Smith flow regulator question

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I have a mm 172 at home and thought my CO2 cylinder was empty a few months back(I don't often work at home)  so Friday morning I was going to take it to my lws and exchange it out for a full one. No big deal, except it's still almost full. The cylinder pressure gauge works fine, but there was almost zero flow from the outlet. Long story short, I cracked the regulator apart and the main diaphragm is fine, but the HP cartridge is a different story. The o ring that seals the HP cartridge had grown to be quite larger than its supposed to be. The inside needle valve block (rubber thing with the needle in it that seals on the inside of the cartridge nut) has also grown/swollen to the point where it won't move freely. Does anybody know how this happens? Pics to followTeach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:Crazy things happen... As I went in the house to cool off and type this thread the o ring must have gassed out because I went back out to take pics and the dang thing sucked back into the groove on the cartridge seat. The inside needle block thing didn't shrink up much, but it did enough to start working again. Unless stick-man brought me a new oneTeach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:stick_man!!!!!30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Originally Posted by storemanstick_man!!!!!
Reply:Talked to my lws today. Turns out the flow gauge I have isn't intended for use with CO2. The seals are rubber and the gas destroyed the seals by getting in on a molecular level. Hence the growing o ring and needle body.Teach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes