Second stage leaky inverted

[Mantra]

Hey all!

I posted recently that I had a second stage that was a real honker on exhale: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/edge-gear/419962-2nd-stage-accordion-noise.html

The general advice was to us dive it. Thanks! Good call. I dove it twice today, and what a lovely, easy-breathing reg. I'm loving it. The honking was a bit embarrassing on the boat, but stopped at depth as predicted.

One issue, though. This reg performed beautifully (I like the mouthpiece too) but when I inverted to a heads-down position it breathed very wet before I was close to vertical and then mostly flooded. I repeated this once to test, but wasn't keen to do so again.

Any ideas what gives? Any insight appreciated. Is that usual for this reg? I didn't read that in any review.

 

[ianr33]

First guess is the exhaust valve is leaking.

Put your finger over the gas inlet on the first stage. (the bit that goes on the tank) Put the second stage in your mouth and suck on it. You should not get any air.If you do something is wrong. (Leaking exhaust valve,misaligned/torn diaphragm,cracked case.

 

[redacted]

It is pretty normal for a little bit of water to get by the exhaust valve as you cycle from exhale to inhale. In a normal position, that water is expelled each time you exhale before it can even be noticed. In an inverted position, it tends to not be expelled, and it builds up an becomes noticeable. but that should not happen too quickly. I suggest a very close inspection of the exhaust valve and it's seating surface even if it does pass a vacuum test.

 

[Peter_C]

An easier way to test for leaks and something you should do routinely is connect the reg set to a tank and without turning on the gas, use your mouth to pull a vacuum. If you can continually inhale something needs to be fixed.

 

[rigdiver]

There is a reason exhaust valves are lower than the mouthpiece. Being inverted is not unheard of, but not common either. Plenty of regs leak in this position. Try being vertical and turn the 2nd stage over with the exhaust valve up. Get ready for the wet stuff.

 

[Shftrdog]

You might have a crack in your diaphram

 

[rigdiver]

You might have a crack in your diaphram

Or, a pinhole.

 

[Mitchell Teeters]

I wonder if something was pinched when the diaphragm was tightened down?

Sent from my DROID X2

 

[supergaijin]

If the diaphragm was pinched it would be leaky in any position IMO.

Your reg is a HOG? I don't have experience with them. I found Scubapro to breathe wet upside down- my Aqualung Legend breathes a little wet upside down but not as badly as I had with Scubapro. I think it has to do simply with the fact that the exhaust valve is situated below the mouthpiece in a 'normal' position. When inverted, the exhaust is now higher than the mouthpiece which has a minute pressure change allowing water to enter the housing of the 2nd stage.

I remember when starting diving I really liked hanging upside down and so often got wet breathing. Now I do it only occasionally and just blow (as in purging) when I exhale to get rid of the water.

 

[redacted]

I wonder if something was pinched when the diaphragm was tightened down?

Sent from my DROID X2

If the diaphragm was pinched it would be leaky in any position IMO.

As long as the leak is small enough, any water that leaks in would be expelled with each exhale until the diver's position moves the water away from the exhaust valve. So, the possibilities are there. Start with a vacuum test and go from there.