Whew! It's been a while since I've been on here. I wasn't sure if my account was still active, but ...Tada! I guess so.
Anyway, I had some cutting to do - the first time I've had a chance to fire up my old torch in about 2 or 3 years.
Hooked everything up, turned on the gases, and adjusted the working pressures (about 30psi for O2 and 8psi for acy).
First thing I noticed (after debugging for a while) was that my quick release attachment for my Acetylene hose was frozen shut. It would not pass any gas. So, I grabbed a couple of wrenches and bypassed it.
With that fixed, I fired up the Victor torch and started doing a little cutting.
After about 5-minutes of use, I started noticing the cutting pressure was acting funky - starting too strong, then dying to nothing.
I looked over at the O2 bottle to see if I'd turned it off by mistake, and saw the working pressure gauge rising. That's a freaky site!
I pressed the oxidize (cut) lever on the torch, and it went down a bit until I released, then it started rising again.
Turning the working pressure dial, I backed the O2 regulator off to let the pressure off, then turned of the O2 tank. I tapped the regulator a few times with the wooden handle of a chip hammer (sometimes those rubbers get stuck), then turned the O2 gas back on.
This time, the working pressure climbed much faster, and it didn't matter whether or not I pressed the oxidize lever on the torch to release pressure. I started freaking a little and stepped around behind a wall as the working pressure gauge went all the way around and bottomed out on the needle at the 0 psi mark, then the check valve started releasing pressure.
Hoping I wouldn't die, I walked over and turned off the O2 tank. The pressure started going back down.
Jeez! You don't want to know the state of my undies!
I'm guessing a diaphragm tore or a rubber gasket is stuck inside the gauge.
How hard are these to repair yourself? I've tried taking parts in to the local welding shop for repairs, but I generally get off cheaper by purchasing new stuff. They are expen$ive!
The gauge isn't here with me right now. I know it is a Victor, and I know it is larger than the medium duty SR250. I'd guess it is the SR450.
Are these difficult to work on?
Anything special I'd need to know (like a needle valve that will jump out and get lost)?