Finding Regulator Rebuild kits

[Garage Junkie]

I thought this might be best posted here rather than in the other tool forums, just because you guys are so knowledgeable about equipment used for fabrication.

I've been searching all over the internet for rebuild kits for an old set of regulators I have. I took them to airgas and they were willing to rebuild them for $70 each, but my FIL used to do this for a living. He is happy to rebuild them if I get the kits. So I'm on the hunt now.

The Acetylene is stamped 8201 TYPE R-77 15-510
The Oxygen is stamped 78B2 R-65

I have a new set of edge 2.0s that I'm using, and I really like, but these are big 2 stage regulators that I'd like to make useful again. Both leaked just a little bit and the acetylene would bounce around a bit while using.

I'm finding kits for R-76 regulators, but nothing for R-77s. Any places in particular that I should look or call?

 

[marineengineer]

Standard welding supply plymouth ma. If they don't have a kit or wont sell you one i doubt you will find it. They have rebuilt regulators for me but ive never tried to buy the kit alone. There shop is packed with every type of regulator and connection available.

 

[Garage Junkie]

Here are pics of the regulators-

 

[Garage Junkie]

Thanks ME, I'll check them out!

 

[sberry]

I got a link in my office, torch parts exchange or something like that. They must do wholesale, kits for 450 Victor are 11$. Not all are so popular, some of the others are gonna cost more and 2 stage are a bit more worth repairing. I got a couple older off brand I am not messing with.

 

[zkling]

About the best there is.

https://regulatortorchrepair.com/contact/

 

[Garage Junkie]

I called the guys at regulatortorchrepair.com and they had both rebuild kits available. The R-77 he charged $57 for and the R-65 was $25. I decided to go ahead and get both, even though I have seen r-65s for sale on Ebay for under $30, I figured it's still a good investment. I may not use these much, but at least I'll have spare set ready to go and the 2 stage could be nice to have. Thanks everyone for your guidance and help!

 

[joe49]

Why didn't you price them at the local place you got the rebuild quote from?

 

[Garage Junkie]

Why didn't you price them at the local place you got the rebuild quote from?

Airgas doesnt carry the parts, they just send them out to a third party for rebuild and they wouldn't say where.

 

[BD1]

I would not mess with them. Those are just basic inexpensive regulators. IF you had old type Victor or Smith I would consider it. Buy a new MADE in USA Smith for $235.00.
https://www.weldersupply.com/P/317/SmithCompleteMediumDutyO

 

[joe49]

I deal with Airgas and have bought kits, couple day wait to have in hand. You're going to wait for a on line purchase anyway.

 

[fnieto]

I'v also purchased rebuild parts for my Victor gauges from these folks. https://regulatortorchrepair.com

They offer many brands of kits.

 

[zkling]

I would not mess with them. Those are just basic inexpensive regulators. IF you had old type Victor or Smith I would consider it. Buy a new MADE in USA Smith for $235.00.
https://www.weldersupply.com/P/317/SmithCompleteMediumDutyO

I certainly wouldn't say they are junk regulators, now are they worth rebuilding at those kit costs....up to the OP.

Used gas equipment is one of those things where you really have to watch out for as a seemingly good deal can become a money pit real quickly. Shame Smith dropped their lifetime warranty on torches. Victor now offers lifetime on regs only I believe.

 

[Garage Junkie]

That's where I was with this whole thing to begin with. I bought a good victor set that I like, and I couldn't see spending $60 each for airgas to rebuild them, but I hated to just junk them either. I kept reading about kits that cost $10-15, which sounded more than worth it. Then I saw the R-77 s on ebay for $70+ in as-is condition and R-65 for more like $25. So I figured as long as I didn't put any more than they were worth into them, It would still be worth it. I only paid $125 for the full tanks, and complete torch set, so I'm still money ahead. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[BD1]

I certainly wouldn't say they are junk regulators, now are they worth rebuilding at those kit costs....up to the OP.

Used gas equipment is one of those things where you really have to watch out for as a seemingly good deal can become a money pit real quickly. Shame Smith dropped their lifetime warranty on torches. Victor now offers lifetime on regs only I believe.

I didn't say junk, inexpensive.
And SMITH has Lifetime Warranty.

http://weldfabulous.com/content/Miller-Smith_Warranty.pdf


http://s3.amazonaws.com/Riverview-Resources/Smith Equipment Catalog.pdf


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[zkling]

I didn't say junk, inexpensive.
And SMITH has Lifetime Warranty.

http://weldfabulous.com/content/Miller-Smith_Warranty.pdf


http://s3.amazonaws.com/Riverview-Resources/Smith Equipment Catalog.pdf


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

IIRC, Smith has never offered lifetime warranty on their regulators, just torches. Which, again IIRC, ended in 2017? That catalog you linked to is a number of years old. Those were and still are good regulators, just the need and willingness to rebuild is not there, hence their low value. There are tons of NOS high end regulators on eBay for the cost of some rebuild kits.

Please highlight in that 1st pdf where you see smith offering lifetime warranty on regulators.

 

[chaosracing]

I deal with Airgas and have bought kits, couple day wait to have in hand. You're going to wait for a on line purchase anyway.

Our local Airgas also does not stock or sell rebuild kits, they send stuff out. I took in an old Harris torch and their guy said not rebuild able, but no explanation as to why. At least I didn't have to pay for that. I am going to take it to Praxair and see what they say. I also have some older Smith regulators that their guy again said not repairable. Again no explanation as to why. The regulators are in good shape and not banged up. I do not need them as I got them with other welding/torch stuff. I just wanted to make sure they were good to go in case I did need them.

 

[danski0224]

"Not rebuildable" probably has more to do with limiting liability exposure than anything else.

 

[chaosracing]

Still would have liked an explanation as to why rather than just not repairable/rebuildable.

Sadly to many people have a throw away mentality these days rather than fix it. Including some professionals. I know that cost is a factor and availability of parts, but at least give an explanation as to why you do not want to fix something that should be repairable.

 

[Leaky88]

Hi,
I too have a question about Victor Gauge and availability of a rebuild kit.
An associate has a Victor Model 0707-0129 Nitrogen/inert gas regular he said
he will sell me for $50. It looks really clean physically, made in USA, no dings, scratches etc. I have no ideal what the age of it is. It also has 2714716 engraved on it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Leaky