What's Inside an Air Regulator and How Does It Work

I disassemble a single stage air regulator to show the internal parts, and how those parts work together to regulate air pressure.

[@davidcarrillo6318]

😮 Woa! Like most, I was ready to buy an expensive regulator… I had cleaned out the top side, and it worked better but not the bottom side. After a quick breakdown and cleaning it functions like it should. I don’t think it worked this good even when it was new! Awesome thorough video. By the way I have the Husky regulator which goes for about $50. I have to admit, the reviews don’t give it much credit but this regulator actually has solid parts that will last a long time with proper care 😆

[@fliteline1937]

Great video Arnold! I bought a used Husky compressor that didn't put out enough air. By looking at your video, I was able to understand the flow of air from the tank to the regulator. You saved me big $, as I was about ready to take it to the shop. Thanks again.

[@madramone9894]

Very informative. I was able to fix my regulator because of this video. Thanks Arnold!

[@wxfield]

I never realized that about the gauge face. I will have to take apart one in my shop to see if I can move the face around to a more readable position. Thanks!!

[@paulphillips2430]

Thanks man that was clear concise, and very helpful.

[@orutraorutra6452]

Good explanation, that explain a lot to me, make more sense now. Thank you.

[@1quickchevy2]

The first "retaining nut" you spun off is used for panel mounting the regulator.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Ah yes. Thank you. That makes sense. I should have known that.

[@a.genius4076]

Thank You!!

[@ivanteo1973]

retaining ring is for you to mount your air regulator to the wall bracket.

[@jeanpaulaliaga8624]

Excellent Explanation! Can you please share the model of the regulator, and where you bought it from? I would like to get one thank you.

[@jayvian327]

Do you have any videos rebuilding “Leslie Airmate regulator AFP-2” I cannot find a video anywhere with this particular regulator or even a repair kit for them. Awesome video BTW… very well explained.

[@Mrkatt763]

Nice

[@joeb6947]

thanks

[@chadseuser2766]

I have a simple 1 stage regulator very similar to your video. The only difference is there is a port on 'front and back' that a pressure gauge screws into, instead of the way the built in gauge is executed on your demo one here. Do you know if these two ports have the same flow capability as the designated outlet port? I know the pressure would be the same, but I am curious about the flow. Reason I would like to use of these two ports instead of the designated outlet port is simply cleanliness of routing lines, but I don't want to reduce flow IF they are not able to flow the same volume of air in my high flow regulator. BTW, loved your video!

[@ArnoldsDesign]

As far as I know, they have the same capacity, but you would have to check the specs for your particular regulator. I have used both with no issues.

[@legalsolutions07]

Good video. Where do you get that gauge? It seems like a good size for a small compressor.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Thanks. I got it from amazon.

[@pingpong9656]

Is the small hole in poppet valve not to help increase decrease pressure - the hissing you hear when adjusting the valve?

[@lunama151]

Excellent video. Wondering if you still watch here for comment/question. Thank you.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Thanks. I still check my comments occasionally.

[@lunama151]

@@ArnoldsDesign Hi Arnold. I need some help. I have a picture framing pneumatic underpinner which has an air regulator all made in one piece of plastic, similar to yours, but no screws and has two opposite machine-made thin cracks, don't know why those are for, maybe as valves where only now after 12 years, it loses air, and can't find the original or another identical. It would be easier to show you a picture but don't know-how here. Not sure that any other system would work. Suggestions? Sorry for the big reply. Thank you.

[@PeterAgostiniJdcap26]

Question, which side is the air intake where you pump air in ? An is there way of testing that when it has no arrows for air flow. Thanks for the video 👍🏻

[@ArnoldsDesign]

As far as I know, they should all have an arrow or some indication of where the intake is. If they don't though, the air would go into the side that goes to the top of the poppet valve. You can determine that by looking into each port and comparing them. The lower chamber will be the exhaust side.

[@kenspaceman3938]

If the intake goes to the top of the popper valve, ”the head” of that piston, wouldn’t the exhaust chamber then be the top chamber, the upper one?

[@bigsalo8598]

How high can the inlet preassure be?

[@MarioIArguello]

👍

[@parageo8119]

Sir i have 2 stage regulator but i dont know in which slot to put lp gauge and hp gauge please advise

[@MarkPhilippNeumann]

Question Sir, would you be able to use these type of Regulators on Airguns? Between the valve and the Air reservoir? To regulate your shots for better consistency? Thanks in Advance!

[@ArnoldsDesign]

No idea, but the regs are inexpensive if you want to experiment.

[@MarkPhilippNeumann]

Arnold's Design I will give it a try, once I have build my workshop. Planning on making my own pcp rifles if good enough why not sell? Hehe Thanks for the info of your video it was very informative and simple to understans

[@Gods-Elect]

can i just bypass the regulator all i need it for is blowing up tires? it doesn't seem to be working as is

[@skylinegtr336]

If your regulator holds pressure at 40psi, but starts to bleed at lower pressures (anything below 40psi), what could cause that? (Bad o-ring maybe?)

[@ArnoldsDesign]

I found my IR regs are sensitive to line moisture and that when they start messing up. I would just take it apart, and clean the parts and inside the housing, top and bottom. Then put some silicon grease on the o rings and where they slide, and reassemble it. Don't grease the diaphragm. You can get silicon grease where plumbing stuff is sold. Make sure to completely unscrew the pressure knob to the lowest setting to take spring pressure off the housing to make it easier to disassemble/reassemble.

[@selsyn73]

Can these regulators typically be repaired? Mine simply will not maintain exhaust side pressure, regardless of spring tension applied by the rotating knob. Tank pressure = 100 PSI, regulator gauge = 100 PSI. Start using air with a tool, regulator gauge drops to 0 PSI quickly. If I turn the compressor off, bleed pressure to 0 PSI and restart it, it will build tank pressure = regulator pressure until air is used with a tool. The regulator stops allowing air to pass through again.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

I don't know if you can get replacement parts. Take it apart and check for corrosion damage to the housing, or a damaged diaphragm. Might just have some debris in it that's interfering with a seal. It happened to one of mine.

[@selsyn73]

@@ArnoldsDesign You hit the nail on the head! I disassembled the regulator, there was corrosion and pitting in it, preventing movement of a plunger. Thanks for the advice. Now I understand how these work, and how to troubleshoot them. Thanks!

[@ArnoldsDesign]

@@selsyn73 That's cool. I'm glad you got it figured out.

[@jtsmodelworkbench9968]

I have a question: I turned on the power switch to my air compressor, okay so far. Turned adjusting knob on air regulator and nothing happens. The gauge stays at zero no matter which way I turn the knob nor however many times I turn the knob, gauge still does not move. Is the air regulator defective? Will installing a new air regulator remedy this problem? Thanks for your help.

[@niceboy761]

Just clean the 1 you have mine did that gunk free and working again

[@doitallneverknowitall9509]

Would that work as a fuel pressure regulator

[@ArnoldsDesign]

I don't know if the diaphragm is fuel resistant. Also, fuel could get into the gauge and possibly fowl up the numbers on the face.

[@bryonthomas7130]

Object is WAY to far away from the camera. Can't see a thing...

[@ArnoldsDesign]

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