Necessary to O2 clean 2.stage?

[uncfnp]

@stuartv an oldie but goodie...

Regulator Inspection and Checklist (Rev-7)

My take on regulator service. If you don't know much about regulators and don't like diy, get them serviced every two years or so. But remember, even serviced regulators can fail.

If you feel fairly diy competent and have the interest, service as indicated above. Many issues can be handled, even on vacation, with a few simple tools and a supple of o-rings. A freeflow second may just need a simple adjustment of the orifice. But without some prior knowledge, the average diver will not know this or be prepared. Bigger issues, such as the HP seat, may be picked up early enough for service if you do the reg check list.

 

[stuartv]

Thank you, all!

I just read the Regulator inspection thread. I was wondering what part of the regulator you are watching, in order to measure when it is ~1" deep.

From that thread, I gather it is when the deepest part of the reg is around 1" that is should start to free flow. I.e. with the mouthpiece pointing straight up, the face of the regulator (the purge valve area) is what should get to 1" or so when it starts to free flow. The opening in the mouthpiece that you breathe through won't even get underwater before it should start to free flow.

This is all great info! I wish I had read it before I dropped my regs off for service, just so I could have tested them myself to see how the "bad" one compared to the good ones and, for example, confirm that it was the LP seat in the 2nd stage - which is what I strongly suspect now, after reading that thread.

 

[cerich]

Thank you, all!

I just read the Regulator inspection thread. I was wondering what part of the regulator you are watching, in order to measure when it is ~1" deep.

From that thread, I gather it is when the deepest part of the reg is around 1" that is should start to free flow. I.e. with the mouthpiece pointing straight up, the face of the regulator (the purge valve area) is what should get to 1" or so when it starts to free flow. The opening in the mouthpiece that you breathe through won't even get underwater before it should start to free flow.

This is all great info! I wish I had read it before I dropped my regs off for service, just so I could have tested them myself to see how the "bad" one compared to the good ones and, for example, confirm that it was the LP seat in the 2nd stage - which is what I strongly suspect now, after reading that thread.

one inch from the front of the diaphragm, which is hard to know on many regs. I can tell by breathing pretty darn close to what a reg is cracking at, of course I have some experience in testing regs..

As a diver, worry less about cracking pressure and more about the IP being stable, and the second stage not slightly freeflowing, most common issues are either a HPP seat issue (replace) or the second stage seat taking a set and slightly freeflowing, easy fix with allen key and a wrench or to get fancy a in line adjuster. Many tech service a reg and set the second stage so it breaths as good as it can when they service..and that almost always guarantees it will develop a small freeflow after a dive or three.

 

[stuartv]

one inch from the front of the diaphragm, which is hard to know on many regs. I can tell by breathing pretty darn close to what a reg is cracking at, of course I have some experience in testing regs..

As a diver, worry less about cracking pressure and more about the IP being stable, and the second stage not slightly freeflowing, most common issues are either a HPP seat issue (replace) or the second stage seat taking a set and slightly freeflowing, easy fix with allen key and a wrench or to get fancy a in line adjuster. Many tech service a reg and set the second stage so it breaths as good as it can when they service..and that almost always guarantees it will develop a small freeflow after a dive or three.

I'm guessing that is actually what was going on with mine. Like I said, they are only a year and a half old and really don't that many dives on them. But, sometime last year, I had a dive in NC where the primary 2nd stage seemed like it was breathing a little wet and maybe a little harder, so I took it into my LDS to have it looked at. The tech said he didn't find anything wrong, but they cracking pressure was set a lot higher than it could have been. He probably adjusted just like you said and my recent problem needed nothing but an adjustment.

One more thing for my To Do List. Buy some service kits and learn how to do these things myself.

 

[cerich]

I'm guessing that is actually what was going on with mine. Like I said, they are only a year and a half old and really don't that many dives on them. But, sometime last year, I had a dive in NC where the primary 2nd stage seemed like it was breathing a little wet and maybe a little harder, so I took it into my LDS to have it looked at. The tech said he didn't find anything wrong, but they cracking pressure was set a lot higher than it could have been. He probably adjusted just like you said and my recent problem needed nothing but an adjustment.

One more thing for my To Do List. Buy some service kits and learn how to do these things myself.

 

[cerich]

I forgot to say that after you test to tighten the hose on the second stage... may need to reshoot...

 

[stuartv]

Awesome!! Thank you! I have have to get over my aversion to orange. Or I guess I could get out my Sharpie....

Is that also how you adjust the cracking pressure, or would that be a different adjustment?

 

[cerich]

Awesome!! Thank you! I have have to get over my aversion to orange. Or I guess I could get out my Sharpie....

Is that also how you adjust the cracking pressure, or would that be a different adjustment?

you can adjust some regs cracking pressure that way (Deep 6), others are different. Some involve moving oriface only, some involve oriface and a fine adjust, some involve oriface and lever height by various means and some involve voodoo, the moon in the right place and dead animals (not a goat)

 

[tbone1004]

@cerich are my Poseidons tuned by aligning the moon via animal sacrifice?

 

[cerich]

@cerich are my Poseidons tuned by aligning the moon via animal sacrifice?

yeah..in fact there is a video on it