regulator free flowed in the pool?

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WillAbbott

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Mid Willamette Valley, Oregon
Ok so I dove my new reg at the pool tonight, it's a ScubaPro Mk25 First with S550 Second, and R380 Backup... When I first got in the water the backup began free flowing (like many regs seem to do)... I didn't like that... with the VIVA or whatever set to "pre dive" which doesn't do much from what I understand.

Anyways, I noticed no matter where I was 14' or at the surface, if the regulator had air inside of it (as in just spit out) it would free flow, each time I removed it I had to slowly tip it upright, so as to allow the air inside to spill out and then it wouldn't free flow... Now I enjoyed the regs, they breathed ok... bout the same as any other reg I've used... BUT I don't like that... I practiced handing off my reg for OOA drill and it constantly freeflowed on me doing so, unless I tiped it down...

Does it need to be "tuned" or what? I'm curious what causes this as well... is it the cracking pressure or the IP? Either way, I'm not sure I like it doing this, but I don't want the reg to be adjusted so it's too hard to breathe... Also don't think it's right that I would need to have it "tuned" when it's BRAND new, could this be?
 
Sounds like it is set up a little too aggressively for an Octo. Doesn't sound like an IP problem or it would happen regardless of the position. The cure should be about a 30 degree (1 hour on a clock) clockwise turn on the orifice which will increas cracking pressure just a bit. You should hardly notice from a breathing performance standpoint. If you bought it from an LDS, it should take them no more than 5 minutes to correct. If not, I would expect to pay not more than $20.00 as they will probably spend some time diagnosing and verifying the problem. Or it is an easy DIY adjustment if you don't mind venturing into "forbidden territory".
 
Where did you buy your setup?
 
ElectricZombie once bubbled...
Where did you buy your setup?

I bought it at Fifth Dimension. In Kent, WA. which is why I'm reluctant to have to take it back up there... as it's a 3+ hour drive. Though I may be able to make it there after a boat dive in a week, if the dive gets over early enough.

I'm not really affraid of venturing into the "forbidden" territory, as I'm pretty mechanically inclined and all, however, being a new item, with a warranty and all, probably best to deal with it that way. That and the fact I have no idea about the parts inside the thing... though I would like to learn it someday, no sense sending in gear for small issues you can fix yourself, but being so new, and all probably something I should let a "pro" do.
 
If you unscrew the hose feeding the reg there is, inside, a slotted bolt with a hole in the middle.

The hole is where the air goes :) The slot is for adjustment. A SMALL tweak to the right should stop this.

You can verify the "cracking pressure" (and you should before diddling, so you know where you started) by putting the reg on a tank, pressurizing, filling up a sink, and slowly lowering the reg, diaphram down (mouthpiece up!) into the sink. Note where it starts to flow. For an octo, about 1 to 1-1//2" of water is about right; the higher setting will provide a bit more freeflow insurance.

I have an inline adjustment tool that allows me to set the orifice with the hoses on, which makes this a much quicker adjustment. Without that you need to depressurize, tweak, assemble, pressurize, test, repeat until happy.

If its a SP hose you also have the funny spline nut on it, which bites if you don't have their wrench, as you may end up marring it up taking it apart with something like channel locks. If you decide to, wrap the fitting in a cloth first so you don't scratch it up.

There is also a lever height adjustment but that requires removing the cover to get to it. Removing the cover entails pulling the small plastic pin on the side of the case, then rotating the cover off. It will be "tight"; I use an inverted mouse pad as a "gripper" (its rubber and grabs real good) to remove covers; use of tools will mar up the cover pretty good on the R380, as the plastic is soft and there is insufficient material to get a good grip with something like a strapwrench. The two adjustments are interrelated (changing one will change the other!) but very small orifice adjustments are unlikely to bugger the lever height significantly.

I set my backup to 1-1/4" of WC for cracking effort and the lever just at the diaphram at rest out of the water, but I dive with it bungeed, where it is less likely to end up in the slipstream and thus with a current against the diaphram (where it can be induced to freeflow.) For an octo on a "tradtional" rig I'd probably set for 1-1/2" of WC for cracking effort, simply due to the greater exposure to slipstream. I also set the VIVA (venturi) adjustment JUST SHORT of the point where a hard purge on the surface will self-sustain - this prevents a freeflow that starts from feeding on itself due to the venturi boost. I dive an R380 for my backup and set this way it breathes fine, even at 100'+.

BTW this is not uncommon with a new LP seat; they "engrave" a bit after installation or when brand new and often require a tweak after being allowed to sit for a week or so. It should not require additional attention once set for a year or even more.
 
Since you have gone thru the trouble and likely extra expense to buy from an authorized dealer, it would probably be silly to risk voiding your warrenty by going the DIY route on this. Why don't you call them and see what options they can offer. While I'm sure they will want you to bring it in so they can fix it. But talk about what other options might be available. Maybe they will talk you thru the adjustment or arrange for you to take it to a local shop. Or maybe, since it is one of those things you should not have been bothered with when you go the LDS route rather than internet, they will compensate you in some other way for your troubles. Like maybe a free trip to Cozumel or a 30 minute course on checking and adjusting your rig.
 
awap once bubbled...
Since you have gone thru the trouble and likely extra expense to buy from an authorized dealer, it would probably be silly to risk voiding your warrenty by going the DIY route on this. Why don't you call them and see what options they can offer. While I'm sure they will want you to bring it in so they can fix it. But talk about what other options might be available. Maybe they will talk you thru the adjustment or arrange for you to take it to a local shop. Or maybe, since it is one of those things you should not have been bothered with when you go the LDS route rather than internet, they will compensate you in some other way for your troubles. Like maybe a free trip to Cozumel or a 30 minute course on checking and adjusting your rig.

LOL... a free trip to Cozumel, that would be nice :D Actually I seem to remember the sales guy, saying for annual service I could just mail it to them, maybe I could do that, and they would just cover shipping ;)

I'll have to call them today, and I'll just play ignorant, dumb new diver... and tell them I just got it from them, and test dove it and this is what happened, and see what they say, then if they say, bring it in and we will tune it, I just mention thats a little difficult living 4hours away and all ;)
 

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