Oxy Regulator Rebuild

admin

Maybe this was stupid- but it seems to have worked out well. My SR 450 had a  hissy fit the other day. So before I saw the videos of oxy regulators blowing up, I ordered a rebuild kit. Proceeded meticulously in a very clean environment and rebuilt it. Put the oxy tank just around the corner. Separated the handle from the regulator with my a small square of sheet metal, put double gloves on, reached around and slowly opened the valve.Works great- but if I had to do it all over again, I think I'd pay for someone to rebuild them.Lefty
Reply:Victors are a breeze to do. I've done a few, and would do another reasonably clean oxygen reg since cleaning them further isn't too bad. I send in the crusty ones since it's not worth the price difference to remove paint/varnish/mystery crud.By the time I get guages, kit, new nipple, new nut, new outlet fitting it's cheaper to send 'em out for a 55-dollar+tax rebuild via my nearby LWS.I do my own acetylene Victors since they get modded with a stiffer spring and higher-range output guage for propane use.I won't be buying any Edge regulators since they are more complex. Traditional regs like a 450 field strip effortlessly and are beautifully simple.
Reply:Oxy regs are really one of those things that should be left to those who know what they are doing. Almost everything will combust in the presence of 100% O2 if the pressure is high enough. You don't even need an ignition source, as the heat of compression is sometimes enough. Add in contaminants like oils, grease and silicone and you have a recipe for a bad day. It's also not one of those things you have a chance to react to, as it's usually BANG and over before you know what hit you..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:No matter who rebuilds it, of if they are brand new, open O2 regs SLOWLY.  There can be a surprising amount of foreign matter in an oxygen reg, so do get the little "filters" in your inlet nipples.I've been going through a mound of 450 cores I got at auction, and found debris, brass swarf from fitting replacement (threads peeling when the fitting was installed) and some varnishing/staining in both oxygen regs and (no surprise, they are often fouled) acetylene regs. The abuse they take on job sites is scary. If any major components are remotely questionable, to the scrap brass bucket they go. If in doubt, send 'em to the ever-helpful OADoctor for rebuild or exchange instead, or just order a rebuilt unit. His prices are competitive, and for many folks cheaper than driving to and from their LWS twice (dropoff and pickup) to leave theirs for rebuild. A properly rebuilt regulator or torch is as good as new (we trash plenty of both at the welding school where I work so I get to compare service life). I won't buy either new for myself.
Reply:Have anyone ever seen one blow?Lefty
Reply:I've personally seen the results of at least 2 O2 regs that went BANG plus the one that burned when a glycerin filled LP gauge leaked. The good thing was the regs that went up were on a manifold system and not connected directly to the cylinders with the exception of the one that had the fire. I also was familiar with a person who was killed when an O2 cylinder she had just hooked up exploded. Theory is that oily dirt had gotten into the valve when the cyl was dropped in the dirt parking lot, but theres no way to prove it because there wasn't a valve left. I'm also aware of several others that had experiences similar to mine, but luckily were not at ground zero when it happened.The woman was killed only 6 days after I was seriously burned in a HP O2 "fire" when the O2 booster I was running went BOOM. Vaporised 20plus inches of 316 SS 1/4" HP line and several SS heavy fittings. Circled are the remnants of the 1/4" SS schedule 80 (IIRC) T's  and swageloc adapters. Theres a good bit of tube missing thats not easily apparant from the way they hung the lines to take the picts. Again there wasn't enough left to determine the actual cause, but one strong theory was some contaminant like a bug or a spiderweb got into the system when the cylinder was changed out a few minutes before the explosion. It happened so fast I can't even remember the expolsion. 3rd degree burns from my fingertips to my right elbow and a week in the burn ward. If I'm a bit touchy on the subject I think I have a good reason... Attached ImagesLast edited by DSW; 11-07-2010 at 09:27 PM..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:@DSW - No doubt. Seems all very simple until it isn't. Lefty
Reply:Such events are the reason for wearing a protective suit/gloves/face shield when servicing oxygen.It was good enough in the Air Force for doing LOX, and if I ever get into filling cylinders it will be good enough for me.The whole "open tubing at face height" of the pressure booster vs having most of it covered by a fire barrier/blast deflector seems odd to me. (I'm NOT Monday-morning quarterbacking, it's probably considered normal.) There is no way to eliminate the danger but a nice hunk of plate securely mounted in front of the booster (to direct flash sideways) and a containment wall for cylinders to route blast away from the operator would only be several hundred bucks if using new metal.I also was familiar with a person who was killed when an O2 cylinder she had just hooked up exploded.
Reply:It is semi normal in the dive industry, but yeah the guy I worked for at the time wasn't really that concerened as far as safety if it cost him money. As far as I know they use the newer unit the same way. We did find out from the manufacturer that they suugest that these be enclosed in a blast cabinet so the "WHEN" (their words) they blow there's "less" chance of injuring someone. Funny thing is I was the most anal there about being careful with O2 and I was the one who got hurt. Anyone else would have just walked away and ignored the machine. I had to stand there and watch that everything was going right.As far as the woman who died, I used to have a pict of the tank remains sent to me by a friend who was there and knew about my accident, but lost it when my computer crashed shortly after. The top of the cylinder had ruptured, but the valve was MIA. Either launched and unrecovered or destroyed in the accident..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I have a Victor HRF 2425 Argon flow-meter that just started releasing Argon via the relief valve on its backside, so its time for a rebuild..........but when I called my local Airgas for a rebuild kit price, he tells me that they no longer sell them because of liability purposes for the reason of someone blowing themselves up   "BUT" they do rebuild them there for the small fee to the tune of $60.....pshhhh, I will be looking for a rebuild kit on the net before I pay that price. $60.. what a joke, the kit costs $24 on the weldfabulous website but there not sure if its in stock (Im waiting for there call back).But if it were an oxygen reg.........I would most likely pay the 60 and be OK with it  SQUARE WAVE 175 TIG   DUAL MIG 151
Reply:Spar-X if you can't get the parts from there, check with OAdoctor here or at his site and he can get you hooked up most likely..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:DSW, that sounds like a good idea, where can I locate his site in case I cant find him here (which is highly unlikely). I thought about just sending it to him but it looks simple enough and shipping back and forth would just be extra costs. SQUARE WAVE 175 TIG   DUAL MIG 151
Reply:It's in his signature on all his posts, but here it is...OAdoctorwww.regulatortorchrepair.com.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWIt's in his signature on all his posts, but here it is...OAdoctor
Reply:The HRF 2425s are very easy to redo. I unscrew the cap without disturbing the adjusting screw, install the kit, and screw it back together.Manual link:http://www.thermadyne.com/victor/res...&categoryID=25
Reply:The HRF2425 repair is in stock and avialable online at my site.http://www.regulatortorchrepair.com/...425-repair-kitJimOAdoctorwww.regulatortorchrepair.com
Reply:I did get a hold of weldfabulous today and they just place there order for the kit with Victor as soon as I place my order with them, I guess that keeps them less cluttered in back stock there?