Victor gauges problem

[drsportster]

There are five ports at the gauge 1 Line from tank 2 hose out 3low press gauge 4 high pressure gauge 5 What is a brass fitting which seems to be a relief valve of sorts . As soon as I turn on the oxygen the little fitting gives an air blast through small holes . It keeps doing it making it impossible to use the torch . Do you think I need a whole new gauge cluster or just that little brass part? I need my tanks for a boat job .

 

[drsportster]

It seems replacing the "relief valve will not help as the diaphragm may be shot I may need new gauges

 

[Richard G.]

It seems replacing the "relief valve will not help as the diaphragm may be shot I may need new gauges

Most gas places can repair that with a new diaphragm.

 

[Jim.ME]

There are five ports at the gauge 1 Line from tank 2 hose out 3low press gauge 4 high pressure gauge 5 What is a brass fitting which seems to be a relief valve of sorts . As soon as I turn on the oxygen the little fitting gives an air blast through small holes . It keeps doing it making it impossible to use the torch . Do you think I need a whole new gauge cluster or just that little brass part? I need my tanks for a boat job .

Likely a new gauge will be less than a rebuild, if you can find a place that will do it anymore. Most places around here quit doing gauge repairs due to their rebuild cost compared to a new one. And some had to stop for the liability issue with insurance coverage.

 

[Gary Reif]

I wouldn't use that gauge until it was repaired or replace it. If that is pure oxygen leaking out of that fitting and it would accidently blow across a greasy glove or hand it could ignite and it would be like a blow torch. I've seen this happen once, guy opened the oxygen valve while wearing a greasy glove. Luckily no one was injured but caused some excitement in the shop melted down the gauge till someone shut the valve. Not saying this would happen in this case, just a possibility.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

I have a victor set about 40 years old that doesn't get much use. Last year I opened the Oxy and heard a POP and the gauge needle pegged. I looked into rebuilding it but was confused by the kits available. Some had just an O-ring and diaphragm and other had more parts. I called several Airgas dealers and none did rebuilds, just "send them out". I just bought a new one, $80 with the exchange.

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

Like everything else, labor and liability make it impossible to rebuild. This is a throwaway world now, unfortunately. I always wonder are we going to be digging up the landfills at some point to recover minerals and metals that have been buried. They are getting scarcer in some materials already.

 

[drsportster]

Went to the weld shop A new relief valve will not fix it The guy advised just get new ones as rebuilds don't last long .

 

[da.bees]

Went to the weld shop A new relief valve will not fix it The guy advised just get new ones as rebuilds don't last long .

Rebuilds and repairs have worked fine for me. It's no surprise that a place which doesn't offer gauge repair would say "just get new ones".

The reason corporate gas suppliers no longer offer repair service is same reason owned tanks get harder to find or have refilled. Gas suppliers sell plenty gas to high volume professionals so messing with small time consumers just isn't worth the risk. Liability. Lawyers often win multi-million suits against large companies when in fact their client did something stupid to cause fire,explosion or other calamity. A poster child example is fuel cans. The kid that was burned and won lawsuit was sloshing gasoline from can onto campfire which was trying to die off.

Places that "send them out for repair" are putting monkey on the back of a guy doing it in his garage that isn't worth Sueing. Even that has been going away.

 

[drsportster]

Victor has a nice troubleshooting chart

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Rebuilds and repairs have worked fine for me. It's no surprise that a place which doesn't offer gauge repair would say "just get new ones".

The reason corporate gas suppliers no longer offer repair service is same reason owned tanks get harder to find or have refilled. Gas suppliers sell plenty gas to high volume professionals so messing with small time consumers just isn't worth the risk. Liability. Lawyers often win multi-million suits against large companies when in fact their client did something stupid to cause fire,explosion or other calamity. A poster child example is fuel cans. The kid that was burned and won lawsuit was sloshing gasoline from can onto campfire which was trying to die off.

Places that "send them out for repair" are putting monkey on the back of a guy doing it in his garage that isn't worth Sueing. Even that has been going away.

I used to have an Airgas nearby called Farmers Welding Supply but that location closed since the last time I exchanged my cylinders. I worked at Lincoln and Airgas is a Lincoln distributor but it seemed to be a love-hate relationship. I asked once if I could get a discount with my Lincoln ID. The guy said "I work here and don't get a discount."