CO2 Regulator help.

[PaulCa]

Hi Guys,

I bought a regulator a few years back and have only just tried it out. I'm having issues.

Hopefully the image below works.

It's supposed to be a two stage regulator. The outlet for the primary stage is sealed with a grub screw, the seconds stage has a pressure gauge and the john guest outlet.

Oddly it worked first time and remained working for a whole evening. Then it vented with a horrible flatulent noise waking me from bed. Lucky as I had not learned to trust the regulator the fire extinguisher valve was shut.

I have tried many different things, including taking it apart. The primary regulator has two pressure release valves. Thinking I'd solved the problem I tightened their springs with an allen/hex key. It still vents.

Looking at how the regulator appears to work the diaphram in the first stage allows pressure to flow into the second. However if I screw the first stage all the way out and fire the extinguisher I get pressure on the second stage and the RV still vent.

For now I have given up on it and gone back to my cheap welding regulator.

Has anyone come across these type before? Is it just junk now?

 

[Dutto]

Welcome to the Forum! :thumb:

The photographic link didn't work sorry.

However, with my HSE Manager's hat on, I have to say that adjusting the springs of ANY pressure relief device IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, especially on equipment designed to control the pressures that can be found inside a CO2 cylinder.

Assuming that the regulator is still disconnected, my advice is:

Either,

a) Get it serviced by the manufacturer.

or

b) Chuck it in the bin immediately.

 

[PaulCa]

Welcome to the Forum! :thumb:

The photographic link didn't work sorry.

However, with my HSE Manager's hat on, I have to say that adjusting the springs of ANY pressure relief device IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, especially on equipment designed to control the pressures that can be found inside a CO2 cylinder.

Assuming that the regulator is still disconnected, my advice is:

Either,

a) Get it serviced by the manufacturer.

or

b) Chuck it in the bin immediately.

Sound advice. I should point out that while testing I was only feathering the trigger on the FE. ie. pulling the trigger very, very slow and very very slightly so as to not apply the full pressure of the cylinder until I was comfortable... and I wasn't comfortable.

Anyway, here is another image, although mine only has 2 stages and the first stages outlets are sealed.

Still I think, as I have a welding regulator which is working fine, I'll probably just bin it. I don't expect it is designed to vent on the first stage, so it must be broken. It does have a service sticker from "Rushmore" (Retest 2018) and a rated safe working pressure of 2000 PSI, but clearly it's defective and thus dangerous.

 

[Dutto]

It looks to be too good a piece of kit to dump! (Mr Economy here!)

From your description of the problem sounds as if a diaphragm might have perished and/or ruptured.

I'm not sure where you live but bits of kit like this can have a chequered history and travel a long way between owners: and there's a Rushmore Maintenance and Testing in Texas ...

https://www.texas-register.com/0800048890-rushmore-maintenance-testing-service-inc

Personally, I would get it serviced and try and find an Operation and Maintenance Manual on-line. :thumb:

 

[PaulCa]

From your description of the problem sounds as if a diaphragm might have perished and/or ruptured.

From the behaviour during my low pressure testing I think it's more like the first stage valve seat has failed. Backing the pressure screw right out still allows flow through it. The sticker says the RVs were set to 55PSI, which would be ideal for a first stage home brew reg as you would never really need more than 55psi from the second stage.

However the fact the first stage allows pressure into the second stage with the screw wound right out when it should effectively be shut suggests the valve is just open. Would make sense with the RVs popping too if full 1000PSI bottle pressure was entering the first stage and popping the RVs even when I increased them to full.

It's a bit moot as the £21 welding reg is working fine and as it was brand new I have more confidence in it.