Constant Needle Valve Adjustment

RichT · 08/23/2006, 08:22 PM

Hello all,

I have a Milwaukee CO2 regulator with a bubble counter, needle valve, and solenoid valve. The unit is over a year old but sat in the box for about 6 to 8 months before I put it to work. I have to constantly open the needle valve to get CO2. I'll set it to a pretty high bubble count to only have no bubbles several hours later. Any suggestions on how I can fix it or am I stuck buying a new one.

Thanks,

AZDesertRat · 08/23/2006, 08:47 PM

I found if I raised the pressure a little higher than their recommendation the bubble counter was more stable. I think I am at just over 10 lbs on the secondary gauge and it holds steady. If I allow the pressure to drop it requires constant adjustment.

old salty · 08/23/2006, 10:18 PM

Before you ditch the regulator, you may want to purchase a better needle valve. The ones with uber-fine adjustments (85 threads per inch) are much more useful than coarse thread valves.

If this doesn't work, then you might want to check these out. I bit the bullet and paid the price, but this thing is great. It's running my Ca reactor and my FW planted tank. I haven't touched it in over 3 months.

http://www.aquariumplants.com/AQUARI...ST_p/co2-1.htm

RichT · 08/24/2006, 03:17 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll give the pressure increase a shot, hopefully it does the trick.

old salty - I actually have one very similar in design and pricing to the one you linked. Hopefully I won't have to go the new purchase route since there is actually a very short period of use on the one I have.

CW from the OC · 08/24/2006, 03:27 PM

Rich,

I had similar problems with my reactor for months and months. What it turned out to be was there was small leaks around where the tubing fit onto the hose barbs. Very small leaks that you couldn't tell were leaking. I could never get stable bubble counts. Once I found the leaks, I stuck some super glue gel on the barbs and put the tubing back on (I don't recommend using suerpglue, I did because it was all I had on hand), my problems went away instantly and it has been very stable and easy to adjust since then.

Check out those tubing connections, it might well be your problem.

anthworks · 08/24/2006, 03:44 PM

I would call Milwaukee and ask them. I had the same problem and they shipped me a new neddle valve no questions asked. I was told that the valve gets clogged and needs to be replaced. FYI the regulator was 2 years old.

Milwaukee Instruments, Inc.
2471 Hurt Drive - Rocky Mount, NC 27804 - U.S.A.
Tel.: +1 252 443 3630 - Fax: +1 252 443 1937
E-mail: milwaukee@vol.com

08/23/2006, 08:22 PM	#1
RichT Moved On Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape May County, NJ Posts: 2,067	Constant Needle Valve Adjustment Hello all, I have a Milwaukee CO2 regulator with a bubble counter, needle valve, and solenoid valve. The unit is over a year old but sat in the box for about 6 to 8 months before I put it to work. I have to constantly open the needle valve to get CO2. I'll set it to a pretty high bubble count to only have no bubbles several hours later. Any suggestions on how I can fix it or am I stuck buying a new one. Thanks,

08/23/2006, 10:18 PM	#3
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	Before you ditch the regulator, you may want to purchase a better needle valve. The ones with uber-fine adjustments (85 threads per inch) are much more useful than coarse thread valves. If this doesn't work, then you might want to check these out. I bit the bullet and paid the price, but this thing is great. It's running my Ca reactor and my FW planted tank. I haven't touched it in over 3 months. http://www.aquariumplants.com/AQUARI...ST_p/co2-1.htm __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

08/24/2006, 03:27 PM	#5
CW from the OC Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 853	Rich, I had similar problems with my reactor for months and months. What it turned out to be was there was small leaks around where the tubing fit onto the hose barbs. Very small leaks that you couldn't tell were leaking. I could never get stable bubble counts. Once I found the leaks, I stuck some super glue gel on the barbs and put the tubing back on (I don't recommend using suerpglue, I did because it was all I had on hand), my problems went away instantly and it has been very stable and easy to adjust since then. Check out those tubing connections, it might well be your problem. __________________ Cheers! C Dub Current Tank Info: 210 LeeMar starfire reef (7x2x2), 100 gal SoCalCreations sump, Aquacontroller 3, Geo 618 fed by Cole Parmer peri pump, ATB Large Cone , Aquatinics Constellation T5, 4 Vortecs with wireless controllers, Eheim 1262 return on a SeaSwirl

08/23/2006, 08:47 PM	#2
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	I found if I raised the pressure a little higher than their recommendation the bubble counter was more stable. I think I am at just over 10 lbs on the secondary gauge and it holds steady. If I allow the pressure to drop it requires constant adjustment.

08/24/2006, 03:17 PM	#4
RichT Moved On Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape May County, NJ Posts: 2,067	Thanks for the advice guys. I'll give the pressure increase a shot, hopefully it does the trick. old salty - I actually have one very similar in design and pricing to the one you linked. Hopefully I won't have to go the new purchase route since there is actually a very short period of use on the one I have.

08/24/2006, 03:44 PM	#6
anthworks Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,071	I would call Milwaukee and ask them. I had the same problem and they shipped me a new neddle valve no questions asked. I was told that the valve gets clogged and needs to be replaced. FYI the regulator was 2 years old. Milwaukee Instruments, Inc. 2471 Hurt Drive - Rocky Mount, NC 27804 - U.S.A. Tel.: +1 252 443 3630 - Fax: +1 252 443 1937 E-mail: milwaukee@vol.com