CO2 Regulator

FishLvR · Feb 8, 2024

Anyone here let me know if this can be rebuilt? It was in my closet for an eon. I dusted it off and threw on a new co2 tank. When I turned on the tank the working pressure valve went insane and tried to spin around twice. (Valve was all the way open of course) I shut the tank off and it went down, then slowly turned tank back on. Working pressure was 20psi. So bumped it up to 41. Tested it last night for a few hours. All was well. This morning I hear this CO2 dumping. It is coming from the nut that holds on the working pressure gauge. I noticed there is a bit of rust around the gauge as well. Should I just buy a new one, or is this gauge worth the effort?

CasperOe · Feb 8, 2024

Try your luck with some teflon tape on the thread of the pressure gauge..

Gently remove the gauge, apply the tape and put it back together again hand tight

X-37B · Feb 8, 2024

Use loctite not teflon on that gauge fitting.

rhitee93 · Feb 8, 2024

I suspect the gage is going to be inaccurate based on your description of event. Pretty easy to replace just the gage.

FishLvR · Feb 8, 2024

I just went to Milwaukee and bought some parts. New gauge and some loctite. When I took this bad boy apart it had water in it. Had to be in there forever. Rusted everything. The gauge was just another symptom. I also ordered another one just to keep me going for now. If I can rebuild this broken one it would make a decent dual stage calcium reactor for a future, much bigger tank.

rhitee93 · Feb 8, 2024

Bummer!

Troylee · Feb 8, 2024

Devisissy said:
I just went to Milwaukee and bought some parts. New gauge and some loctite. When I took this bad boy apart it had water in it. Had to be in there forever. Rusted everything. The gauge was just another symptom. I also ordered another one just to keep me going for now. If I can rebuild this broken one it would make a decent dual stage calcium reactor for a future, much bigger tank.

Most welding supply stores will rebuild them.. airgas etc.

jda · Feb 8, 2024

I have capped bad gauges in the past and just lived without them. I don't really care what they say... they are not usually accurate anyway... I have no idea if the low side is 12 or 40 as long as the output is steady.

I have some dual stage victors with oil filled gauges all the way down to cheap, reef garage sale regulators. If I needed another one, I would just get a Tunze - plenty reliable and reasonably priced.

FishLvR · Feb 8, 2024

Troylee said:
Most welding supply stores will rebuild them.. airgas etc.

I called they acted like I was on crack. Oxarc is the place here.

FishLvR · Feb 8, 2024

Troylee said:
Most welding supply stores will rebuild them.. airgas etc.

OK found a place. They want almost as much as the new one cost. I am extremely handy and mechanically inclined. I will be happy to repair my own.

X-37B · Feb 8, 2024

Devisissy said:
OK found a place. They want almost as much as the new one cost. I am extremely handy and mechanically inclined. I will be happy to repair my own.

Check here.
Thread 'How to build a custom dual stage CO2 regulator.' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-build-a-custom-dual-stage-co2-regulator.996519/

FishLvR · Feb 8, 2024

X-37B said:
Check here.
Thread 'How to build a custom dual stage CO2 regulator.' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-build-a-custom-dual-stage-co2-regulator.996519/

Don't need to build one just repair the one I have. Eventually.