Beverage Factory dual-gauge regulator failing

I had this problem with this regulator once before and I though it was because my keg was overcarbed but this time I've shut the valve off to the gas-line to the keg and turned the regulator knob all the way to the negative (counter-clockwise)...it still rises to 40+ PSI and when I hit the relief valve it makes a pretty defined "PFFFT!". The diaphragm must be shot. Sad, I bought this just 3 months ago.

I emailed them, hopefully they make it right.

 

Have you tried turning the tank off, mine will still read keg pressure with tank off.

 

Shut off from regulator to keg is off. Pressure is building just inside regulator body itself.

 

Could there be some bit of debris keeping the regulator poppet from closing against the seat? You might try the procedure written up here, might cure your problem...

Cheers!

 

just tried that. Thanks for the link. Unfortunately it didn't work. I don't know if I want to take it apart until I hear from beverage factory.

 

Update: Beverage Factory just called me and they're sending a new regulator. They also mentioned they do NOT need the old one back. Guess I'll take it apart and see if there's any salvaging it/rebuilding it. At the worst I could use it as my serving regulator with my paintball tank and just open the shut-off to charge the keg, then close it again. The body builds up pressure from there but I can't tell if it's triggering the relief valve or not. At any rate, I'd rather it run out my 20oz. tank ($3.21 refills) than my 7lb. tank.

Good customer service thus-far by Beverage Factory though. Here's hoping the new regulator doesn't have issues.

 

I recently had a problem with a secondary regulator from Beverage Factory ... They made it right real quick. Glad to hear they did the same for you.

 

Update: replacement regulator worked fine..........for one day. I had to essentially take both BF "premium" regulators completely apart, every single piece down to the body itself, all gauges, diaphragm, fittings, etc. I then soaked everything except rubber diaphragm in oxyclean for an hour, rinsed, and re-assembled. *so far* there is no more creeping of pressure. I spent 2 hours on what seems like a factory defect where metal shavings or thread-sealer is coming loose and clogging the diaphragm. There was a lot of flaky thread sealer (like permatex) on the fittings I removed. I didn't use any PTFE tape when reassembling except on the close nipple connecting primary/secondary regulators.

Of note: it seems these things are put together by very strong, very stupid robots. Shoddy work, almost impossible to disassemble due to torque and thread-sealer.

 

Sounds like they are testing them before they have allowed the thread sealer to properly cure.

I've seen people do that to the cooling system in a car, by sealing something up with RTV silicone and not waiting for it to cure. Little strands of silicone all through the radiator.

 

Sounds about right. One thing I did with the PTFE tape was to make sure it was just on the threads that would need it. I think they slather the loctite/permatex on the threads and it ends up near the orifices and eventually flakes off into the diaphragm.