Newbie - regulator service

[Akroyd]

Continuing a thread from the 'introductions' section.

Joined this forum a few days ago.  I have a Rapid 7 Mk II FAC with a Ben Taylor tweaked regulator.  Have not used the gun for a while and have discovered it bleeding air from the regulator - very audibly. It has not been serviced since it went to Ben Taylor about ten years ago.  So no surprise that the regulator O rings need replacing.  Hopefully this is the source of the problem....

Inspired by posts and technical info on this forum I am going to have a go at servicing the regulator myself - or at least replacing the O rings.  I have ordered a regulator tester from Dr Bob and replacement O rings from the auction house (plus Molykote). Will see how it goes.  Good to know there is help and support through this forum if things go badly wrong.

Have been thinking for some time of having a rapid fill kit fitted - definitely not something I feel confident doing myself.  Rapid fill is an advantage of more modern PCPs, but I really do not want to get rid of the Rapid 7, which I have had for 15 years or so.  Would welcome thoughts on the the pros and cons of the rapid fill modification.  Having the quick fit avoids the need to continually replace bottles, with associated risk of wear to O rings etc.  But if servicing the regulator is relatively straight forward - say on an annual basis - maybe I can live without the rapid fill and just carry a spare buddy bottle.  Any thoughts very welcome.

One question.  I have got the regulator out of the block.  Can it be refitted by hand with the 21mm spanner, or is some kind of torque wrench needed to get the correct tightness of fit?

Many thanks,

Steve

[KevG]

just nip it up with spanner m8.
KevG

[Akroyd]

Thanks KevG.  Will let you know how it goes - fingers crossed.  Good to have something to have a go at under the new lockdown.

Would be interested in your views on a quick fit modification.  Not an immediate need, but something I have been thinking about for some time.  I see Dr Bob does a 'V' option that looks good.  Is this something that you may be able to do for me later in the year?  For a fee of course.   

Steve

[Carl.]

For me personally I quite like having to take the bottle off to fill, Don't know if it's part of the charm of owning a Rapid but it doesn't bother me at all, 

[Kernal]

For me personally I quite like having to take the bottle off to fill, Don't know if it's part of the charm of owning a Rapid but it doesn't bother me at all,

Totally agree Carl 

[Ca_Varminter]

Dr Bob's QF...
If done right, Looks like belongs.
Running @ FAC power levels.
Taking the bottle on and off, can be pain...




Good Luck,
Stuart

[nevadacowboy]

Avoid the best fittings quick fill. They push the bottle forward about 50mm and it changes the balance of the gun completely. All my guns are MFR spec so don't need a quick fill.

[Akroyd]

A quick update.

O ring kit arrived today.  You get about 20 O rings, of which only four are needed, so a bit of judgement / guesswork required to select the O rings needed.

Got the regulator out and cleaned up, and the four O rings replaced.  Found the cause of the problem - the larger of the two O rings on the regulator core had split.  Got it all back together and it works....but I have still have a minor air leak when the bolt is locked down in the rear position.  Seems OK when the bolt is locked down forward - or it is there and I cannot hear it. Any suggestions welcome.

I have not yet been able to adjust the regulator as I am waiting the arrival of a reg tester from Dr Bob (on its way). Will have another go at it when the reg tester arrives.  Maybe fettling the regulator will solve the problem..

Steve

[KevG]

it will be a valve and stem leak.could just be oring on main valve body or debris or scratch on the valve body and or stem meeting sealing faces.
KevG

[KevG]

if its a ben taylor reg I guess it had the thread lock shite on the brass locking collar.if so some of this could have found its way into the system causing the leak.
KevG

[Akroyd]

Thanks Kev.  I have not had the valve out of the block to check it.  Will do that tomorrow.  And yes, the brass locking collar for the reg had threadlock shite on it.  Took a while to clean off.  Hopefully it is just the O ring on the valve body.  No doubt one of the many O rings in the O ring kit will fit.

Really appreciate your quick response.       

[KevG]

don't know why he used thread lock.well I do but its a bit if a bodge way around a problem.
KevG

[Kernal]

don't know why he used thread lock.well I do but its a bit if a bodge way around a problem.
KevG

Explain a bit more KevG this sound`s like its going to be good,....I`m just getting my popcorn out.

So why should we not use thread lock in reg`s any reason to why not KevG!

[KevG]

Well the gripper oring on the brass locking collar can cause problems ie can go hard and brittle or perish and go soft.wich can effect reg settings and speed of return set pressure.the oring is only needed so you have more adjustment available while still being able to keep the locking collar gripped tight by the oring.so he did away with oring but had to thread lock the threads to stop it moving out of adjustment.besr way is have a collar that when its but up tight with out an oring and as correct travel.
KevG

[Akroyd]

Makes sense. 

So, I now have a space without an o-ring, between the thread and collar, at the top of the reg.  Presumably this can now cause the Reg to move out of adjustment..? 

Starting to wonder whether I should get a new reg....are there better ones out there?

Steve