free flowing octo quick fix

[scubajohn921]

hi all, Ive searched the board for the solution to my freeflowing octo, it is brand new, ellipe octo, first dive with it it freeflowed all over on the surface, i read on one post that the LDS can fix this but unhooking the hose and tightening the screw, is this correct? and it only takes a minute or 2? Im going to a new (to me)LDS in the area (only cressi auth in the area) and I want to ask how much do you reckon they will charge for this?? like whats the going rate for this quick little adjustment????

 

[Footslogger]

Did you already try swirling your octo in the water to force some pressure against the diaphragm and valvle ?

'Slogger

 

[scubajohn921]

yeah it helped to do that, and it was fine submerged, the dive/predive switch helped slightly, Ive never experienced any freeflowing although i only have 15 dives on rental regs, it was kinda embarassing

 

[Footslogger]

Sounds like it's adjusted right at the hairy edge (technical term for a smidgen past the spec).

'Slogger

 

[redacted]

A properly tuned 2nd should freeflow under the right conditions. If you stick a 2nd into the water with the mouthpiece pointed up and purge button pointed down, it should freeflow. Point the mouthpiece down as you enter the water. Be prepared to stick your thumb over the mouthpiece if it starts to freeflow.

If you feel it needs to be adjusted, I'd expect a shop that wants your continued business to say, "no charge - come back and see us". Settle on the price in advance. If they tell you no charge if all it needs is a little adjust ment, buy something else you need and tell them you will be back. $10 would be a fair charge then you can look at the other shops in your area when you need something else. If he wants much more than that, I'd get out the yellow pages and look for another shop

 

[do it easy]

Be careful since I had a reg like this once and I thought it was the second stage- it turned out to be a creeping first stage, but I just tightened up the second stage. Eventually it failed and would not stop freeflowing.

Another buddy had a similar problem and his LDS told him that he was missing a part!

A good LDS will put it on the bench and check the IP before doing any adjustments so that they can figure out which part needs adjustment.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I agree with AWAP that it may be entirely normal. If the octo lands in the water with the mouthpiece up, a freeflow is a natural result. You can adjust an octo so that the inhalation effort is much higher (around 2.0" to 2.5" of water) to reduce this tendency, but then you have an octo that breathes like a rock when you or an OOA buddy needs it.

In general if a freeflow occurs, placing your thumb over the mouthpiece will create backpressure and stop the flow of gas. Once the octo is flooded with water it will not be a problem. Given that you indicate it is fine during the dive, I tend to think this is the case.

With regard to adjusting a second stage, "do it easy" is on the mark. Any second stage adjustment needs to start with a check of the first stage intermediate pressure to ensure it is within spec and that there is no IP creep (caused by a leaking high pressure seat or damaged orifice). If this is not done and there is a first stage problem, the second stage will continue to leak.

Any damage to the first stage orifice or seat is almost always progressive with the seat becoming increasingly damaged causing the IP creep to become progressively worse, sometimes over a very short period of time.