Vinegar to clean regs?

[taat2d]

Thanks for the link Cave Diver. How long do you lean the Simple Green on? Do you spray it on and wash it right off, or do you let it set in for a bit then wash it off?

 

[ScoobieDooo]

taat2d,
I believe thats only done when the reg is completely apart and being overhauled. I don't think one does this just for a 'cleaning' of their reg. I'd imagine that doing this tends to remove any O-ring lube that may be on the O-rings - not an issue when you are doing a complete overhaul, the reg is all part, is gonna get rinsed in clear water and reassembled with new lubed O-rings. Am I correct in this assumption?

 

[taat2d]

Scoobie,
My friend said that every once in awhile it's good to break them down and clean them in that manner. anyone know if this is a good thing to do, or is better to be left until serviced?

 

[ScoobieDooo]

Hmm, instresting...gee, I'd like to know about that too, then...

 

[Hallmac]

taat2d once bubbled...
Thanks for the link Cave Diver. How long do you lean the Simple Green on? Do you spray it on and wash it right off, or do you let it set in for a bit then wash it off?

They are disassembled and allowed to soak/ cook for about thirty minutes. Then rinse in fresh water and blow dry with clean air.

taat2d once bubbled...
My friend said that every once in awhile it's good to break them down and clean them in that manner. anyone know if this is a good thing to do, or is better to be left until serviced?

It depends on how much diving you do. If you dive more than 75 times a year I recommend breaking them down cleaning and lubricating every six months. Less than that have them serviced once a year and overhauled every two.

Hallmac

 

[jamiei]

scubapro recommends 5 mins in an acid solution like vinegar and then 5 mins in a baking soda solution to neutralize the acid, then a good clean rinse. 30 mins sounds like too long to me personally.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Well, simple green its probably OK to leave them in there for that long, but with acid, you dont want to leave any metal parts in there for anywhere near that long. Usually a minute or two is all it needs in the ultrasonic. Otherwise, you will start to strip the chrome off the metal parts. We use the stuff in a bucket from Trident. Works really well, just mix a little with water and you are good to go. (For cleaning a reg during overhaul, not routine cleaning after a dive.)

 

[jamiei]

yeah, never use vinegar for cleaning unless you're doing an "annual" service on your regs. never use it for regular cleaning, its not necessarry and will most likely cause more harm than good cause you'll strip the o-rings' lubricant and most likely not be able to neutralize all the acid in the cracks and crevices unless you take it apart.

 

[Lead_carrier]

jamiei once bubbled...
scubapro recommends 5 mins in an acid solution like vinegar and then 5 mins in a baking soda solution to neutralize the acid, then a good clean rinse. 30 mins sounds like too long to me personally.

If you leave them a bit longer is won't hurt them. IMO you shouldn't try servicing your regs unless you're trained to do so. You can also use isopropyl alcohol to neutralize the acid from the vinegar.

 

[jamiei]

a bit longer is ok, but if you regularly leave them in there for 30 mins, you're not just removing deposits. You're also stripping the chrome finish off. Five minutes in the correct solution will clean them just fine unless you don't take care of your equipment anyway, in which case you probably aren't thinking of giving them an acid bath in the first place.