I am in need of some help troubleshooting a regulator issue. I converted a fridge into a kegerator about 4 years ago with a kit from beverage factory and once I got things dialed in it has worked perfectly..........until now. I always turn off the gas at the tank when I kick a keg and then turn it back on once the new keg is attached. Today when I turned the gas back on I had loud hissing from the housing of the regulator like something internal where pressure on the low side is adjusted failed. So my question is are there any user serviceable parts in there or do I buy a new regulator?
Below is a link to the regulator. Gas is leaking from where the blue piece screws onto the brass housing. Something has crapped out inside the blue housing. http://www.beveragefactory.com/draf...mercial_double_gauge_beer_co2_regulator.shtml
Most regulators are rebuildable. There is a diaphragm in there that can go bad over time. Beverage Factory may carry the kit. Before you do that you might want to exercise it a bit to see if it will help - run the pressure adjustment all the way up and down a few times.
Well at the moment it is passing the soapy bubbles on the fittings test. Here is what I did for the benefit of others with a similar problem. I spun off the piece that holds the diaphragm on and made sure everything was clean. I then reassembled it with Teflon tape on the male threads. I know that joint should never see pressure because the diaphragm acts as a gasket on that joint but I did it for my mental health. I then made it wrench tight and hoped for the best. The only problem I can think of is the joint holding the diaphragm on had somehow worked loose over time. We'll see if it stays sealed. The rubber of the diaphragm was visually in great shape no visible signs of deteriation
I work for a valve and fitting company. Most of the time if you remove, clean, and reassemble the valve will be back to 100%. Our diaphragms are cycle to over 100,000 without issue but we are a higher end company. Most likely something was under the diaphragm edge and when you opened it it leaked up through the housing (packing). Hope all goes well.
