My First Royal Aqua Master...
How Much Service is Necessary When a Reg's in Good Shape?
- I acquired this Royal Aqua Master at least a year ago if not longer and only just got around to servicing it last weekend. I had planned a complete re-build and ordered the rebuild kit and other parts from VDH to complete the job.
- But when I took the cans apart, the mechanism looked absolutely brand new. Not a spec of corrosion, no water marks, not even a finger print. I pressed the lever a few times and it operated easily and freely.
- The outside of the cans had a little watermarks, maybe some corrosion, and some discoloration from the old rubber hoses. So, I cleaned and polished them up.
- I was wondering whether or not I should take the mechanism apart and decided to measure the IP (2nd stage pressure). I did this on a 400 psi tank as well as a 2500 psi tank. Both gave the same reading at a little less than 100 psi. So the balancing chamber was working. But I also checked to see if that pressure was holding and it was rock solid. Pushed the lever on and off several times. Turned the tanks on and off several times.
- I checked the service manual on the VDH website and found that the IP should be 115 psi. So, I adjusted it to 115 psi, checked it on both tanks, pushed the lever on and off several times. Turned the tank on and off several times. And the pressure held solid at 115.
- Finally I decided not to "RE-Build" this Royal Aqua Master. Instead, I'm calling what I've done a "Servicing" of this regulator. It needed a cleanup, new duckbill, hoses, and mouthpiece valves. But otherwise, the tune-up to 115 psi is all I did to it mechanically. I put it all back together and it breathes smooth and easy.