Warped air barrel - what would cause this?

[Marie13]

This pic is from the AquaLung Legend LX Supreme second stage I bought new (as part of a set) in August 2016. Only used in fresh water, with about 175 dives. Inspected/serviced annually. During a wreck dive on the lake last weekend, it began bubbling slightly from the Venturi knob. Took it into the shop to see what was up. Reg had annual serviced about a month before and I thought it might be related.

Shop put reg onto a tank and dunked it into a water tank, but was unable to duplicate the bubbling. It happened at about 45ft with me. It had never happened before.

Turns out the air barrel is warped. No idea what caused it. I don’t baby my gear, but I’m not hard on it either. Shop contacted AL to see about warranty replacement. AL wanted second stage AND the unaffected first stage shipped to them. I’m not giving up my first stage that works just fine for who knows how long. No guarantee the warranty replacement would happen as reg is 3 years old. I’ve elected to have the air barrel replaced at my cost - $44 for the part.

I use this second stage as the long hose primary on my single tank set. I’ve borrowed the long hose XTX50 primary off doubles set for the meantime. If it doesn’t rain, it pours. My single tank wing has a pinch flat (discovered today at the quarry), and I leave for Toby on Wednesday. Thankfully I was able to borrow a wing from a friend.

 

[The Chairman]

Over-tightening and/or age.

 

[Marie13]

Over-tightening and/or age.

3 years old? I’ve never taken a wrench to the reg side of a hose.

 

[BoltSnap]

It could be manufacturer defect, that's why it should have been sent to AL for definitive answer (and replacement) and possibly a recall.

 

[Marie13]

It could be manufacturer defect, that's why it should have been sent to AL for definitive answer (and replacement) and possibly a recall.

If it was just the second stage AL wanted I would have sent it in, but they refused to take it back without the first stage. Screw that. First stage works fine. They’re not getting their hands on it. I’m tired of switching things back and forth from doubles to single tank set.

 

[RyanT]

Lungs of steel Marie, lungs of steel! I suspect you're pulling air through the barrel so hard it just couldn't handle it!

 

[Marie13]

Lungs of steel Marie, lungs of steel! I suspect you're pulling air through the barrel so hard it just couldn't handle it!

 

[JackD342]

That broken part is really surprising. I have trouble imagining what it would take to break that part at all, much less while installed and attached to far less durable parts.
Purely speculation - I wonder if it was cleaned too aggressively. Since that part is not 100% metal I don’t run it through the ultrasonic cleaner or completely immerse it in a vinegar bath. I haven’t tested for such, but wonder if that plastic (or whatever) part would be compromised by the ultrasonic.

 

[W W Meixner]

This pic is from the AquaLung Legend LX Supreme second stage I bought new (as part of a set) in August 2016. Only used in fresh water, with about 175 dives. Inspected/serviced annually. During a wreck dive on the lake last weekend, it began bubbling slightly from the Venturi knob. Took it into the shop to see what was up. Reg had annual serviced about a month before and I thought it might be related.

Shop put reg onto a tank and dunked it into a water tank, but was unable to duplicate the bubbling. It happened at about 45ft with me. It had never happened before.

Turns out the air barrel is warped. No idea what caused it. I don’t baby my gear, but I’m not hard on it either. Shop contacted AL to see about warranty replacement. AL wanted second stage AND the unaffected first stage shipped to them. I’m not giving up my first stage that works just fine for who knows how long. No guarantee the warranty replacement would happen as reg is 3 years old. I’ve elected to have the air barrel replaced at my cost - $44 for the part.

I use this second stage as the long hose primary on my single tank set. I’ve borrowed the long hose XTX50 primary off doubles set for the meantime. If it doesn’t rain, it pours. My single tank wing has a pinch flat (discovered today at the quarry), and I leave for Toby on Wednesday. Thankfully I was able to borrow a wing from a friend.

View attachment 529294

Marie...

Looks like at some point...the venturi adjustment knob...may have been dropped/bumped/hit...with enough force to deform the plastic/graphite end and damage the S/S barrel...

Check the second stage body on the left side where the venturi end protrudes through the body...the reg may have been hit hard enough to crack the body at the venturi hole...

When are you booked with Kelly at DD...I'm in Tobermory next week as well...

You may want to keep on top of the weather before you start travelling from Chicago...the forecast at this point is not good...the Gulf storm is going to make its way up into Ontario...

Best...

Warren...

 

[GJC]

Was reg ever exposed to heat, like left in a hot car?