Rebuilding Victor regulators

[streetcore]

Hi everyone,

I've picked up some used oxy-acetylene equipment at garage sales over the last year, including the following four Victor regulators: SR-460A, SR-450D, SR-410A, SR-400D. I don't know the history of these things and they look like they've been sitting around unused for quite awhile. So I'm thinking it would be a good idea to have them rebuilt, but I'm not sure which ones out of the four I should choose. If I'm not mistaken the 460/450 are the current models and the 410/400 are older and discontinued.

I bought the 460 and the 400 together with hoses and torches from one seller, and then I found the 450 and the 410 at another sale.

So would the 460/450 be the best pair to rebuild or is there any reason to consider the 410/400? If money was no issue I'd rebuild them all, but I really can't afford that. I don't think I'll do enough welding that I would need a spare set sitting around and I'm not sure I'd make my money back if I resold two of them. My local Praxair dealer says it will cost $85 to $100 each to rebuild.

Here's a few pics.

Thanks.

 

[lilredex]

I have Victor regulators that I bought new around 1982, and last year the oxy. started to misbehave. After checking the cost of an overhaul.....I just bought a new one from PAL. It was about one half the cost of the repair.

 

[blazemaster83]

They will prob work as is. I believe those regs have stainless diaphragms. Plug em in and try

 

[lilredex]

Not knowing what those oxy regulators have been doing, I would not do that. They do not look very clean, and could go boom! Oxygen is not something to play with.

 

[pcmeiners]

I would go along with blasemaster83, try them out before rebuilding. You should have flashback arrestors on the setup.

Rebuild kits...
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...0.TSS0&_nkw=victor+regulator+rebuild&_sacat=0

Research oxygen regulators before rebuilding.... no oils, special sealant needed, no organic cleaning fluids,nothing which will oxidize should be used on a oxygen regulator . Care should be maintained with acetylene regulators also.

 

[blazemaster83]

What could possibly be inside them that would make them explode? I have bought various sets of victor regs like those over the years and just put em to work. Some of them needed new gauges and fittings but they have all worked, some going on 15 years now.

Yes oxygen can be dangerous, but you need a fire first.

 

[sberry]

There is a relief valve ibn them. There are a couple nylon parts that crack, little washers. I had a 450 aoom north while I was standing there and caught it before it went to relief. I think the kits are the same for all those, about 11$ I think. The 400 series are the better ones but they all work. If I am trading or scrapping I steal the gauges and fittings from them. I have a couple now I need to fix. They seem to last between 30 and 40 years.
I bought a set or Rangers at a sale a while back. I used 1 for the 1 that went north and the other one failed. Wrong, not Rangers but Sears and a Marquette I think, I am not messing with those when they don't work but am going to fix a couple Victors I have stashed.
A bunch of the 400-450 series use the same kit.

 

[RustyJunk]

I used to have regulators and torches repaired and rebuilt at my local welding supply, it was about 1/3 the cost of buying new and I never had a problem with any that were rebuilt. Now it's getting harder to find people to do them, it cost a lot more and the work is not as good, kinda like everything else these days I guess.

 

[nutjob]

Call these guys up. 2-3 years ago they did my regulators and torch and I think the prices were pretty good.

https://www.regulatortorchrepair.com/rebulid-services

Kevin

 

[Buckgnarly]

What could possibly be inside them that would make them explode? I have bought various sets of victor regs like those over the years and just put em to work. Some of them needed new gauges and fittings but they have all worked, some going on 15 years now.

Yes oxygen can be dangerous, but you need a fire first.

Not under pressure, oxygen and oil oxidize faster under higher pressure. The heat of the rapid oxidation is enough to create it's own "spark".

https://sciencing.com/can-oil-oxygen-ignite-spark-16296.html

http://www.iadc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/sp09-05.pdf

https://miningquiz.com/pdf/Hazardous_Materials/DON'T_MIX_OXYGEN_AND_OIL.pdf

 

[streetcore]

I would go along with blasemaster83, try them out before rebuilding. You should have flashback arrestors on the setup.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I don't have tanks yet, so can't try them out as-is, but I'll give that some thought. I picked up a few torches and tips over the last year as well, including a new Victor H315FC with built-in flashback arrestors and reverse flow check valves. So hopefully that torch will keep me safe when I get started. If I decide to use any of the other torches I'll consider arrestors at the regulators.

Here's a pic and thanks again.

 

[sberry]

If the other one works ok but the Victor Journeyman stuff is good, tips available. It's what I use mostly. I keep the combo in shop and the cutting on the truck. I have L.P. tips for them too.

 

[streetcore]

You should have flashback arrestors on the setup.

Any thoughts on buying used flashback arrestors? A retired welder is selling a bunch of gear in my area and he has a few arrestors for sale, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea. I've also read that they should be removed from service and replaced after one to five years.

What about the cheap arrestors available on eBay and Amazon?

Thanks.

 

[pcmeiners]

Cheap arrestors....as in Chinese knockoffs, I would not use them, there is no recourse if they do not preform properly ( but better then nothing); since you could not bring the manufacturer to a court in China what do they care if the product does not work properly.
As far as "used" , if they were from a home owner I would buy if known American brand and looked OK. From a pro welder, no, as they could have had a lot of use.

When I was 20, worked for a contractor who knew nothing about torch safety, neither did I. We used to use cutting torches without arrestors, there were many flashbacks, all in the torch/and or hose. Luckily never to the tank. Torches /regulators/hoses also can blow up due to flashback.

As a recommendation for Victor regulators, your better off getting 2 stage regulators such as the vts series example vts450

 

[bonneyman]

Send them to these guys.

http://www.billswelderrepair.com/Torch_Reg.html

Excellent service, quick turn around, fair prices. Been a few years since I've used them but they're still on the web.

 

[48548]

I am in the same situation... signed up for an arc oxy/acytelne class... got some of this from my father and craigs list, but a couple of the regs are leaking.... I found a place to rebuild them and will go in person tomorrow... the bottles are all from Craig's list...

My father gave me the 100 mixing chamber and touch, i bought the tips, but the green bottle came with a 300 series so i bought the stuff stuff to use that and will have both sets. The tips are all Chinese knocks off but for learning they should be fine...



looking for a pebble 4766 or any 47xx pebble hinged handle

 

[pcmeiners]

Regulator explosions, due to contamination..

https://www.imca-int.com/alert/580/oxygen-regulator-explodes-causing-injury/

https://www.google.com/search?q=reg...h=506#imgrc=jsQB_rpHVBBgbM:&spf=1548949298517

 

[48548]

Regulator explosions, due to contamination..



https://www.imca-int.com/alert/580/oxygen-regulator-explodes-causing-injury/



https://www.google.com/search?q=reg...h=506#imgrc=jsQB_rpHVBBgbM:&spf=1548949298517

That is why I have kits, but going to a shop....

looking for a pebble 4766 or any 47xx pebble hinged handle

 

[48548]

Nice 132$.... and tested my 100 torch and 300 series.... nice, and i saved my kits...

looking for a pebble 4766 or any 47xx pebble hinged handle

 

[mikebaker1129]

Call these guys up. 2-3 years ago they did my regulators and torch and I think the prices were pretty good.

https://www.regulatortorchrepair.com/rebulid-services

Kevin

^ This!
I have purchased kits from them before and they are great to work with.
If I recall they will rebuild for $50 or so .