Cleaning of Regulator Parts
(16) Cleaning of parts that are going to be reused is one of the most critical steps in servicing the
regulator. As was stated earlier, use the proper solutions for the job at hand. Removal of hydrocarbons
and debris should be accomplished before attempting removal of corrosion. Areas of corrosion are
often also coated with old lubricant or oily contaminants. Before attempting to remove corrosion, use
warm detergent and a soft brush to remove oils and debris. Then use an acidic solution to remove
corrosion. Once corrosion has been removed, inspect parts and repeat detergent washing as needed.
Wearing nitrile gloves throughout the process reduces the risk of contaminating the parts with skin oils.
(17) First, prepare a warm solution of detergent from the list above. Immerse both plastic and metal
parts and agitate thoroughly. Protect critical delicate parts (such as the Orifice) by washing them
separately or isolating them in a small plastic container with holes. Wash the diaphragm separately,
using your fingertips to remove debris. Use a soft nylon brush and/or soft rags soaked in detergent to
scrub away visible debris and contaminants. Corrosion will likely not be removed during this step. Rinse
repeatedly in clean water.
(18) Now address visible corrosion by submerging
metal parts only
in a 1:1 dilution of white vinegar
and hot water. Do not immerse plastic parts in an acid bath - it will degrade the plastic and make it
more susceptible to cracking. Agitate the parts occasionally and allow parts to stand in the acidic
solution for ten minutes. Wearing gloves, remove and inspect parts, and reimmerse them for an
additional ten minutes if visible corrosion is still noted. Removal of corrosion will leave bare brass
behind, which will not affect regulator function, but will necessitate more frequent future inspection
and service. After the acid bath, rinse all metal parts thoroughly.
(19) Best practice is to neutralize any possible residual acid remaining in crevices and threads, by
immersing all acid-treated parts in a neutralizing solution of warm water and sodium bicarbonate
(baking soda) in a ratio of 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. After a brief neutralizing soak, again rinse
all parts thoroughly. In areas with high mineral content in the water, a final rinse with distilled water
should be considered. A plastic colander is excellent for drainage after rinsing. For very small parts, a
mesh strainer for sink drains works well. Often sold as a set, they are inexpensive and can be used for
many types of regulator components. Again, protect delicate parts from contact with hard metal
surfaces. Retained final rinse water should be allowed to stand and examined for a surface sheen
indicative of residual hydrocarbon residue. If noted, return to step (17) above.
(20) After washing and rinsing the regulator parts, allow them to air dry. Using a drying rack will facilitate
this. Do not lay the parts on a paper towel or loop-weave cloth towel. Doing so runs the risk of having
fibers stick to them that will cause issues with sealing. If a cloth is used as an aid to drying, make sure
to use a tight, flat weave lint-free cloth that has previously been well washed to remove fabric sizing.
Содержание DGX Gears D6
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