Cleaning with no tank

[mdsd]

What's the best way to rinse / clean the first stage, second stage reg and octopus with no tank available.

 

[smallminnow]

i just soak mine in water and havent had a problem with it. as long as the dust cap is on good. just dont push the purge while its under water.

 

[divinman]

Ditto Smallminnows comments. get a small tub, fill with warm water. make sure your dustcap in on good and snug and just let the whole thing soak.....overnight if possible. then rinse it with fresh water and hand to dry insuring there is no tension on the connections at the first stage.

I see you are a san diego dive as well. When we going diving? Assuming it ever stops raining again.


Terry

 

[HBDiveGirl]

What's the best way to rinse / clean the first stage, second stage reg and octopus with no tank available.

I have a one-year old Atomic regulator and the instructions specify that it should be pressurized before soaking. The O-rings do not seat until the lines are pressurized. This is designed to make the O-rings last longer (service every two years instead of annually.)
So, might be a good idea to check the manufacturer's instructions.
Claudette

 

[mdsd]

Yea, it's been raining a lot. In fact, it's raining right now.

I have been diving once a week though. Conditions are variable as you would expect.

 

[moneysavr]

the O-rings last longer (service every two years instead of annually.)
So, might be a good idea to check the manufacturer's instructions.
Claudette

Hey I have my life support serviced by my LDS YEARLY! Its cheap policy,forget MFG instructions,Yes they may not have to replace the o-rings but why chance it!

Rinse your gear with the tank and air on is done, and makes sense no way water is going in the reg then.

 

[Quarrior]

What's the best way to rinse / clean the first stage, second stage reg and octopus with no tank available.

Put water in the bath tub, make sure the dust cap is in place on the first stage and toss the whole thing in the tub and let it soak.

Make sure you do not press the purge valve on either of the second stages.

 

[redacted]

Make sure that your dust cap seals the tank fitting on the first stage. Solid rubber dust cap in good condition is usually OK. If you have a hard plastic dust cap, make sure it has an o-ring to make the seal. To check the seal, cap the 1st and try breathing in on the 2nd. If you get any air, something is wrong and it is time to visit your friendly tech. Most rigs can then be safely soaked in tepid water. Soaking is better than rinsing to get into the nooks and kranies. If you have one a Scubapro S600 or G250HP you need to crank the adjustment all the way in to make the LP seat seal against the orifice. Similar feature on the Atomic apparently can not be handled in the same way.

 

[matt_unique]

What's the best way to rinse / clean the first stage, second stage reg and octopus with no tank available.

Dust cap keeps out dust, not water. I would never soak a reg without being pressurized. Some dust caps do a better job than others but rather than risking regulator performance degradation (with water in the first stage) just do your rinse before you return the tank.

--Matt

 

[Charlie99]

I have a one-year old Atomic regulator and the instructions specify that it should be pressurized before soaking. The O-rings do not seat until the lines are pressurized. This is designed to make the O-rings last longer (service every two years instead of annually.)
So, might be a good idea to check the manufacturer's instructions.
Claudette

My six-year old Atomics B1 has the same "seat saver" feature. I rinse the regs without being pressurised, but try to keep the hose between the 2nd and 1st stages up out of the water so that nothing can flow back from the 2nds into the 1st. The easiest way is to first rinse the 2nds and then the 1st stage (or vice versa). So far the insides of the 1st have been pretty clean, even after 100+ dives between servicing.