Chattering regs

[kydaka]

I have a couple of regulators that "chatter" once i have started to descend and continue thoughout the dive. One is a Mares Proton Ice Extreme and the other is a Ocean Reef Predator FFM. Anyone have any suggestions on how to stop this so I have a smooth inhale?

 

[TSandM]

I'll be interested to see what your answer is. I have an Aqualung Titan that is doing this, and continues to do it after being taken in for service.

 

[Hatul]

I'll be interested to see what your answer is. I have an Aqualung Titan that is doing this, and continues to do it after being taken in for service.

That's interesting because I thought the noise problem was limited to piston regs.

 

[SangP]

I've been advice by my reg technician that the most likely issue would either be the IP or 2nd stage calibration. If the IP is not set around 125 to 145 psi and the 2nd stage isn't properly calibrated fluttering could happen.

Just 2 of a host of issues that could be cause of the problem.

SangP

 

[redacted]

A well designed, properly tuned and maintained regulator with no defective components does not chatter. As a DIYer, I'd probably begin with the lever or the diaphragm and start swapping components working through the poppet, seat, and orifice. If I were paying a tech to do the service, I would expect him to come back with a solution or, if under warranty, a replacement regulator. If it turned out to be characteristic of the model, I'd be looking for another model and probably another manufacturer.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Like awap said, I don't think this problem should occur with a properly functioning reg.

You should just hear a smooth, clean "whooosh" with inhalation, and if you don't you need to find out why.

If the problem cannot be reproduced on the surface, it probably is going to be trial and error to find the cause... which may become a big hassle (because the tech will not have instant feedback after working on the reg).

If you can tell whether the sound is coming from the 1st or 2nd stage, then this will speed up the process (maybe). It sounded from the previous thread that TSandM's problem was a 1st stage issue...

Assuming a first stage problem, the least elegant but possibly fastest way would be to swap out the entire "innards" of the 1st stage with known "good" parts, and see if this stops the sound. A LDS could do this, but it would quickly start to get expensive for the DIY diver unless they had an identical reg to use as parts source...

Good luck to both of you, I hope you get this sorted out.

Best wishes.

 

[tfsails]

To Kydaka: do both of these second stages chatter when using the same first stage? If not, maybe I have an answer for the Proton, but not sure about the FFM.

If the noise comes from the second stage perhaps the poppet has a harmonic "bounce" where it is opening and closing rapidly (very little lateral motion but at a relatively high frequency) and the demand lever is bouncing off the inside of the diaphragm. I see this a lot on the test bench when I'm adjusting a reg I've serviced. I've never heard of this happening underwater, but I don't think it would be impossible for it to happen. You might try varying the adjustment of the second stage a tad and see if that changes the harmonics.

If it comes from the first stage, you might try adjusting the IP within the manufacturer's range of specification to see if that helps any.

I don't have enough experience with FFMs to give an educated guess, but in reality those regs aren't much different from standard second stages--they just have a lot of rubber/silicone around them.

 

[redacted]

Yes, you have so start by isolating the problem stage. I recognize a whistle as a common BP piston problem but I tend to associate chatter with the 2nd (although it could be chatter from the 2nd that is effected by an IP adjustment). Shops should have plenty of resources to troubleshoot the problem, but they may be stingy with time so they make a change and let the owner figure out if it worked. ("If it is still a problem, just bring it back.") Many DIYers have a couple more regs than anyone in their right mind could justify so they often have the parts and we really don't care that much about how long something like that may take to fix. Often, such chatter is the lever resonating on the diaphragm and can usually be controlled by the strength of the inhale. This usually occurs on the surface where it might even be acceptable; but disappears UW where the water against the diaphragm dampens some of the movement.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Hi awap,

The problem with Lynne's Titan seems like it might actually be a first stage issue. He is what she wrote in the other thread:

I bought a used Titan regulator from a local acquaintance. When I began using it, I believe it was working normally, but after a few dives, I noted that it would "stutter" when I was using the dry suit inflator. The gas flow, instead of being a smooth "whoosh", would be more of an "uh-uh-uh". I initially thought it was the dry suit inlet valve and didn't worry much about it, but after a few more dives, I heard the same thing happening when I inhaled. There was no noticeable interruption of gas flow in terms of resistance, just this stuttering sound.

So I took the reg in for service. The service technician is an experienced tech (not a shop monkey) and works for the shop doing probably the highest volume of reg work in our area. He made no comments about anything untoward in the reg.

So I did a few dives that were fine, and now it's stuttering with suit inflation again.


So to me it really sounded like a first stage problem... but I'm making a wild guess.

My DIY experience is quite limited, and I've only worked on diaphragm 1sts so far, but my MR-12's are nearly indentical internally to the Titan (and I believe can use the Titan's HP poppet)....

Anyway, I've gotten really curious about what could cause the behavior Lynne is observing with her used Titan, especially since she didn't seem to notice any decreased performance, just the sound... I looked at the Titan manual again last night, but nothing jumps out at me other than the high pressure spring block and springs "vibrating"? There was apparently a revision made to the body of the Titan in 1999 that involved a smaller internal bore and different pin support in the post-1999 version.... I wonder if Lynne's is an old Titan? Probably has nothing to do with the noise anyway.... oh well.

Best wishes.

 

[cdolphin]

Lynne,

Annoyingly, my Aqualung Titan, which is brand new (2009 model I think) started chattering AFTER I had it serviced for the very first time at BB (Lynne? Same shop?)....maybe it's a discrepancy with the service specs if we both got the same problem from the same LDS.......mine only had 24 dives out of the box - by me - not a whisper from it till it was serviced....