Do i have a bad regulator?

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So i just bought this very lightly used Diversion 165, hooked it all up and pressed the trigger for the first time on a peice of aluminum pipe. ( AC setting) and i noticed the arc was all over the place. So i went to check my regulator, and the flow guage is pegged at 0. tank is open, and the pressure guage reads nice and high. so i turn the knob on the regualtor all the way open and im still reading zero at the flow guage. But the thing is, when i press the button on my tig torch, you can hear the gas flowing through the torch... im confused, and new to this stuff so can someone please advise me?
Reply:Are you sure you have a flow gauge?  Double check that the gauge on the low side isn't a pressure gauge.Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:low side is a flow guage, its what comes with the diversion 165, measures in CFH
Reply:Ok. Now the next question is do you have the orfice in place. The adapter that goes from the regulator to the hose is also a orfice that works in conjunction with the pressure gauge to give you a flow reading.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:if u can hear the gas flow, try to vary it with the regulator screw (  clockwise is open). if that seems to work, the regulator is working and the flow gauge is not.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadif u can hear the gas flow, try to vary it with the regulator screw (  clockwise is open). if that seems to work, the regulator is working and the flow gauge is not.
Reply:Orifices on flow regulator/flowgauges are almost always drilled in the outlet on the regulator.  If you disconnect the hose fitting you will see a very small hole in the outlet.    The flowguage on the unit is just a pressure gauge that has been calibrated for the cfh the unit will deliver through the fixed orifice.     As you turn the adjusting screw in, you increase the pressure the regulator is delivering, which mean you get more gas through the fixed orifice.    One difference between a flowmeters and  a regulator/flowgauge is  if gas is not flowing the float on the flowmeter will be at the zero.  A regulator flowgauge does not zero out when gas is not flowing if the unit is pressurized.  So, if you turned  the adjusting screw all the way in and the gauge never moved, then you cfh gauges is bad or the regulator itself is bad.  Hope this helps.JimOAdoctorwww.regulatortorchrepair.com