Harris Regulator Repair

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I have two, practically brand new Harris Oxygen regulators which I picked up off the internet.Both units appear to have never been used (no wrench marks on the nuts).Have had the units in storage since I bought them (a year or so).  Anyway, last week I got in a large, copper heat exchanger off one of our local workboats.  The bronze end cap had come out and needed to be reinstalled.No problem I first thought.  Just silver solder it with Harris Safety-Silv 50.Well, being a massive chunk of copper and a bronze end cap did present a bit of a problem.  With my standard Smith med torch and 205 tip, I couldn't get enough heat in the exchanger and end cap together to get the filler to flow properly.Solution was to use the larger torch with heat applied to the end cap, and a smaller torch working around the perimeter of the heat exchanger.  The two torches worked extremely well.Anyway, my large torch set uses a 310 Cu Ft Acetylene and a 300 Cu Ft Oxygen, and a pair of 2 Stage Smith regulators.  Rather than going to the house (shop is about 1 mile away from the house) and getting my second set of ox/ace, I figured I'd just hook up the small torch to a 40 Cu Ft (B Bottle) of acetylene and a 125 Cu Ft of Oxygen.Got out the Harris regulators I had in storage.  Acetylene gauge worked fine.  Oxygen regulators, not good at all.First regulator I hooked up to bottle and went to set the lo pressure.  Smith torches call for 10 PSI (ox and ace).  Set pressure to 10 PSI with torch flowing oxygen.  Shut the oxygen down on the torch.  Pressure kept rising on the lo pressure gauge.  When it went past 100, I shut the bottle down and purged the entire system.  Tried it one more time with same results.Decided I must have just gotten a "bad" regulator.  Went back to storeroom and drug out the second oxygen regulator.  Hooked everything up and same results.  Tried it twice.Ended up pulling the Smith oxygen regulator off the gas mixer and used that to get the job done.  No problems with the Smith.Two questions:1.  Has anyone else had similar problems with Harris oxygen regulators?  I've used their two stage regulators before and never had a problem.2.  Has anyone found a good service facility for Harris regulators?  Normally, I would have just dropped them both by my LWS, but he's sold out and the new larger company (ARCET) just sends them out to parts unknown.  I'd rather send them to someone who's "recommended".Just seemed a little strange to me that I would encounter the exact same problem with two virtually brand new Harris regulators.Looking for service center recommendations.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIILooking for service center recommendations.
Reply:The Harris 25 which is the most popular Harris regulator by far has a very large rubber valve seat.  When it is stored for long periods of time and exposed to change of tempertures and humidity, the seat can become brittle and fail.  Any time a regulator delivery pressure climbs, the valve seat has failed.    The new Harris 25C has an encapulated seat that works alot better than the old rubber seat.  The old 25 can not be converted to the 25C.   The 25 and the 25C are simple to repair however, and I offer repair kits for DIY, or repair services.The kits are $19.95 and a total rebuild is 45.00 per regulator.JimOAdoctorwww.regulatortorchrepair.com
Reply:Wow, great to know. Thanks Jim! Sundown- I had the exact same issue on the same regulator, but mine is about 200 yrs old, and worked hard. I put it aside, and have been running a cheap replacement for a while. (I don't do much OA work, so I was in no hurry to get it repaired. This might change that for me!!And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:OA,Appreciate the reply.  Good information.As it turns out, after posting here, I went ahead and called Harris.  They recommended a repair facility in Mechanicsville, VA.  Spoke to the owner and forwarded the regulators to him last Wednesday.  He called Friday to let me know that both had been repaired and would be in the mail back to me on Saturday.It was exactly what you had described.  Bad seats.Although I've had good luck with the Harris two stage regulators in the past, this latest "experience" with the Harris regualators leaves me a little gunshy.  I use Smith regulators on my larger bottles as well as on all the mixers and I've never had a problem with any of them.All my flowmeters are Smith (multigas) and I've been very satisfied there also.OA:Do you have a preference when it comes to regulators?Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIAlthough I've had good luck with the Harris two stage regulators in the past, this latest "experience" with the Harris regualators leaves me a little gunshy.  I use Smith regulators on my larger bottles as well as on all the mixers and I've never had a problem with any of them.
Reply:I have a set of Harris 2500 series for about fifteen years now. I have never had a problem. I wonder if these are susceptible to this issue also."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:The seat in all makes and models of regulators will fail sooner than later.  I think, but not positive, the 2500 has encapsulated seat assembles, which hold up better than the a standard seat.JimOAdoctorwww.regulatortorchrepair.com
Reply:Originally Posted by OAdoctorThe seat in all makes and models of regulators will fail sooner than later.  I think, but not positive, the 2500 has encapsulated seat assembles, which hold up better than the a standard seat.Jim
Reply:Thanks Jim, I hope I won't need to soon, but when I do I'll be calling you."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by lars66Do you have parts for Air Products flow meters and regulators? the last two I sent in for repair came back with no parts availible tags.
Reply:Originally Posted by OAdoctorAir Products regulators are all obsolete. It has been about 5-6 years since I was able to get parts for AP regulators.  We still fix the torches, but those parts will be obsolete soon.Jim