ScubaLady Needs Emergency Equipment Advice

[ScubaLady]

I have two double hose regulators with me and both went belly up today. The first, one is blowing air and I am not sure where yet. The second appears to have blown an o-ring maybe between the Phoenix and the can. The dive shop said if I can find out the o-ring size the likely have it. After my night dive tonight I am going to try to take both of them apart with my traveling tool kit to diagnose. I had my dive buddy video the problem and I will try to slice a picture out as soon as it all finishes uploading to my iPad.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. I have ten dives left and tremble at the thought of making them with a modern regulator...

[luis]

If it is between the Phoenix and the main body, it is just a flat gasket, not an O-ring. If the problem is there you will clearly see bubbles coming out from the joint between the main body and the Phoenix first stage body.

If the issue is there, you must likely only have to tighten it some. The gasket should not need replacement if it was holding air before.

The connection probably just loosened up a bit when the regulator was hooked to a tank and someone twisted the regulator (accidentally or trying to line up with the tank, etc).

Unless the gasket got totally destroyed, if you tighten it, it should hold air to finish your trip. If the gasket is not perfect, you may still have a small leak, but not enough to worry.

It is possible that the gasket could be totally ruined when the first stage loosened up. In which case you are out of luck until you get a new gasket, but I have only seen this happen once with a Royal Aqua Master.

Those gaskets are fairly tough. It should not need replacement, but Bryan has them in stock.

It is not the kind of stuff I would ever take as a spare because I personally never have had an issue with one, but I have seen people grabbing the regulator and twisting the first stage loose.

Here is what I am talking about:
http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/store/ ... cts_id=310



Or this one:
http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/store/ ... cts_id=209






I can’t tell much from the description of the other regulator… you need to be a bit more specific. What kind of regulator is it? If it is a two stage regulator, do you have an IP gauge or access to one?


Good luck

[Bryan]

The first, one is blowing air and I am not sure where yet.
Would be helpful if we knew where the air was coming from and what type of regulator it was....
The second appears to have blown an o-ring maybe between the Phoenix and the can.
Sounds like the high pressure gasket between the phoenix and the body if I had to guess. The dive shop does not have one as it's not an O-ring. They are made from nylon or phenolic gasket material. I would screw a 3/8" first stage wrench into one of the ports and tighten down the nozzle. There is a good chance this will fix it unless the gasket has cracked or stretched out of shape. One thing that cause this to happen is when people lift or handle the Phoenix by all the hoses that are usually attached to it. I have see it many times as divers are being helped on and off with their gear or back on the boat or when deckhands try to chance cylinders none of them are familiar with the equipment nor how it operates. Honest mistakes I'm sure but LP and HP hoses seem to be natural handles for some people.

[Bryan]

I was typing while Luis was replying Kinda funny how we said almost the exact same thing......

[ScubaLady]

First of all, thanks for the responses. I knew if I posted, I would immediately get help. I bragged to everyone at dinner about how wonderful and supportive this group of divers were and I was right to do so!

It looks like the problem on the second one might be more than the gasket. I tested it tonight and the air seems to be coming from the flat part of the can (backside) and the next component.

The (second) regulator that I now think might be too far gone to repair on this trip is the Aqua-Lung DA aqua-master 2-stage regulator with the phoenix nozzle. Ironically, I have had a lot of people looking at my gear. And I have (foolishly, I now realize) let them look things over, carry my gear, etc. I actually had a moment today where someone asked to carry my regulator and I really wanted to say no but they were being so nice and helpful that I let them do so. NO MORE!!

Good news, I replaced some o-rings on my first one and I think it is good to go.

It was a day of problems for me. When I pulled the second regulator out of the drawer to use it I noticed a hole in the intake hose. However, having been taught by the very fine vintage gentlemen in Indianapolis how to improvise, I was carrying electrical tape and taped up the hose then added wire ties for a little reinforcement. You should have seen the looks I was getting. And, a couple of comments, like "You are not actually going out like that, are you?" Of course, I was.

I took a good picture of my handiwork. I will post, if the poor internet connection from here will let me.

Bad Internet, Good Diving.....But that's better than the reverse.

[Popeye]

Intake hose leaking? swap with exhaust hose,simple fix.

[ScubaLady]

Duh! That makes sense. Thanks!!