Acetylene regulator pulsing?

[Batti]

Hello,

I was using my little OA setup today to do some repair work on a snowblower. A couple of times, my acetylene regulator would start pulsing, and the pressure would vary by a couple of PSI. It was making noise like a spring popping.

I've never had it do that before. I was working outside in 35ish degree weather. I was able to get it to stop by varying the pressure, and then putting it back where I wanted it.

The OA unit is a Victor that I use very infrequently. It was purchased new 10 years ago and has always been stored inside. I'm still on the original tanks of gas, that's how low my usage is. I do loosen the regulators when not in use as I was taught in my basic welding class.

Any idea what is happening? Am I low on acetylene? Or is it a regulator issue?

Thanks for any ideas,
Randy

[Rocky D]

I would take an educated guess and say that your regulator is getting ready to croak.

[tommyj3]

I just had the same problem with my acetylene regulator. Not wanting to take a chance on something bad happening I purchased a new regulator. I don't like to see the regulator pressure moving all over the place and making weird sounds.

[weldgault]

A very easy problem to solve. Have the Diaphram, Spring and seat replaced. They are not reacting to the pressure on the back side of the seat( if this is a single stage regulator). John

[84ZMike]

Victors are easy to pull apart.....mine was acting up and the psi would raise from time to time so I pulled it apart and found a piece of trash in it....no problems since then....but it does sound like you need a rebuild
Mike

[Batti]

Thanks! I'll take a look and see what I find. Hopefully it can be rebuilt, as it has very little usage overall.

Randy

[tailshaft56]

The problem with a DIY rebuild is no one seems to want to sell the parts. Considering the thread on misspelling acetylene that may be a good thing. LOL

[Roger]

Everyone is gun shy of lawsuits. They can but won´t.
Local Airgas will not sell CO2 when you tell them it is for refilling paint ball gun CO2 tanks. Parents sued after kid had accident. US civil law lets lawyers go after deepest packets with remotest liability.

[LarryL]

Your regulator problem may be due to a pin hole in its diaphragm. I had a fairly new Smith single-stage oxygen regulator that had the same problem. It made it difficult to maintain a neutral flame in my welding torch. Although my Smith welding outfit was about 6 months out of warranty by the time I discovered the cause of my pressure fluctuation, the Smith customer service rep I phoned sent me a new oxygen regulator. They didn't even want the old one returned. My torch has worked well ever since then. I donated the defective, but relatively unused regulator to a local welding equipment repair shop. The owner was glad to get it as a new diaphragm may have been all that it needed.

LarryL