Soft-purge regulator cover

[Ed Palma]

Okay, I've got brass 2nd stages, and I've got plastic 2nds. Both have got hard diaphragm covers. Now, for some weird reason, I feel compelled to try a soft purge cover (mainly because I can get them cheap ) Interestingly, the shop owners keep asking me why I'd want one, considering that they could be a failure point if it rips.

Which begs the question "why are they selling them in the first place?"

I can imagine it would be easier to purge if you had thick gloves on, but here in the tropics, that benefit is rather negligible.

So here's my question: How many of you out there use soft-purge regulators? How often does it fail? If you could switch back to a regular hard box-top, would you?

 

[Ed Palma]

The really basic (and some what lame reason) for wanting to change my covers is so that they would match each other...

Since I was getting the covers on sale, I thought I'd just give them a try.

At any rate, I'll also get one hard cover to match the other.

 

[redacted]

I have a few of the soft covers. They seem to be popular with newer regs. My only complaint is that the cover tends to take a set if stored with something that depresses the purge. I like to store most of my 2nds that way to preserve the LP seats. I now carefully push a piece of bungee through a vent hole between the cover and the diaphragm and that seems to work OK.

 

[cbmech2]

I have an Atomic B1 that I bought 10 years ago and I have not had a single issue with soft covers. I also see a steady flow of them come into the shop for service. Out of all the plastic 2nds I have serviced with the soft covers, I have only had to replace one cover (Aqualung Octo).

 

[Gen San Chris]

I have soft covers on some gear and I have had no problems but I have replaced failed ones for cusomers also! I go for hard covers usually but it depends what comes with the reg!

 

[Slonda828]

The only thing I will say about this is that some of our rental regulators (Dacors, Mares, and Atomic) had soft covers. Students are pretty hard on them, and some of them get little (tiny) rips in them, but are fully service-able. My brass second stage covers (Aqualung) are 30 years old, and still work great. The only thing you have to worry about with brass covers is denting them. You can bang the dents out though.

 

[tfsails]

I'd go with the cover the reg was designed for. It may be integral to proper sealing of the diaphragm. Just my two pennies' worth...

 

[Ed Palma]

Okay, I went and changed my covers Now I can rest easy 'coz they match

 

[Ed Palma]

@Tfsails

You're right. Most (if not all) covers are integral in preventing the diaphragm from coming loose from its seat. But with a little shaping (and some chutzpah), you can make most anything fit

Here's a modified, updated conshelf 2nd stage Manufactured in 1974, here's its new look:

 

[tfsails]

DocEd--Hey, more power to you! Hope it works and it damn sure looks good! That's an interesting-looking first stage there. Wouldn't mind taking it apart!

TF