Air bubbles in the oil........

[widget]

Hey, Namreg,

Some great info there, thank you, can you maybe give me the full web address for Michael, I would like to see this, I cant seem to google it here.!

I hope you have better luck than me when you do your K14 Namreg, its been somewhat imteresting to me for sure.

Sorry to say my discharge valve didnt arrive today, cos Bauer didnt get it to the express mail on time, go figure, so we just finished off the other three stages, boy, what a job getting to the bolts on stage 2, they must have tiny hands at Bauer, cos we batteled to get our hands into that limited space, I nearly threw a dozen "hissy fits", you can imagine, 40 degrees, hot, stuffy and you cant get to the bolts.!!

Still havent put the 2nd stage head back, cos I see it needs some gasket sealant, which ALSO didnt come in the kit, so I will have to get some tomorrow and finish off.

The other valves didnt look bad, a bit of carbon deposits, but thats to be expected I guess, but the springs felt distinctly weaker, and the 1st stage reed valve looked quite burnt - I noticed the 1st stage head was quite loosely buttoned down, according to Bauer the torque is 18 ft Lbs (about 25 Newton Metre) so we torqued everything down to this torque, but it wasnt anywhere near that initially.

Dos this torque sound right, I double looked as its just Aluminium, but thats what it said.

 

[pescador775]

8 mm bolts/ 18 lb-ft.

 

[pescador775]

Hah Hah Hah Hah, I love it!!

Like Craig, I too have taken the final stage valve apart albeit on a Bauer Junior a few years ago. Basically the same I would think as the K 14. What I did was to place the valve on a suitably sized nut that allowed the seat part to fall inside the nut but supported the upper section with the holes in it. I then used a piece of welding rod and carefully punched around the holes till the two parts separated. The valve spring which was broken was replaced by manufacturing another through the use of a modified ballpoint pen spring which I cut approx. 1/4 inch long and reformed into a conical shape as the original so that it collapses into itself similar in appearance to a clock spring. Lapping the valve disc or seat if necessary and then pressing the body together again in a simple bench vice. This repaired valve has lasted longer than the two other bauer valves that we bought.

I also own a silenced K14 Verticus with all the options, but have not needed to replace/ fix the valves yet......but I know what I'll be doing when the need arises.

Anyway you can read about how reliable the fix is on Michael McFadyens Scuba web site and click on Bauer Compressor link. Good luck.

Heinz

 

[Namreg 58]

Hi Widget,

As Pescador says ...18 ft lbs. I thought all the torque figures seemed a bit light also, so I guess it must come down to the machining quality and materials.

As to the confined spaces to work in, I would suggest, they either use specialised curved ring spanners or they simply strip all the inter and after coolers off to facilitate access to the stages. Reminds me of the old joke about how to work on a V12 XJS Jaguar motor.....stomp on your hand repeatedly till every bone is broken and insert where required

Michael's web site is a wealth of information should you ever dive in the South Pacific region. He is not paid by anyone so he tells it as it is, good or bad.

Tried to send his url but was informed that I can't do this till I have made at least 5 posts. Perhaps someone else can help you out as I have heard others on here make reference to his web site. Sorry :depressed:




Heinz

 

[widget]

Hi Namreg,

I will just have to wait till you get 5 posts for the url Namreg, but that shouldnt be long.

Yes, thought of stripping all those pipes and coolers off, but it looked to be such a mission I left it, regret it a bit now.!

 

[Namreg 58]

Hi Widget,

My Verticus has pressure guages for all stages plus oil pressure, which makes it easier to spot and diagnose faults.

Next instalment to follow.

 

[Namreg 58]

It also has auto condensate drain, auto pressure shut down, overheating shutdown......and...wait for it!!!!!

 

[Namreg 58]

A p41 repackable filter and Securus monitoring system for the moly sieve........

 

[Namreg 58]

Not to mention a 3 whip fill panel and 4 x 50 litre 5000 psi cascade system, all courtesy of a dive shop in Sydney that went belly up.......oh the price at auction AUD $2500 roughly.....right place at the right time.

Now where was I ?

Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site

click on Bauer compressor at left and scroll to Problems/Other Things

Site will keep you amused for days.

Heinz

 

[CraigAClark]

The 014121 discharge valve and 007790 (old part number) inlet valves are used in all Bauer machines from the Junior to the K15 and its newer replacement. It may even be used in larger machines, but I really am not that familiar with them.

Craig