New HOG regulator, hard breathing

[jacob7739]

Hi everyone, happy Friday!

I'm a new diver, doing my open water cert now. I just received my new HOG regulators in the mail (D3 first stage, Zenith second stage and a basic octopus with a venturi but no breaking pressure adjustment knob).

The second stage primary seems to me to be breathing really hard. If I dial the adjustment knob all the way in, I can barely suck any air out of it at all. If I dial it all the way out, it still requires an unpleasant amount of suction effort before it starts flowing air.

The venturi works as expected. If I pull the venturi level toward my face, I'm able to get a strong flow that grows exponentially with the increase of my inhaling suction strength, but only after making a strong sucking effort to get the flow started.

I assumed the primary adjustment knob would allow you to dial it from restrictive all the way up to free flowing and that I'd be able to dial it in to a point where it just requires a comfortable, small amount of suction to start flowing air. Was I misunderstanding how that's supposed to work, or is there another internal gross adjustment affecting the initial suction required to start the air flow?

I also received Regulator Savvy but haven't attended the HOG regulator service workshop yet. I do have an inline pressure gauge with the adjustment driver built in, but my Zenith regulator doesn't have a female flat head adjustment screw where the hose attaches. It's a female hex/alan head, which I don't want to touch, not knowing what I'm doing yet.

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Jacob

 

[scrane]

have you called the distributer?

 

[runsongas]

was this drop shipped or from a HOG dealer? was there a QC sheet with the IP and cracking in the box? it sounds like it just wasn't adjusted correctly.

also, you are testing it hooked up to a full tank right? (sorry, have to ask JIC)

 

[happy-diver]

Do it manually hose off and on a few times

Unscrew it with the purge button depressed
until it leaks and then screw it in until it stops

this with the adjustment knob fully unscrewed

Here is the best service manual out there man

 

[jacob7739]

Thanks for all the fast responses! Especially the Deep 6 service manual. I had a typo in my initial google site search, which is why I didn't find relevant previous posts before I posted here.

No, I didn't call the distributor yet. I ordered from Divers Supply and they included an inventory sheet with signed "Assembled by" and "Inspected by" stamps. I think these are just inspection of what was packed in the box. I didn't see anything listing the IP or cracking pressure from when the first and second stages were initially assembled and tuned. My IP gauge reads 135psi.

Yes, I was testing with a full 3000psi tank.

I turned the small allen bolt in 1/16 turn increments until it's just starting to leak with the left adjustment knob mostly open. There's still more cracking suction required then I imagined to get it started, but I might have unrealistic expectations. I'll compare to a couple other regulators this weekend.

Thanks again!

 

[Jonny Wishbone]

Also, it will breathe harder out of water. Fill up a pan or large bowl and Put reg in your mouth and breathe while you submerge it and see if gets a lot easier.

 

[happy-diver]

Mick Jagger did something similar a while back
but with a steel bucket

 

[divad]

Here is the best service manual out there man

That's the best one I've ever seen. Who knew? Thanks

 

[Jim Lapenta]

That's the best one I've ever seen. Who knew? Thanks

Thanks, I had fun creating it! Writing it and doing the photos.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Also, it will breathe harder out of water. Fill up a pan or large bowl and Put reg in your mouth and breathe while you submerge it and see if gets a lot easier.

If the reg was set up and tested correctly, it should not breathe harder out of the water.
I'm a HOG reg tech instructor and know this for a fact. This weekend I'm actually teaching a class on the HOG regs.