robert_bennett29•8d agoProlific Poster

Had a regulator free flow at 80 feet on a bridge inspection job

This happened last Tuesday on the Columbia River job. I was checking a pier, everything normal, then my primary just started dumping air. Full free flow, that loud hiss right in your ear. I used to think the first step was to hit the purge button hard, that's what an old boss told me. But that just made it worse this time. I switched to my backup, got my breathing sorted, and then tapped the first stage with my knife handle. That fixed it, just a bit of grit stuck in the seat. The whole thing was over in maybe 30 seconds, but it felt longer down there. It made me change my mind about always going for the purge first in a panic. Anyone have a different trick for a sudden free flow?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor_moore8d ago

Glad you kept your cool down there. I've had that happen in a murky quarry. Tapping the first stage is solid, but I also carry a small brass pick in my kit now. A gentle poke in the exhaust valve can sometimes clear that grit without needing to swing your knife around.

alicebarnes8d ago

Used to think picks were overkill but your quarry story convinced me.