Regulator Problem?

[giles45shop]

I've got a question about my Apeks TX50. The last several times I've used it (usually dive 2-3X/month), I noticed that it would be hard to exhale on the first test exhale (just after hooking up to the tank). You would have to put some force into the exhale,and then it would sort of "pop" loose before the air exited. After that, it worked just fine, with no noticeable issues. Any subsequent dives on the same day did not have this issue. Seems to happen after it sit for a week or so.

I rinse thoroughy after ever dive day, whether fresh or salt water.

Any ideas on what it could be? I'm debating on taking it in for a rebuild (it's been about a year).

Thanks,

John

 

[Scott M]

If I remember correctly the 50 has an adjustment for the crack pressure. I do not have my manual in front of me but you can adjust how much pressure it takes to open it up on the first breath. That feature is really nice when the 50 is used as a back up so you don't get a free flow.

Regards

 

[JS1scuba]

I've got a question about my Apeks TX50. The last several times I've used it (usually dive 2-3X/month), I noticed that it would be hard to exhale on the first test exhale (just after hooking up to the tank). You would have to put some force into the exhale,and then it would sort of "pop" loose before the air exited. After that, it worked just fine, with no noticeable issues. Any subsequent dives on the same day did not have this issue. Seems to happen after it sit for a week or so.

I rinse thoroughy after ever dive day, whether fresh or salt water.

Any ideas on what it could be? I'm debating on taking it in for a rebuild (it's been about a year).

Thanks,

John

John, your exhaust flapper valves are sticking against the body. This is common if you wash your regulators and the flappers dry against the body. Best to only wash them while pressurised. Place the 2nd stage in a bucket of fresh water, swish it around a bit then press purge button. Then take it out of the bucket and shake excess water off then press purge button to "blow it dry" then turn off air supply, and purge. Put cap on 1st stage and swish in water. That's it.

Cheers

JDS

 

[divenutny]

I also have a TX50. As JS1scuba stated, sounds like your exhaust valves are sticking. I wonder why this is a typical issue for you. You may want to clean/wipe down the exhaust seal and surface.

After a dive in salt water, I soak my second stage for about 20 minutes, then rinse the reg, forcing water in the mouth piece, which will force fresh water out the exhaust valves.

Hope this helps - Tom

 

[halocline]

It has nothing to do with cracking effort, it's a sticking exhaust valve as Joel says. It's tough to really rinse the area where the exhaust valve contacts the reg body because it seals there, and when you purge to open it, air flowing out will make it difficult for the rinse water to penetrate the area on the reg body that's covered by the valve. One thing you might try is to immerse the 2nd stage in some warm clean water, mouthpiece up, and gently exhale through it; do this with the dust cap on the 1st stage. This will open the exhaust valve just enough to hopefully get some of that water in there, and then let it soak for a good long time.

The real fix for this is to remove the exhaust valve and clean it and the reg body. That should be done at any annual service. BTW, as long as you can get the valve working and it still seals fine, it's not any huge problem.

 

[giles45shop]

Thanks all! That sounds exactly what's happening. Normally, I have the regs hooked up and run flowing water through the mouth piece and both vents, purge and remove from the tank. Several dives ago, I was in SoCal, and borrowing tanks. In this case, I rinsed the regs in the bathtub at the hotel with warm water, but they were not pressurized.

I'll try giving them a soak as mattboy suggested and see if that helps to unstick them.

Thanks all,

John

 

[Bob Vincent]

John, your exhaust flapper valves are sticking against the body. This is common if you wash your regulators and the flappers dry against the body. Best to only wash them while pressurised. Place the 2nd stage in a bucket of fresh water, swish it around a bit then press purge button. Then take it out of the bucket and shake excess water off then press purge button to "blow it dry" then turn off air supply, and purge. Put cap on 1st stage and swish in water. That's it.

Cheers

JDS

Cool my Delta 4's do that also 1 breath to losen then good to go. I'll try a put in a rinse and purge first before putting it away instead of just dunking the whole reg. thats been disconnected.

Thanks for the info.