Co2 Regulator Deal?

[tylergvolk]

Today, I purchased a Milwaukee C02 Regulator MA957 off craigslist slightly used for $50. I don't know much about co2, and I need to know if this was good deal?

Came with:
-Regulator
-Bubble Counter
-Silonoid
-Needle Valve

[motorcycledaddy01]

if it works, i would say its a good deal. regulator alone is around 100$ brand new.

[eisBear]

I found it was hard to get a good deal on a used regulator, seems like everybody knows their value. I wound up buying that model except new. Agreed, if it woks, its a good deal. That's a very popular model so you'll find others in the community with helpful tips.

Make sure to follow the very vague instructions for setting it up. I've seen some in the community say that the needle valve is easier to adjust and keep adjusted when the operating (low) pressure is at 20-30 psi, which contradicts slightly with Milwaukee's instructions.

I forget the setup instructions (which I'll have to look up again when I get the tank replaced/filled), but I remember one important step was to open the main valve of the tank very slowly so as not to blast the internal workings of the regulator. Make sure to look up instructions for it; as said, it is a popular model and the interwebs have lots of good info on setup and running it.

[tylergvolk]

Originally Posted by eisBear

I found it was hard to get a good deal on a used regulator, seems like everybody knows their value. I wound up buying that model except new. Agreed, if it woks, its a good deal. That's a very popular model so you'll find others in the community with helpful tips.

Make sure to follow the very vague instructions for setting it up. I've seen some in the community say that the needle valve is easier to adjust and keep adjusted when the operating (low) pressure is at 20-30 psi, which contradicts slightly with Milwaukee's instructions.

I forget the setup instructions (which I'll have to look up again when I get the tank replaced/filled), but I remember one important step was to open the main valve of the tank very slowly so as not to blast the internal workings of the regulator. Make sure to look up instructions for it; as said, it is a popular model and the interwebs have lots of good info on setup and running it.

Cool, thank man. I need to purchase a 5lb. cylinder before I can even set it up. How much should I be paying for that?

Airgas will charge me $80 for a filled Co2 5lb cylinder. Seems a bit steep...

[tylergvolk]

Yesterday I went to AirGas and bought some Co2. Then, today I set this thing up today and I think the right gauge is broken.

If you look closer at the picture above you can see the right gauge is past 10psi. I think the gauge was blown but I am not sure.

When I set it up, I can see the gauge move when I release pressure slowly but it reads past 10psi however everything seems to work anyways.

What's the deal here?

[eisBear]

its hard to tell from the picture, it looks like the gauge on the right is at zero in that picture.

There are lots of ways to test the low pressure gauge. If you can dump the water from the bubble counter without tipping the tank (maybe use a baster or syringe and then unscrew it), you could close the regulator valve and then open the needle valve all the way with the solenoid on. If that doesn't peg it to zero, then it probably is foobed.

If you read the milwaukee instructions (google), it does say you don't need the right side gauge, just adjust bubble count with the regulator knob and then fine tune with the needle valve.

If you want to run a specific low pressure and the gauge is working, close the needle and open the reg until you get the low pressure desired. then open the needle until you get the bps you want. Milwaukee does not appear to endorse this method, internet rumors I've seen say that the bps is harder to keep adjusted using the Milwaukee recommended method. I don't think I've had mine long enough to tell you but I used a combination of methods and have about 20 operating psi and the bps stays stable for a few days at a time, pretty much.

[tylergvolk]

Here is a better picture showing the gauge past 10 and it is not even hooked up to a cylinder



I will try your method and report.

[eisBear]

Originally Posted by tylergvolk

Here is a better picture showing the gauge past 10 and it is not even hooked up to a cylinder



I will try your method and report.

Actually, that's a 10 kg/cm2 rather than psi, lbs/in2; sorry I missed that originally. No need to try my method if the regulator is not hooked up, just open the needle valve or the regulator valve while its not on the gas cylinder. If it doesn't go down, its more than likely just bad. YOu can replace it or not worry about it. The low, or 'working,' pressure gauge, IIRC, isn't even guaranteed to work on the new units.

Willing to bet, though, its busted. Milwaukee's method to adjust the bubbles/second doesn't rely on the low-side gauge anyway.

[tylergvolk]

Yup, it's busted but I've gotten the unit to work regardless.

The solenoid turn off at night and comes back on with no problem.

The stability seems okay but it's only been a few days.