OA: Struggle to get Neutral Flame

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Suddenly I'm struggling to get a neutral on my torch. Turn the acetylene flame until smoke disappears and it travels from tip - then slightly backoff to get flame to tip.Cannot get the sweet spot - never had that trouble before. Even with very fine adjustments I'm unable to get a neutral flame.Almost as if the oxygen pressure is at a much higher than the acetylene but they're set to about the same setting.Both cylinders are not close to empty but to red warning area on gauge.Could it be that or dirty tip perhaps? Hope it's not the regulator!Will check tonight.
Reply:More than likely a dirty tip.  Other symptoms can be a high pitched squeal, the flame appearing to split past the tip, a flame that's not symmetrical, etc.
Reply:I'll clean the tip tonight and try again.Thanx.
Reply:Well, cleaned the tip and tried another one - same result. Think both regualtors are shot - above both knobs are a small hole from which gas is escaping.Have'nt really got the money but am swopping it in at Afrox BOC for a replacement set. Think I'll get new hoses too.Thanx and Cheers!
Reply:cutting or welding torch.  I had a problem with my cutting attachment a few years ago.  The spring in the lever was broke.  How high is your oxygen pressure?  Turn it way down to like 10 psi then try to adjust.  I am not telling what the correct setting is, just try lower pressure. After rereading your post, Sounds like your oxy pressure is too high.
Reply:Tap, it's a welding torch. My gauges are marked in kPA and I went as low as 15 (2 PSI?) on both - played around a lot.I noticed improvement the higher the oxygen setting - that's when I heard the hissing noise from the regulator and actually felt the gas escaping.So worse at low setting and acceptable at high.Needles on gauges also danced around a bit and it seems they just love to drift up to the 30 kPA (4 PSI?) mark when I adjusted the regulators to the 15 kPA mark.
Reply:Originally Posted by cassidyTap, it's a welding torch. My gauges are marked in kPA and I went as low as 15 (2 PSI?) on both - played around a lot.I noticed improvement the higher the oxygen setting - that's when I heard the hissing noise from the regulator and actually felt the gas escaping.So worse at low setting and acceptable at high.Needles on gauges also danced around a bit and it seems they just love to drift up to the 30 kPA (4 PSI?) mark when I adjusted the regulators to the 15 kPA mark.
Reply:I shut everything down when my wife  confirmed the leaks.Do'nt really know what type - they're distributed only by Afrox which generally just swop out the regs for brand new ones. Must say they've lasted me close to 6 years though.Cheers and thanx for the help.
Reply:The Harris regulators I bought in the mid 60's still function fine although I did replace the seats in them once. I don't know if I could still buy parts due to liability anymore.Are yours single or two stage? If two stage, the first might be stuck open from dirt/debris, causing the safety feature of the second to 'exhaust' the gas.
Reply:Single stage, double gauge. Dust and damp is a problem in my garage/shop so it's either dirt or rust that led to their demise.
Reply:Took both in. They were mighty surprised based on the condition of the regulators and offered to test it for me which was generous - normally they do'nt bother just force you to buy new ones.One theory is that flashback occured and damaged the diapraghms but I can't believe this coz I do have surpressors on the torch - or can surpressor break down over time?