Post by duckbill on Oct 31, 2005 1:39:10 GMT -8
BOX CLIP REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS:
NOTE: The number immediately following the vise grip description is the number which is cast into the vise grip itself. The other following numbers I copied from the container. When using the vise grips, keep in mind that the handles are to be fully closed. The adjustment at the jaws is reliant on the adjustment of the adjusting screw, allowing for consistant applications. Do not use the vise grips like regular pliers, closing the handles to a certain point by feel.
REMOVAL- Vice grips, 1 1/8" straight jaw 7R, 0302L3 (13133302). The fine teeth at the tip of the jaws filed flat and smooth with smoothed edges. With the regulator bottom-box side down on a padded surface, adjust the vise grips to FIRMLY clamp onto sides of a box clip and pry down to remove. If the vise grip starts to slip, tighten it further. It WILL grip the clip even with smooth jaws. It will slightly flatten the edges of the box clip, but that should be the only resulting "damage", and is nearly impossible to detect without purposeful discrimination. (This vise grip should not have a jamb nut on it's adjusting screw because the clips are not all the same width; so, the jaws need to be readily adjustable.)
EXPANDING THE CLIPS FOR REUSE- Vice grips, 3/4" wrench jaw 7LW, 04 (13136004)(13133204?). Smooth sharp corners of the top jaw pad only. Place the open end of a clip with it's end in the central or innermost notch of the bottom jaw (the rest of the clip will be curled down in front of the vise grip jaw tips) and clamp down to open up the bend in the clip. The smooth pad at the tip of the top jaw should be pushing down on the top, outer surface of the wide bend in the box clip. Pretty hard to explain. Photos make it very clear. Use a jamb nut on the adjusting screw and tighten it to hold the adjustment once it is correct. Try to find an adjustment which will open all clips sufficiently to snap back into the box grooves upon reassembly, but not so much as to cause undue fatigue to the box clip metal.
REASSEMBLY CRIMPING- Vice grips, 1 5/8" standard jaw 7CR, 1302L3 (13133312). The fine teeth in the jaw tips filed flat and smooth but still angled out from the tip when closed. Only the tips of the jaws should touch when closed. Snap or position the box clips into place on the regulator and try to reuse the same position which it occupied before to avoid scratching the regulator in a place where it would be visible. You will probably be able to see the spot where the clips were removed. Usually, brass will be showing around the rim in these spots. When using the vise grips to crimp the box clips, the goals are to tighten all of the clips equally and sufficiently enough to have all of the clips tight, to clamp the diaphragm reasonably enough to keep it in place, and to keep the boxes from rotating in relation to eachother. Remember that each time the vise grips are used, the handles are to be fully closed. The adjustment at the jaws is reliant on the adjustment of the adjusting screw. Gently put the top jaw of the vise grip all the way to the box on top of the clip (the open end), and the bottom jaw tip just at the round bottom curve of the clip. The idea is to crimp the top, opened end of the clip down and into the groove of the top box, not just crimp the clip flatly on top of the rim. Be sure not to tighten the clips too much at first, but adjust the vise grip as needed. Clamp sufficiently and evenly. Once all of the clips are crimped, go around and see if you are able to move any of the clips with your fingers. Give them a fair try. If any are loose, tighten the vise grip adjustment just a little and tighten all of the clips once more. Continue this process until all of the clips are secure and the boxes are not able to be rotated in relation to eachother. Once the adjustment is good, tighten the jamb nut on the vise grip adjusting screw to hold the adjustment. Crimping is where damage is most likely to be done to the regulator's finish. Often, while releasing the vise grips they will pop open and hit the regulator box. Hold the vise grip tightly and open carefully, or make a wrap of electrician's tape around the circumference of the top box to avoid this from happening.
Now you won't feel so apprehensive about opening your double-hose regulator having box clips anymore.
I kind of like the out-of-the-box appearance of the Aqua-Lung double-hose regulators with box clips, but that is just I.
NOTE: The number immediately following the vise grip description is the number which is cast into the vise grip itself. The other following numbers I copied from the container. When using the vise grips, keep in mind that the handles are to be fully closed. The adjustment at the jaws is reliant on the adjustment of the adjusting screw, allowing for consistant applications. Do not use the vise grips like regular pliers, closing the handles to a certain point by feel.
REMOVAL- Vice grips, 1 1/8" straight jaw 7R, 0302L3 (13133302). The fine teeth at the tip of the jaws filed flat and smooth with smoothed edges. With the regulator bottom-box side down on a padded surface, adjust the vise grips to FIRMLY clamp onto sides of a box clip and pry down to remove. If the vise grip starts to slip, tighten it further. It WILL grip the clip even with smooth jaws. It will slightly flatten the edges of the box clip, but that should be the only resulting "damage", and is nearly impossible to detect without purposeful discrimination. (This vise grip should not have a jamb nut on it's adjusting screw because the clips are not all the same width; so, the jaws need to be readily adjustable.)
EXPANDING THE CLIPS FOR REUSE- Vice grips, 3/4" wrench jaw 7LW, 04 (13136004)(13133204?). Smooth sharp corners of the top jaw pad only. Place the open end of a clip with it's end in the central or innermost notch of the bottom jaw (the rest of the clip will be curled down in front of the vise grip jaw tips) and clamp down to open up the bend in the clip. The smooth pad at the tip of the top jaw should be pushing down on the top, outer surface of the wide bend in the box clip. Pretty hard to explain. Photos make it very clear. Use a jamb nut on the adjusting screw and tighten it to hold the adjustment once it is correct. Try to find an adjustment which will open all clips sufficiently to snap back into the box grooves upon reassembly, but not so much as to cause undue fatigue to the box clip metal.
REASSEMBLY CRIMPING- Vice grips, 1 5/8" standard jaw 7CR, 1302L3 (13133312). The fine teeth in the jaw tips filed flat and smooth but still angled out from the tip when closed. Only the tips of the jaws should touch when closed. Snap or position the box clips into place on the regulator and try to reuse the same position which it occupied before to avoid scratching the regulator in a place where it would be visible. You will probably be able to see the spot where the clips were removed. Usually, brass will be showing around the rim in these spots. When using the vise grips to crimp the box clips, the goals are to tighten all of the clips equally and sufficiently enough to have all of the clips tight, to clamp the diaphragm reasonably enough to keep it in place, and to keep the boxes from rotating in relation to eachother. Remember that each time the vise grips are used, the handles are to be fully closed. The adjustment at the jaws is reliant on the adjustment of the adjusting screw. Gently put the top jaw of the vise grip all the way to the box on top of the clip (the open end), and the bottom jaw tip just at the round bottom curve of the clip. The idea is to crimp the top, opened end of the clip down and into the groove of the top box, not just crimp the clip flatly on top of the rim. Be sure not to tighten the clips too much at first, but adjust the vise grip as needed. Clamp sufficiently and evenly. Once all of the clips are crimped, go around and see if you are able to move any of the clips with your fingers. Give them a fair try. If any are loose, tighten the vise grip adjustment just a little and tighten all of the clips once more. Continue this process until all of the clips are secure and the boxes are not able to be rotated in relation to eachother. Once the adjustment is good, tighten the jamb nut on the vise grip adjusting screw to hold the adjustment. Crimping is where damage is most likely to be done to the regulator's finish. Often, while releasing the vise grips they will pop open and hit the regulator box. Hold the vise grip tightly and open carefully, or make a wrap of electrician's tape around the circumference of the top box to avoid this from happening.
Now you won't feel so apprehensive about opening your double-hose regulator having box clips anymore.
I kind of like the out-of-the-box appearance of the Aqua-Lung double-hose regulators with box clips, but that is just I.
