The sealing surface on the body where the one-way valve seals must be totally clean of deposits. If any deposits remain on the sealing surface after initial cleaning, take a fine abrasive polishing stick or a pencil with a new eraser and polish the surface to remove deposits (see Photo #3).
Photo #3
15.Blow all residue from the body after polishing.
16.Remove the large O-ring 26 from the cap. This O-ring can usually be reused.
17.If necessary, clean all metal parts of the first stage except the flow control element assembly 18 in an ultrasonic cleaner or cleaning solution. Remove the O-rings before cleaning any metal
parts; most cleaning solutions can damage the O-ring material. See Section 6.3 for recommendations on cleaning solutions. If major visible corrosion or deposits exist on parts, use a bristle brush, wooden, or plastic stick to rub the deposits off. Allowing acidic cleaning solutions to do all of the work if deposits are severe, will result in damage to internal chrome plating which will make parts even more susceptible to future corrosion.
18.Remove the regulator parts from the cleaning solution. Blow all internal passageways dry with clean, dry compressed air.
19.Inspect the bores in which the piston and orifice O-rings move for corrosion or wear. If the bores are leaking air because of wear, replace the parts. If some corrosion deposits persist, carefully wipe them away with a plastic scrubbing cloth. Blow any resulting dust out of the regulator parts.
20.Remove and discard the black O-ring from the moving orifice 4 . Save the white backup washer; it can be reused. Inspect the moving orifice’s sealing surface (located at the top edge of the orifice cone). Any nicks, scratches, or corrosion at the top of the cone can allow air to pass, which will result in creeping hose pressures. Polish out the defects using a fine abrasive polishing stick or pencil eraser. When polishing, apply a light pressure to prevent excessive wear on the cone. Use compressed air to blow away any dust created by the polishing process.
