Baby Booster problems

MikeL

Hi
Has anyone had any issues with thier Jetsam baby boosters seizing? I have had mine a little over 6 months. I have only used it for oxygen to top up my 3 litre on the rebreather. It seized up one day and when i stripped it down the HP piston was seized inside the HP bushing. I cleaned it up a bit and got it working but it seized up again within 15 mins. i sent it back to jetsam. they replaced the HP bushing and sent it back free of charge. they could not explain to me why it had happened.
It seized up again a couple of days ago. Same thing. When I got the piston out of the bushing there was bad scoring again. Although there does not appear to be any crap in the HP side.
Any ideas or tips would be appreciated, also I live in Spain and have bought the unit through the States, does anyone know anywere in the UK were I can get spares?
Thanks
Mike

PeteS

You're not the only one to have had this problem. It was one of my reasons for buying a Haskel.....

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Pete S.

http://www.steggle.co.nz

Every silver lining has a cloud

jradomski

How fast are you running the pump?? excess heat can definately cause probems and OXYGEN gets very hot..

You should be cycling no more than 1 cycle per second, personally I would cycle slower than that especially at higher pressures (I prefer to cycle about 1 cycle every 2 seconds on most booster pumps)..

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Joe Radomski
CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer
ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.

teksimple

My baby booster used to stop on the top of the cycle (just before venting) every few weeks of use. I would then open it up, wipe clean and apply some Christo-lube, and it worked just fine.

While making trimix, I would detach the helium cylinder connector and then attach the oxygen cylinder connector, applying new Teflon tape to the inlet threads each time.

I have since created a permanent blending manifold using a 4-way 1/4 NPT Swagelok cross and three Swagelok check valves. Now I do not have to disconnect the source gas cylinders; I just turn them off when I have added enough gas. Corresponding with this significant hardware change, my baby booster stopped requiring a more or less regular disassembly. I also changed the standard inflater nipple inlet valve on the booster with a CJEN-compatible fitting that greatly increases the boosting speed. Still pumps like a banshee without any problems.

Therefore I have concluded that the seizing was due to contamination by small bits of Teflon tape as is specifically suggested in the baby booster manual. Before deciding that the problem is due to a defect, make sure you eliminate the contamination potential first.

Aloha from Baghdad...

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MikeL

Thanks for the feedback.
I have been able to get the booster back working after another strip down and changing out the HP seal. The bushing is in pretty poor shape but is still boosting fine. It looks like I am in for regular strip downs and cleans. The booster is running at about 1 cycle per second but will try at a slower cycle.
Thanks again for the help.
Regards
Mike