Reg. maintenance

[lbussell]

After a 12 dive week is there anything special I should do with my regs (sealed 1st stage, 2 2nd stages)? I soaked them well at the tub by the dive shop, then showered them off back home. How do you know for sure if small amounts of salt water didn't penetrate the 2nd stages? Thanks.

 

[The Chairman]

Hook them up to a tank and breathe off of them! You are the best judge of how your regs are doing. I would put an IP gauge on them as well, just to be certain.

 

[H2O 70]

When I'm diving in saltwater for longer periods of time, I do a simple rinse and the end of the day. When I get home, I soak them in water with a wee bit of Simple Green over night. I then rinse them off and hook them up to some tanks and purge some air.

 

[Kunundrum]

You can soak your regs in fresh water with a some Vinegar, The vinegar will dissolve the salt better than water alone. If you rinsed the regulators after your dives you should be alright and not need any "special" maintenance.

but this can give you a little bit of added security.

 

[redacted]

You can soak your regs in fresh water with a some Vinegar, The vinegar will dissolve the salt better than water alone. If you rinsed the regulators after your dives you should be alright and not need any "special" maintenance.

but this can give you a little bit of added security.

Vinegar will also attack many metals in your regs as well as some lubricants and soft components like o-rings. Vinegar may be used to clean regs during service but exposure to the solution is part selective and limited to time measured in 5 to 15 minutes. Effective soaking should be done for hours (I go 6 to 8 hours) to removes salts from unprotected threaded connections.

 

[H2O 70]

You can soak your regs in fresh water with a some Vinegar, The vinegar will dissolve the salt better than water alone. If you rinsed the regulators after your dives you should be alright and not need any "special" maintenance.

but this can give you a little bit of added security.

Vinegar will also attack many metals in your regs as well as some lubricants and soft components like o-rings. Vinegar may be used to clean regs during service but exposure to the solution is part selective and limited to time measured in 5 to 15 minutes. Effective soaking should be done for hours (I go 6 to 8 hours) to removes salts from unprotected threaded connections.

+1 on the vinegar. Vinegar is a mild acid. It will take some of the metal washers in tank valves and make them nice and shinny rather quickly. I don't think I'd soak my whole reg in it for too long.

 

[The Chairman]

Vinegar is a mild acid.

So is simple green and a number of Reg Manufacturers advise against using it as it attacks aluminum.

 

[H2O 70]

So is simple green and a number of Reg Manufacturers advise against using it as it attacks aluminum.

What acid is it? Phosphoric?

Simple Green Material Safety Data Sheet

There is nothing on the MSDS.

 

[The Chairman]

I can't even remember the two manufacturers, but I did see the caution.

 

[H2O 70]

I can't even remember the two manufacturers, but I did see the caution.

What parts in a reg would be AL?

I'd think you would want any metal to be brass or a marine grade SS.

AL reacts to all sorts of stuff.