C02 Regulator advice

[LR Max]

Good day all,

I've got an old C02 tank from a supplier that is no longer in business (name escapes me right now). Anyway, in the past year I've noticed that the regulator is freezes up quickly. So there I am, with 235/85/16 (32x9.5x16") tires, going from 20 psi to 30 psi...and it freezes up, hardly working. Of course when I'm running my big tires, going from 5 psi to 30 is dismal.

Right now I think my problem is the regulator. Do regulators fail over time? Is this a wear item or did I just get a crappy one? What regulator options are out there for me for replacement? My tank, handle, etc is still in good condition so I don't need to "throw away" the entire unit, just need a regulator that won't crap itself after 5 psi.

Thanks in advance!

 

[bfdiesel]

I would go to your local welding shop and talk to them. They might know about your regulator and if it can be fixed, but at the very least they should have a new one you could buy.

 

[AxeAngel]

make sure you are using a CO2 regulator and not a generic air regulator. The latter tends to freeze. I can look in the garage for you, I might have an adjustable C02 regulator in the spare parts bin that you can have for cheap.

-Sam

 

[I Leak Oil]

Depends on how fast you're trying to fill the tire as well. If you're using a regulator that isn't designed for high flow use then that can cause them to freeze up.

 

[Eventhough]

I just switched to a PowerTank 250 psi and it is just plain nuts. My old Ultimate Air regulator wouldn't freeze up but it wasn't always happy with me when I aired up 35" tires. The PowerTank regulator seated a bead for me at 250 psi last week without blinking. I've seen numerous cheap/no-name regulators freeze up on the trail.

Now to the question of what can go bad in a regulator to make it start freezing up as it ages - that I do not know.

There is a difference between regulators and you typically do get what you pay for.

 

[LR Max]

Ultimate air! That is the one! I don't know what regulators they use but as mentioned earlier, I haven't had a problem until recently. Now that I think of it, maybe the place I filled it up at was crap? Just used the paintball shop near my office.

I did look at that powertank unit. They have an offer on a trade in of an old regulator, give a discount. Kinda tempting.

 

[1911]

There is a difference between regulators and you typically do get what you pay for.

+1. My Powertank regulator will get cold but is has never frozen, even after airing up multiple sets of tires.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Depends on how fast you're trying to fill the tire as well. If you're using a regulator that isn't designed for high flow use then that can cause them to freeze up.

x2, there is a is difference than a standard welding store CO2 regulator made of low flow and the high volume CO2 reg's built for CO2 tool/tire system. Weld stores can get (order) high volume fully adjustable regulators but they will cost more than the purpose built units mentioned in this thread. I too am running the Powertank setup on my CO2 setups. I have an older setup that featured a "high volume" welding outlet CO2 reg and while the quality and adjust-ability is absolute it can't handle the high volume like the Powertanks.

 

[bat]

Hyperflo 150psi fixed regulator $50

 

[Eventhough]

One other note - a problem with going to a fixed regulator is you of course can't adjust the psi output. Sometimes I want 250 psi to seat a bead or fill a tire, sometimes I want 90 psi to run an air tool, sometimes I want 30 psi to gently clean something out. Unless 150 psi fits your needs all the time I suggest you spend a few more bucks and get a high output and adjustable regulator.

 

[bat]

It fits my needs just perfect and at 120 psi seating a bead is not a problem, flow control for tools that is a different story. I am sure if you need all that stuff with co2 he would need a adjustable valve but for airing up tires spending $100 more is something to think about.

 

[LR Max]

From my experience, ~100 psi is all I need. To re-seat a bead, I throw a ratchet strap around the tire and pull the valve core. Never have run air tools off of it, only used it for filling up tires. That helps out a lot. While my current regulator is adjustable, I put some tape on the knob to lock it in at ~100 psi. Rolling around in the toolbox, it sometimes "self adjusts" and this doesn't work well for me. The gauges are crucial, though.

I don't know what kind of regulator it is, but since I bought the whole shooting match from Ultimate, I would assume it is decently rated. So something has changed and now the system is freezing. Its crap.

Can't do anything about it next week but I will further look into it.

 

[Ludedude]

I use an adjustable regulator. Never had this freeze on me.

ETA: Sorry, don't remember the brand of regulator off the top of my head. Thought I had it somewhere but can't find it this second.

 

[dr350jja]

I have a question, since everyone talks about re-seating a tire bead. I think I recall seeing on the tire install machines, a label showing, "do not exceed 40psi when seating bead." So, this is my question, is it safe/ok to use a CO2 tank at 150 - 250 psi to re-seat a tire bead?? I have never had to do this out on the trail, and am curious about this.

 

[ldivinag]

I have a question, since everyone talks about re-seating a tire bead. I think I recall seeing on the tire install machines, a label showing, "do not exceed 40psi when seating bead." So, this is my question, is it safe/ok to use a CO2 tank at 150 - 250 psi to re-seat a tire bead?? I have never had to do this out on the trail, and am curious about this.

i have done this with a 7 gallon air tank, that i filled with my puny ARB compressor to like 90-100 psi.

the trick is to run a strap around the circumference of the tire so it pushes the bead against the bead wall of the wheel. i did this twice. once on a truck i met on a trail that blew the bead and on my own when i blew a bead.

the trick again, is the strap running it to squeeze the bead out. i used a simple ratchet strap from HFT... as soon as the air starts to shoot into the tire, it should push the bead to seat out.

i guess with 150+ psi, it is just faster than say 100 or ever 40 psi...