Mig Regulator leaking???

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i have a welder i have been using for a few years now. i went today and changed out the tank. i had a brand new tank on it but the place where i moved makes you switch out the tank unless you want to wait a week to refill. anyhow i was welding for a bit when the regulator started to leak out of a nut on the top with a hole in it there is a VS stamped under the hole no matter what i do i can not get it to stop leaking. its an oxyturbo mini regulator that came with the welder. it has no gauges on it. i just cant seem to figure this out and i need the welder!! does this have anything to do with changing the tank? cell phone pic of the regulator that little nut right at the top any help would be greatly appreciated i am lost here
Reply:Changing the tank should have nothing to do with this. My guess is that the reg has had a high pressure seat failure and the plug with the hole is the over pressure relief to prevet the reg from comming apart if you had the gas turned all the way down. Gas is getting by the HP diaphram and the vent is there to relieve the pressure. You may not have noticed in the past, because the tank pressure was low enough to be held back by the bad seat, or it could have just let go. Seen it several times.If so the regs shot, get a new one. Those cheap ones are not worth trying to repair.
Reply:i was thinking that was going to be the case. what would be a good regulator to buy? is it normal to have the tanks swaped for a refil? i used to refil in ny where i bought the tank and they woudl just fill up my tank everytime it was brand new and i exchanged it for one at the welding supply
Reply:I purchased a cylinder from my LWS and everytime I need it refilled they swap a full cylinder out for my empty one. It is much easier and faster this way and the cylinders are always almost identical.Last edited by sidthss; 07-22-2009 at 08:55 PM.Miller Dynasty 300dxSpeedglas 9002XMiller Spectrum 375 XtremeLincoln PowerMig 255xtLincoln PowerMig 140cMilwuakee Portaband
Reply:i just wanted to keen on the idea of giving them my brand new tank for there used who knows how many times tank. i guess i am just being crazy about it but didnt seem right to me they got a nice new tank to add to there assortment
Reply:Did you buy the cylinder from the place you get it refilled?Miller Dynasty 300dxSpeedglas 9002XMiller Spectrum 375 XtremeLincoln PowerMig 255xtLincoln PowerMig 140cMilwuakee Portaband
Reply:All depends on where you are. When I got my "new" tank it was just one of the tanks the LWS had. They swap all the tanks. They also test all the tanks so I don't need to worry about if the tank is in hydro or not. Have I gotten a "bad" tank, yes once or twice. The tanks low or empty, probably due to a bad valve. Take it back and they swap it out for another no problems, "sorry for the problem, we'll knock it off the bill" ( nice to deal with a good place ) Tanks last a LONG time. I've seen tanks dated to the 1940's still in service in good condition.As far as a reg, the flow meter style is nice, but some times expensive. I just went it to the LWS and asked what they had as an ecconomical replacement for the one I had thet died. Almost anything you get will most likely be an upgrade on that one if its got gauges. I definately want a HP gauge on the tank, that way I can tell before a weekend if I need to go swap the tank rather than find out after an hour on Sat when the place is closed.
Reply:Originally Posted by sidthssDid you buy the cylinder from the place you get it refilled?