sticking regulator

[jimmy71]

I have always noticed that my (and all i have owned) regulators "stick" with the first breath I take after my regs have been unused for a couple days. It seems like the diaphragm sticks. Once I am able to get a breath or two it is gone and does not come back until the reg sits for a couple days. I follow reg service intervals and rinse after each use. Is this normal? Does this show that i am not rinsing well enough?

I have mares, oceanic and cressi. They all seem to do it to me. I have not been able to pull any info on google.

Jimmy

 

[Zung]

Mines do that too, sometimes, mostly the exhaust valve, and some more than others. I don't worry about it as it goes away real quick. Once in a while, you may want to remove the cover and clean the diaphragm if required. I once saw some silicon-like goo that some tech put on my wife's; I cleaned it out. I don't think it'll void your warranty, just be careful. Don't touch the exhaust valve unless you want to replace it, so says the Scubapro maintenance manual.

My gears get rised after every dive if I have access to fresh water, and they get soaked over night after a dive trip, and that's all there is to it. Some of they are 20 years old and still work great.

 

[herman]

Almost every reg I have does it at one time or another, just blow it loose and go on.
Zung, I assume by "don't touch" the exhaust valve you mean do not remove it, otherwise it can be cleaned or opened with a dull instrument for inspection. To do damage to it you would have to be pretty rough or using something sharp.

 

[Ghanguss]

Mine never have. My occy is 15 years old and has never stuck.

I usually have a tank connected when washing them, and while I soak them, I purge air as well to wash any salt from near the valve.

If I dont have a tank connected, I place the regs carefully in clean water otherwise if you swish them the diaphragm can open the valve inside and water gets into the hose where it stays untill your next dive.

After washing I purge some air through them to make sure the valve is dry

 

[miketsp]

I have always noticed that my (and all i have owned) regulators "stick" with the first breath I take after my regs have been unused for a couple days. It seems like the diaphragm sticks. Once I am able to get a breath or two it is gone and does not come back until the reg sits for a couple days. I follow reg service intervals and rinse after each use. Is this normal? Does this show that i am not rinsing well enough?

I have mares, oceanic and cressi. They all seem to do it to me. I have not been able to pull any info on google.

Jimmy

My Aqualungs do the same thing with the exhaust valves that stick initially.
Once unstuck there are no more problems.

 

[Zung]

Almost every reg I have does it at one time or another, just blow it loose and go on.
Zung, I assume by "don't touch" the exhaust valve you mean do not remove it, otherwise it can be cleaned or opened with a dull instrument for inspection. To do damage to it you would have to be pretty rough or using something sharp.

You're abolutely right; I was just quoting Scubapro
Otherwise, you can probably open it up by poking a finger inside the exhaust Tee, but not completely; you can also reach it "top side" after removing the diaphragm. I guess you can clean it this way with some cotton swabs; I never bothered: if it ain't broke....

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Almost every reg I have does it at one time or another, just blow it loose and go on.
Zung, I assume by "don't touch" the exhaust valve you mean do not remove it, otherwise it can be cleaned or opened with a dull instrument for inspection. To do damage to it you would have to be pretty rough or using something sharp.

1+

To the OP: Don't worry about it. It is really common, even if you are a regulator cleaning "fanatic" like I am. A little bit of salt water will invariably find its way under the lip of the exhaust valve, and when it dries it gets "sticky". During normal washing/soaking, the valve remains closed, so the salt or whatever can remain trapped.... I don't personally think it is worth the effort to lift the valve and clean under the lip, because as you've seen, it frees-up the first time you exhale and you are good to go.

Best wishes.

 

[herman]

I am not too sure it's even salt water. I usually flush mine with running water into the mouthpiece and out the exhaust valve and they still do it. I think it's more of a glue like effect, just like those stick on mask lenses, wet them and as they dry, they stick. In any case, not something to worry over, you should have a double hose duck bill stick, that takes some air to bust loose.

 

[jimmy71]

thanks guys. That is all info i kind of figured. Thought I might as well ask because you know what happens when you make assumptions...............

 

[tfsails]

I rebuilt a NIRA FFM the other day that had an exhaust valve that absolutely would not allow air to pass. I poked it open with a dull probe and it worked like a champ the rest of the time. It did not seem sticky when I poked it open but it would not pass gas when I exhaled hard into the mask. Damn near blew the mask off my head!!