User manual

Inspect the first stage spring carefully for signs of damage, cracks or corrosion. Replace if there are signs of red
rust or pitting type corrosion. Be sure to use at least one shim on each side of the spring during installation.
17. Piston reassembly
• Place the piston bullet completely into the piston and lubricate it generously with Christolube.
• Install the backup washer and HP piston o-ring as in the previous section.
• Install the seal retaining washer on top of the o-ring.
• Place the piston guide tool (1st stage T-handle) into the body until it sits on top of the seal retaining washer.
• Place the T-handle in a vice or hold it in place and install the piston, with spring and bullet though the body
and o-ring, and into the T-handle
• Remove the piston guide tool (T-handle) from the body and the piston bullet.
CAUTION: You must use a piston bullet to avoid damaging the piston o-ring when replacing the piston.
The piston guide tool is needed because without it, the piston will cut or push the seals out of the body when it is
installed. If no tool is available, set the piston with spring and bullet on the table, hold the body in your hands
with your fingers holding the small seal retaining spring in place, and drop the body over the piston and push
the piston through the body, seal and spring. Keep the spring in place with your fingertips to keep the seal from
pushing out of the body.
The HP piston o-ring should be replaced at major service intervals and anytime the piston is exchanged. It
should not be assembled/disassembled repeatedly except as needed during initial intermediate pressure setup.
18.Environmental seal
The seal can be used under normal conditions also to completely eliminate water entry into the first stage,
thereby reducing the possibility of corrosion . This also reduces the contaminants that could enter the ambient
ports, and permanently lubricates the piston and seals.
CAUTION: Do not install the environmental seal without completely filling the ambient
spring cavity with Christolube lubricant. Doing so could result in lowered intermediate
pressures at depth and poor regulator performance.
• Remove the swivel cap and trim ring. Install the environmental seal on the body in place of the trim ring.
• Lift the piston slightly and with a syringe, fill the space between the spring, piston and ambient chamber
completely with Christolube MGC 111.
• Reassemble and pressure cycle several times until a stable intermediate pressure is reached.
• Reposition environmental seal into groove and wipe off excess lubricant.
19.Final first stage adjustment
• Start with 2-3 shims, one on either side of the spring.
• Test at 500 and 3000 psi.
• Intermediate pressures should be between 125-145 psi.
• Re-shim as needed.
• Water test for leaks
Adding or removing 1 shim will affect the pressure about 4-5 psi. Pressure should be stable with little
pressure creep out of the allowed range of 125-145 psi. Excessive creep indicates a damaged piston edge
detail or damaged HP seat.
WARNING - COLD WATER USE
The environmental seal with Christolube lubricant should be installed when the regulator is used in
water temperatures below 50 degrees F to prevent first stage freezing. First stage freezing could
result in malfunction of the regulator that could lead to serious injury or death.
!
ATOMIC AQUATICS FIRST AND SECOND STAGE REGULATORS MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES • 9/2003 8