Argoshield light spitting !

[frankieboy]

Hi, I've had a cylinder of Argoshield light for sometime now, it's only been used a couple of times over the last year. When I turn the gas on the cylinder starts spitting the higher the gas flow the more it spits. It makes the gauge needle jump backwards and forwards very quickly, making a terrible noise.
When I removed the regulator and open the valve on the cylinder it still made this spitting noise.
I returned the cylinder to boc today explaining what's happening and they exchanged the cylinder. As soon as I got back to my workshop I connected the regulator to find its doing the same thing on the new cylinder !!!!
Has anyone got any ideas what's causing this as I'm pulling my hair out ??
Does the valve on the cylinder have to be fully open?
Cheers
Frank

 

[Kent]

Are you upsetting it? Never had that at least that I can remember

 

[frankieboy]

The original cylinder stood for months in the same position !! The replacement cylinder was laid down to transport !

 

[pedrobedro]

Does the valve on the cylinder have to be fully open?
Cheers
Frank

I only open mine about a quarter turn but it's entirely optional. How much pressure are you setting it to, are you running it high enough to get it icing up in the cold ?

 

[frankieboy]

what I do is crank the cylinder right open , then on the regulator trying to set it at about 10lpm

 

[Jim Davey]

I only ever open cylinders a half turn, never had an issue like the one you are having.

 

[WorkshopChris]

The cylinder should only need a quarter turn to give you full flow, sound like you might have a faulty regulator.

 

[frankieboy]

The thing is that on the original cylinder I removed the regulator and opened the valve and it made this spitting noise......

 

[frankieboy]

Not unless it's happening because I'm opening the cylinder valve too much !!!

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Sounds very odd. The only time I have had a cylider 'spit' is an acetylene bottle after it had been laid down.
I would take it back to the dealer and demonstrate it to him in person.

 

[Jim Davey]

Never happens with Air Liquide cylinders

 

[WorkshopChris]

When you say it made a spitting noise was it actually spitting liquid? I have only vented a cylinder a few times when stored outside and a used cylinder has got wet. At a few thousand pounds pressure it's a loud violent blast. But i have have had a regulator almost vibrate or judder, i imagine a stuck or damaged diaphragm or stuck spring.

 

[rikrobson]

Sound like there could be moisture in the system some where have you tried a different regular or

 

[HMB]

Valves on Hp cylinders are designed to fail safe. Ie if the valve isn't working or opening correctly it will vent from the seat. Having said that it won't spit just a loud rushing noise. Even if you open a cylinder to drain it and the valve freezes it still won't spit

 

[frankieboy]

Cheers for all your replys, in the end I decided to buy a new regulator, all sorted now
I took the old regulator apart to see if there was anything wrong inside but all looks good and clean, God knows what's wrong with it........

 

[Agautosport]

You should always open the valve fully on the cylinder as some valves seal the centre spindle when fully open, you can get leakage from the spindle if the valve is only partially open .
You should control the pressure with the regulator .

 

[paceman1]

I only ever open mine up fully then a 1/4 turn back never had an issue then set the flow

 

[Wozzaaah]

As soon as I got back to my workshop I connected the regulator to find its doing the same thing on the new cylinder !!!!

That should have told you to suspect a faulty regulator.