First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open......

Flup · 27th September 2006, 09:57

A few weeks ago the solenoid on my Meg got stuck, shut. After flying the unit a few times manually I (along with my master) could fix the problem and it has been operating smoothly eversince till............. yesterday

During a training dive i suddenly noticed an upgoing pO2, up to 1.6 at depth (about 15 meter). Hmmm, strange, performing a dil-flush the pO2 dropped accordingly, back tot about 1.1 my setpoint. Nothing wrong, problem solved, so it seemed...

Glancing a few moments later at the HUB it was already back up to 2 green flashes, hmmmmmmmmm, checking the handset it read about 1,26. Damn

What the f**k is wrong. Another flush and waiting what's going to happen. Yes, again an upgoing pO2.

We were about to ascent anyway, so the pO2 would be dropping. At the surface checking the rig, i heard a little hiss at the exhale-lung. Hmmmmm. Swimming back to shore i removed all the hoses one by one, starting with the bcd, the oxy-inject, manual inject, ADV, still the hushing sound remained. Once i got foot on shore i could checkt the solenoid with the head removed, en yep, it was gently blowing in the oxygen.

So coming home around 2300 i immidiatly started working on my girl, gently put her on the table, disconected the solenoid (i'm becoming scary good at this part of the MEG), put all parts on a nice white dustfree cloth en cleaned it. Little ultra-soon, drying with dry compressed air, checking and cleaning again. And after a succesfull operation of about an hour she was put back together en fully functional.

Now we'll see how she behaves in the lakes in Austria this weekend.

Gibbon · 27th September 2006, 10:12

Quote: (Originally Posted by Flup)

A few weeks ago the solenoid on my Meg got stuck, shut. After flying the unit a few times manually I (along with my master) could fix the problem and it has been operating smoothly eversince till............. yesterday

During a training dive i suddenly noticed an upgoing pO2, up to 1.6 at depth (about 15 meter). Hmmm, strange, performing a dil-flush the pO2 dropped accordingly, back tot about 1.1 my setpoint. Nothing wrong, problem solved, so it seemed...

Glancing a few moments later at the HUB it was already back up to 2 green flashes, hmmmmmmmmm, checking the handset it read about 1,26. Damn

What the f**k is wrong. Another flush and waiting what's going to happen. Yes, again an upgoing pO2.

We were about to ascent anyway, so the pO2 would be dropping. At the surface checking the rig, i heard a little hiss at the exhale-lung. Hmmmmm. Swimming back to shore i removed all the hoses one by one, starting with the bcd, the oxy-inject, manual inject, ADV, still the hushing sound remained. Once i got foot on shore i could checkt the solenoid with the head removed, en yep, it was gently blowing in the oxygen.

So coming home around 2300 i immidiatly started working on my girl, gently put her on the table, disconected the solenoid (i'm becoming scary good at this part of the MEG), put all parts on a nice white dustfree cloth en cleaned it. Little ultra-soon, drying with dry compressed air, checking and cleaning again. And after a succesfull operation of about an hour she was put back together en fully functional.

Now we'll see how she behaves in the lakes in Austria this weekend.

Ron Micjan said in another post that it was due to disconnecting the swagelock underwater... and that quite a few people have been suffering from it recently, myself included.

I suppose if you do disconnect in saltwater it should be flushed through with fresh afterwards, but this would require pressurising some freshwater and connecting it to the swagelock and letting the solenoid fire so I guess nobody bothers.... ??

I am sure you will get it down to under an hour after a couple more goes

mine has easily done 30hours since the last strip down and is still sounding responsive, when it starts sounding sluggish I know it is going to jam soon - mine has only ever failed closed though which I have been glad about

Flup · 27th September 2006, 10:19

Quote: (Originally Posted by Gibbon)

Ron Micjan said in another post that it was due to disconnecting the swagelock underwater... and that quite a few people have been suffering from it recently, myself included.

I suppose if you do disconnect in saltwater it should be flushed through with fresh afterwards, but this would require pressurising some freshwater and connecting it to the swagelock and letting the solenoid fire so I guess nobody bothers.... ??

I am sure you will get it down to under an hour after a couple more goes

mine has easily done 30hours since the last strip down and is still sounding responsive, when it starts sounding sluggish I know it is going to jam soon - mine has only ever failed closed though which I have been glad about

I hope she stays up for 30 hours or more also now, i've been nice to her, now she needs to be nice to me

Mark Chase · 27th September 2006, 10:34

Hummmmmm this is a bit chicken and egg because you only remove the hose after the solenoid has jammed?

There are two megs on out boat and they have had a few issues with stuck solenoids. It seems to be a common problem with the meg units.

Good news is once disconnected you can run the unit manually, bad news is the salt water getting in after disconnection.

I have often wondered if the fact that the solenoid hardy ever fires is the cause of the problem. It would seem that a lot of divers run the unit manually and inactivity has a way of screwing up moving parts.

I am curious to know if this is the cause of the issue as it doesn't happen often on the HH or the Insp. I have never met a diver who has had a stuck solenoid on a HH or a Insp.

ATB

Mark Chase

decoweenie · 27th September 2006, 10:47

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase)

I have often wondered if the fact that the solenoid hardy ever fires is the cause of the problem. It would seem that a lot of divers run the unit manually and inactivity has a way of screwing up moving parts.

If that's true, then it is a bit of irony there...

Diver runs manually above controller set-point, and depends on controller as parachute system.
Solenoid messes up due to lack of use.
Diver has brain-fart and not keep up with manually adding O2, depend on solenoid to keep diver alive.
Solenoid stuck closed, diver dies.

Gibbon · 27th September 2006, 11:03

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase)

I am curious to know if this is the cause of the issue as it doesn't happen often on the HH or the Insp. I have never met a diver who has had a stuck solenoid on a HH or a Insp.

ATB

Mark Chase

Nope, I can assure you that it has not been due to the unit being flow manually the majority of the time. I paid for my electronics and electrons to drive them and I use them - till they are not available and then I fly it manually.

I am happy that I can fly manually when I have to.. and that skill has been tested a few times

in addition to when I have deliberately practiced it as a skill.

Mine first jammed two days after my Mod1 course... Cathy's has never jammed and has had nearly identical treatment.

Gibbon · 27th September 2006, 11:08

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase)

Hummmmmm this is a bit chicken and egg because you only remove the hose after the solenoid has jammed?

LOL Mine has only been removed as a practice of the skill of removing it in case it jammed open.

But atleast I know I can if it ever did

Flup · 27th September 2006, 11:50

Quote: (Originally Posted by Gibbon)

Nope, I can assure you that it has not been due to the unit being flow manually the majority of the time. I paid for my electronics and electrons to drive them and I use them - till they are not available and then I fly it manually.

I am happy that I can fly manually when I have to.. and that skill has been tested a few times

in addition to when I have deliberately practiced it as a skill.

Same here, happy to been trained well, still learning more

Mark Chase · 27th September 2006, 11:53

OK that screws my brilient theory, ill go back to my hole

ATB

Mark Chase

Flup · 27th September 2006, 11:55

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase)

OK that screws my brilient theory, ill go back to my hole

ATB

Mark Chase

If there's any water in it, don't forget your Rebreather

Just kidding, were all here to learn from eachother, so let's do that, at least try it.

27th September 2006, 09:57	#1 (permalink)
Flup Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Ouroboros Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 134	First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... A few weeks ago the solenoid on my Meg got stuck, shut. After flying the unit a few times manually I (along with my master) could fix the problem and it has been operating smoothly eversince till............. yesterday During a training dive i suddenly noticed an upgoing pO2, up to 1.6 at depth (about 15 meter). Hmmm, strange, performing a dil-flush the pO2 dropped accordingly, back tot about 1.1 my setpoint. Nothing wrong, problem solved, so it seemed... Glancing a few moments later at the HUB it was already back up to 2 green flashes, hmmmmmmmmm, checking the handset it read about 1,26. Damn What the f**k is wrong. Another flush and waiting what's going to happen. Yes, again an upgoing pO2. We were about to ascent anyway, so the pO2 would be dropping. At the surface checking the rig, i heard a little hiss at the exhale-lung. Hmmmmm. Swimming back to shore i removed all the hoses one by one, starting with the bcd, the oxy-inject, manual inject, ADV, still the hushing sound remained. Once i got foot on shore i could checkt the solenoid with the head removed, en yep, it was gently blowing in the oxygen. So coming home around 2300 i immidiatly started working on my girl, gently put her on the table, disconected the solenoid (i'm becoming scary good at this part of the MEG), put all parts on a nice white dustfree cloth en cleaned it. Little ultra-soon, drying with dry compressed air, checking and cleaning again. And after a succesfull operation of about an hour she was put back together en fully functional. Now we'll see how she behaves in the lakes in Austria this weekend. __________________ They say i'm all mixed up, maybe that's why i like mixed gas diving !!!!
(Offline)

27th September 2006, 10:12	#2 (permalink)
Gibbon Southern Monkey Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Devon Posts: 224	Re: First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... Quote: (Originally Posted by Flup) A few weeks ago the solenoid on my Meg got stuck, shut. After flying the unit a few times manually I (along with my master) could fix the problem and it has been operating smoothly eversince till............. yesterday During a training dive i suddenly noticed an upgoing pO2, up to 1.6 at depth (about 15 meter). Hmmm, strange, performing a dil-flush the pO2 dropped accordingly, back tot about 1.1 my setpoint. Nothing wrong, problem solved, so it seemed... Glancing a few moments later at the HUB it was already back up to 2 green flashes, hmmmmmmmmm, checking the handset it read about 1,26. Damn What the f**k is wrong. Another flush and waiting what's going to happen. Yes, again an upgoing pO2. We were about to ascent anyway, so the pO2 would be dropping. At the surface checking the rig, i heard a little hiss at the exhale-lung. Hmmmmm. Swimming back to shore i removed all the hoses one by one, starting with the bcd, the oxy-inject, manual inject, ADV, still the hushing sound remained. Once i got foot on shore i could checkt the solenoid with the head removed, en yep, it was gently blowing in the oxygen. So coming home around 2300 i immidiatly started working on my girl, gently put her on the table, disconected the solenoid (i'm becoming scary good at this part of the MEG), put all parts on a nice white dustfree cloth en cleaned it. Little ultra-soon, drying with dry compressed air, checking and cleaning again. And after a succesfull operation of about an hour she was put back together en fully functional. Now we'll see how she behaves in the lakes in Austria this weekend. Ron Micjan said in another post that it was due to disconnecting the swagelock underwater... and that quite a few people have been suffering from it recently, myself included. I suppose if you do disconnect in saltwater it should be flushed through with fresh afterwards, but this would require pressurising some freshwater and connecting it to the swagelock and letting the solenoid fire so I guess nobody bothers.... ?? I am sure you will get it down to under an hour after a couple more goes mine has easily done 30hours since the last strip down and is still sounding responsive, when it starts sounding sluggish I know it is going to jam soon - mine has only ever failed closed though which I have been glad about
(Offline)

27th September 2006, 10:19	#3 (permalink)
Flup Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Ouroboros Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 134	Re: First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... Quote: (Originally Posted by Gibbon) Ron Micjan said in another post that it was due to disconnecting the swagelock underwater... and that quite a few people have been suffering from it recently, myself included. I suppose if you do disconnect in saltwater it should be flushed through with fresh afterwards, but this would require pressurising some freshwater and connecting it to the swagelock and letting the solenoid fire so I guess nobody bothers.... ?? I am sure you will get it down to under an hour after a couple more goes mine has easily done 30hours since the last strip down and is still sounding responsive, when it starts sounding sluggish I know it is going to jam soon - mine has only ever failed closed though which I have been glad about I hope she stays up for 30 hours or more also now, i've been nice to her, now she needs to be nice to me __________________ They say i'm all mixed up, maybe that's why i like mixed gas diving !!!!
(Offline)

27th September 2006, 10:34	#4 (permalink)
Mark Chase RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 2,811	Re: First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... Hummmmmm this is a bit chicken and egg because you only remove the hose after the solenoid has jammed? There are two megs on out boat and they have had a few issues with stuck solenoids. It seems to be a common problem with the meg units. Good news is once disconnected you can run the unit manually, bad news is the salt water getting in after disconnection. I have often wondered if the fact that the solenoid hardy ever fires is the cause of the problem. It would seem that a lot of divers run the unit manually and inactivity has a way of screwing up moving parts. I am curious to know if this is the cause of the issue as it doesn't happen often on the HH or the Insp. I have never met a diver who has had a stuck solenoid on a HH or a Insp. ATB Mark Chase __________________ See my "Doing It Chasey" video where I'm locked into a padded room, naked, with two ball bearings and within an Hour, I manage to lose one and break the other!!! Kevin Juergensen 16/11/08 [/quote]
(Offline)

27th September 2006, 10:47	#5 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,487	Re: First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase) I have often wondered if the fact that the solenoid hardy ever fires is the cause of the problem. It would seem that a lot of divers run the unit manually and inactivity has a way of screwing up moving parts. If that's true, then it is a bit of irony there... Diver runs manually above controller set-point, and depends on controller as parachute system. Solenoid messes up due to lack of use. Diver has brain-fart and not keep up with manually adding O2, depend on solenoid to keep diver alive. Solenoid stuck closed, diver dies. __________________ "...after a while you get bored offering advice to a bull that like to keep butting the fence with its head rather than walking through the open gate..." - Rebreather World PM
(Offline)

27th September 2006, 11:03	#6 (permalink)
Gibbon Southern Monkey Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Devon Posts: 224	Re: First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase) I am curious to know if this is the cause of the issue as it doesn't happen often on the HH or the Insp. I have never met a diver who has had a stuck solenoid on a HH or a Insp. ATB Mark Chase Nope, I can assure you that it has not been due to the unit being flow manually the majority of the time. I paid for my electronics and electrons to drive them and I use them - till they are not available and then I fly it manually. I am happy that I can fly manually when I have to.. and that skill has been tested a few times in addition to when I have deliberately practiced it as a skill. Mine first jammed two days after my Mod1 course... Cathy's has never jammed and has had nearly identical treatment.
(Offline)

27th September 2006, 11:08	#7 (permalink)
Gibbon Southern Monkey Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Devon Posts: 224	Re: First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase) Hummmmmm this is a bit chicken and egg because you only remove the hose after the solenoid has jammed? LOL Mine has only been removed as a practice of the skill of removing it in case it jammed open. But atleast I know I can if it ever did
(Offline)

27th September 2006, 11:50	#8 (permalink)
Flup Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Ouroboros Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 134	Re: First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... Quote: (Originally Posted by Gibbon) Nope, I can assure you that it has not been due to the unit being flow manually the majority of the time. I paid for my electronics and electrons to drive them and I use them - till they are not available and then I fly it manually. I am happy that I can fly manually when I have to.. and that skill has been tested a few times in addition to when I have deliberately practiced it as a skill. Same here, happy to been trained well, still learning more __________________ They say i'm all mixed up, maybe that's why i like mixed gas diving !!!!
(Offline)

27th September 2006, 11:53	#9 (permalink)
Mark Chase RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 2,811	Re: First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... OK that screws my brilient theory, ill go back to my hole ATB Mark Chase __________________ See my "Doing It Chasey" video where I'm locked into a padded room, naked, with two ball bearings and within an Hour, I manage to lose one and break the other!!! Kevin Juergensen 16/11/08 [/quote]
(Offline)

27th September 2006, 11:55	#10 (permalink)
Flup Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Ouroboros Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 134	Re: First solenoid stuck shut, yesterday stuck open...... Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase) OK that screws my brilient theory, ill go back to my hole ATB Mark Chase If there's any water in it, don't forget your Rebreather Just kidding, were all here to learn from eachother, so let's do that, at least try it. __________________ They say i'm all mixed up, maybe that's why i like mixed gas diving !!!!
(Offline)

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