Salvaging broken CO2 regulator

Bakuphoon · 11-20-2012, 03:07 AM

So, as embarrassing as it is, when I got my first CO2 tank I broke the crap out of the regulator trying to put it on. I was pretty sad that I broke a $100 piece of equipment, but I felt too ashamed to just throw it away so I put it back in the box and put it in my closet. That was almost a year ago and started thinking about it, I might be able to just replace the broken parts and re-use the rest of it!

This is the regulator I got. What happened when I broke it is I turned the knob on the right to let the gas in instead of the needle valve on the right. Tons of gas when through the system and it blew all the water in the bubble counter into the tubing and then the tubing off the diffuser. I'm pretty sure the solenoid and the bubble counter are salvageable, but the needle valve and the pressure gauge are broken. Is it possible to buy a new gauge and needle valve and attach it to the solenoid and bubble counter?

RoyalFizbin · 11-20-2012, 05:52 AM

The gauge and needle valve are just screw in parts. They're easily replaceable.

Bakuphoon · 11-20-2012, 06:16 AM

Awesome, that's what I figured. Thanks!

Darkblade48 · 11-20-2012, 07:26 AM

You can still use the regulator without a low pressure gauge. You just won't be able to see how much your delivery pressure is.

As mentioned, the needle valve is replaceable. However, I believe for the MA957, the solenoid output is #10/32 female, and the needle valve converts it from the #10/32 to a 1/8" male NPT for the bubble counter.

If this is the case, you will need to figure out what to do (I do not suggest mounting a needle valve with a #10/32 fitting (i.e. such as the Fabco NV-55) directly, as the fitting is small and delicate).

**kevmo911** · 11-20-2012, 11:27 AM

The solenoid has 1/8" NPT ports, so any needle valve with 1/8" male threads will fit. However, the bubble counter might be trash, too, since the one that comes with the Milwaukee doesn't have any sort of nozzle to create a small bubble. Take a look at it and you'll see what I'm talking about - it relies on the tiny nozzle of the included bubble counter, while any other bubble counter of that style has a brass bottom and included check valve.

As for the gauge, do an Evilbay search for "1/8 pressure gauge" (the threads are 1/8" NPT, unlike industrial regulators, which are mostly 1/4 on all ports). But *first* make sure you can get the broken gauge off. They're probably glued in, so it's gonna take some serious hulking out.

A Clippard MNV-3 or SMC AS-1200 are cheap replacements for the needle valve, and will actually be a bit better than the stock Milwaukee valve. But you'll need a 1/8 to 10-32 adapter for either of them. Or you can search Evilbay for something similar to what you broke.

11-20-2012, 07:26 AM	#4
Darkblade48 Moderator (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,066	You can still use the regulator without a low pressure gauge. You just won't be able to see how much your delivery pressure is. As mentioned, the needle valve is replaceable. However, I believe for the MA957, the solenoid output is #10/32 female, and the needle valve converts it from the #10/32 to a 1/8" male NPT for the bubble counter. If this is the case, you will need to figure out what to do (I do not suggest mounting a needle valve with a #10/32 fitting (i.e. such as the Fabco NV-55) directly, as the fitting is small and delicate). __________________ Anthony A Primer to Pressurized CO2 and A Primer to Planted Tanks Eheim Pimp #362 - Eheim 2213 x2, Eheim 2028, Ehein 2217, Eheim surface skimmer and Eheim autofeeder. Victor Pimp #33 - HPT272-125-350-4M

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-20-2012, 03:07 AM	#1
Bakuphoon Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 24	Salvaging broken CO2 regulator So, as embarrassing as it is, when I got my first CO2 tank I broke the crap out of the regulator trying to put it on. I was pretty sad that I broke a $100 piece of equipment, but I felt too ashamed to just throw it away so I put it back in the box and put it in my closet. That was almost a year ago and started thinking about it, I might be able to just replace the broken parts and re-use the rest of it! This is the regulator I got. What happened when I broke it is I turned the knob on the right to let the gas in instead of the needle valve on the right. Tons of gas when through the system and it blew all the water in the bubble counter into the tubing and then the tubing off the diffuser. I'm pretty sure the solenoid and the bubble counter are salvageable, but the needle valve and the pressure gauge are broken. Is it possible to buy a new gauge and needle valve and attach it to the solenoid and bubble counter?

11-20-2012, 05:52 AM	#2
RoyalFizbin Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 242	The gauge and needle valve are just screw in parts. They're easily replaceable.

11-20-2012, 06:16 AM	#3
Bakuphoon Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 24	Awesome, that's what I figured. Thanks!

11-20-2012, 11:27 AM	#5
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,750	The solenoid has 1/8" NPT ports, so any needle valve with 1/8" male threads will fit. However, the bubble counter might be trash, too, since the one that comes with the Milwaukee doesn't have any sort of nozzle to create a small bubble. Take a look at it and you'll see what I'm talking about - it relies on the tiny nozzle of the included bubble counter, while any other bubble counter of that style has a brass bottom and included check valve. As for the gauge, do an Evilbay search for "1/8 pressure gauge" (the threads are 1/8" NPT, unlike industrial regulators, which are mostly 1/4 on all ports). But first make sure you can get the broken gauge off. They're probably glued in, so it's gonna take some serious hulking out. A Clippard MNV-3 or SMC AS-1200 are cheap replacements for the needle valve, and will actually be a bit better than the stock Milwaukee valve. But you'll need a 1/8 to 10-32 adapter for either of them. Or you can search Evilbay for something similar to what you broke.