CO2 Regulator really hard to adjust
- Thread starter dtduffy
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thisjrp4
Well-Known Member
Take it apart and check that nothing is broken inside.
It's hold pressure fine, and worked for kegs already filled. I would just like to keg a home brew eventually and with it being so hard to adjust I don't feel comfortable wrenching on it too much. I just didn't know if this was common and had an easy fix. Worst case i'll purchase a new one.
thisjrp4
Well-Known Member
What's the harm in taking it apart? Disconnect the gas and open it up. Mine worked fine for a year then suddenly pressurized my keg to 30 psi. I opened it up and re-seated the diaphram inside and it works like new.
I lubricated the threads on mine and it fixed it. I used tri-flo once, and wd40 another time. There are other members on here who will tell you not to use those lubricants, and to use something else (I think something like white lightning bike chain grease, I can't remember). Either way, I think your short-term problem will be fixed. The white lightning stuff might make the problem go away for longer.
How old is your regulator? I used some penetrating lube from the local autostore on mine (I wanna say its called PB2). Anways, dont saturate it, just shoot a quick burst onto it, and it should loosten things up. Also, you dont want a regulator to be to loose, they are suppose to be adjusted with a screwdriver or wrench, not finger tightening.
Threads merged. No need to double post.
why? as long as it isn't under pressure when you dissassemble it, it's safe....
springer
Well-Known Member
Always used plain paraffin wax on threaded items at the body shop for things we didn't want petroleum products near. Like regulators and spray guns.
It's not the dis-assembly I have concerned with, it is the reassembly and then use of a regulator. I work for a a company that manufactures industrial regulators. You would be surprised how many accidents take place from regulators being taken apart and put back together improperly then pressurized.
I probably should have used a touch of silicone grease on the threads, but being lazy I just put a very light coat of chapstick on the threads. Huge improvement. I just threaded the adjustment screw out most of the way, put a touch of chapstick on, and problem solved.
diannotti
Well-Known Member
For better or worse this is the regulator I have: http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/regulator/twoproduct/premium_double_gauge_5422.html
Question: To turn the knob say to increase pressure sometimes it is very difficult ( the lock nut/ ring is not locked down so there is room to turn / adjust the pressure knob) Are you supposed to release pressure on the regulator to adjust the knob?
Question: To turn the knob say to increase pressure sometimes it is very difficult ( the lock nut/ ring is not locked down so there is room to turn / adjust the pressure knob) Are you supposed to release pressure on the regulator to adjust the knob?
chapstick or wax is good to use; much better than petrolium products like WD40 that will degrade the rubber diaphragm inside the regulator. silicone or white grease will also work fine.
you arent supposed to need to. try unscrewing the knob all the way and coating the threads with one of the above lubricants. the reason its hard is because the end of the screw pushes against the diphragm. any friction between the screw and the metal insert on the diaphragm, or the threads themselves, will make it hard to turn. reducing the friction makes it easier.
