on those guys. Take some pictures and I would bet there is someone here that can identify the actual maker and give you some pointers.

 

[frogman62]

Probably the best method of diagnosing the problem is to have pressure gauges on each stage. By checking the pressure you can tell if it is the valves or the ACD -- neither or both.
Jim Shelden

 

[SCUBAfy]

Hi there, Thanks for the help. I did find that the new 1st stage reed valve was defective. New one on the way tomm. I put the old one back and still not building pressure. When I block off the large hose from the bottom of the collector for the ACD, it starts to build. The ACD was installed by Bauer as I bought it new from them and was part of it. My question now it, how can I bypass the ACD and drain it manually for the time being. I can see just putting a drain on the intake hose on the side of the ACD and blocking it off, bu there is another one that heads to the filter canister?

 

[windyairman]

We cant help without some photos of the ACD and the compressor block.

 

[CraigAClark]

You have to be careful that the top gasket seats properly, as it divides the heads inlet and outlet sections. If it doesn't seal properly the air is just going in and out the 1st stage inlet. Are the 1st and 2nd stage heads getting hot? The 3 and 4 stage Bauer ACDs work by energyzing the solenoid coil which closes the valve. The building 2nd stage pressure in turn forces the 3rd stage piston to seal against its seat. If your 1st stage pressure, which on a Mariner should be between 80 & 90 psi, isn't high enough the 3rd stage drain will not close. Once you rectify your 1st stage problem, then you can start checking the ACD problem, which could be electrical or mechanical.