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Why does my air regulator not close?

Goldhawg

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Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
363
I'm outfitting my new 24 X 36 shop with a Maxline air system, and I have one branch of the loop going off to support the future car lifts I have planned. I put a relatively cheap inline regulator to dial the pressure down to the max of 90 psi the lifts like, got it from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JDSNRA/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I won't be installing the lifts for a few weeks, but I need to check the overall system for leaks and I can't get the valve on the regulator to close (and the ends of the line are open waiting to hook up to my lifts)! I know I must be an idiot and doing something wrong, but I've backed it fully CCW prior to turning on the pressure (per the instructions) and that doesn't shut it off, then I've gone all the other way, and no matter where I have the t-handle, air runs right through it.

One possible thing I did wrong; initially I had the flow direction wrong (the regulator was flipped from the position you can see in the picture). Would that have messed up the regulator?

I feel like this must be pretty easy fix, but not sure what I've got wrong. Thanks for your counsel.
 

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jallyn

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Jun 29, 2015
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Location
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Some regulators have no vent so when you are adjusting the pressure down you won't see any change on the gauge until you let some air out of the line downstream of the regulator.
 
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Goldhawg

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Nov 27, 2010
Messages
363
The problem is the air goes straight thru right now, so its not building any pressure in the regulator regardless of where the t-handle setting is.
 
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jallyn

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Jun 29, 2015
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Location
Fort Wayne, Indiana
The problem is the air goes straight thru right now, so its not building any pressure in the regulator regardless of where the t-handle setting is.

+1. What I said first was wrong since I didn't read your post completely.

You will have to cap the lines for now. The regulator is doing its job letting air through but can't ever build pressure with the line open. Regulators need "back pressure" to close and can't ever get any with the lines open.
 

CNGsaves

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Sep 26, 2012
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Location
KS and OK
Well I can clearly SEE your problem . . .
. . . . your great black pipe steel airline system is getting screwed up . .
. . . . . . . with the MaxAir addition !!! :D

The regulator is refusing to cooperate until it's fed with black pipe steel !! :bounce:
 
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Goldhawg

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
363
Well I can clearly SEE your problem . . .
. . . . your great black pipe steel airline system is getting screwed up . .
. . . . . . . with the MaxAir addition !!! :D

The regulator is refusing to cooperate until it's fed with black pipe steel !! :bounce:

I think I must have stumbled into some raging debate on black pipe. Hopefully wherever that debate started it can go back to.
 
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