Right-side up regulator = freeflow?!

[ajmataz]

...for all the advice.

Using this forum is like having an instructor to ask questions from all the time (at least for a newbie like me).
:newbie:




:nixon:

 

[wch]

ajmataz once bubbled...
But whenever I faced the mouthpiece up to the sky, both in and out of water, it would free flow.

Could someone explain again why it would free flow out of the water?

If the seat is bad, that makes some sense, but I don't get how just facing the mouthpeice up would caause it to free flow.
I understand the pressure difference underwater, but I don't understand how there would be a difference out of the water.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Uncle Pug]

wch once bubbled...
Could someone explain again why it would free flow out of the water?

the regulator shouldn't free flow out of the water... no matter which way it is turned.... the way I read the initial explanation was that the regulator started freeflowing in the water when and even when the mouth piece was held up out of the water the reg continued to free flow... perhaps I was wrong in reading continued into the post. Often when a regulator has and adjustment feature called venturi assist... once the reg start flowing it wants to keep flowing... just bringing it up out of the water will not stop that... placing it mouthpiece down in the water usually will.

 

[Walter]

"placing it mouthpiece down in the water usually will."

So will putting your finger over the opening.

 

[cybordolphin]

To stop the freeflow described.. a quick hand over the mouthpiece should quiet it down quickly. Then flood the reg as mentioned above.

But..... if it is constantly doing this.... you need to detune that pup.
If your reg does not have an external adjustment, you may need to use an allen wrench (as on an ATX40), and crank it all the way down (if it is a bungied backup for instance)..... or at least until the freeflowing stops occurring (if it is a primary).

You can lose a lot of air very quickly if you are busy with something and not paying attention to that kind of a freeflow. I remember when I first started diving.... I lost 500lbs... like THAT* (as in pretty darn quick).

Running the hoses behind your neck (close), will allow you to always hear a freeflow like that. Most of the time you would be able to catch the freeflow almost immediately, but running the hoses close to your neck will assure you hear it right away.

I would defenitely have the reg detuned if need be..... to not constantly freeflow like that.