Why aluminum for ReTro reg bodies and and X valves?

Menace · 11-09-2012, 08:35 PM

Gang,

As the title indicates, I'm curious to know if there was any specific reason other than lightness that AGD went to aluminum for the new valves, beginning with the ReTro reg bodies.

Presumably the RT classic reg bodies were also aluminum, true?

Again, was this a functional consideration? The RT classic was pretty massive, so trying to save a tiny bit by using aluminum in the reg body seems odd.

Perhaps it was owing to thermal properties, given the temp increase with higher rof?

Again, just curious, as it seems strange not to have at least the first RT valves all in stainless, just as the classic/MM valves were.

redlaser666 · 11-09-2012, 08:39 PM

Lightness and also ease of machining a more complex regulator.
There are more air pasages in the RT style regs then the clasics.

luke-AO · 11-09-2012, 09:22 PM

Real simple, we all griped at tom kaye on AO until he made a lighter valve system.

Menace · 11-09-2012, 09:48 PM

More air passages?

The original intake passage (that held the classic reg piston assembly) has been machined through, and there are more complicated drop-in reg internals, but the body itself doesn't appear to have any more complicated machining than the classics did.

Of course, I've never broken one of the newer ones down, so I may be missing a lot here.

ta2maki · 11-11-2012, 01:48 PM

The real question is why didn't they use aluminum at the get go(classic valve)? Answer was that TK felt that the available aluminum was not strong enough. Which is why the xvalve is made from a different alloy from the other Al parts on a mag.

I'm guessing that the RT has half and half because the back half does not see the stresses the front half does. IIRC, the alloy on the back half on the xvalve is different from the front.

luke-AO · 11-11-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ta2maki

The real question is why didn't they use aluminum at the get go(classic valve)?

Because of the lifetime warrienty these markers had.

redic · 11-18-2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke-AO

Because of the lifetime warrienty these markers had.

That is one reason.
The other is because they over engineered the valve

What other maker on the market can take 3000 psi direct

11-09-2012, 08:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Menace Currently less swamped Join Date: Oct 2008	Why aluminum for ReTro reg bodies and and X valves? Gang, As the title indicates, I'm curious to know if there was any specific reason other than lightness that AGD went to aluminum for the new valves, beginning with the ReTro reg bodies. Presumably the RT classic reg bodies were also aluminum, true? Again, was this a functional consideration? The RT classic was pretty massive, so trying to save a tiny bit by using aluminum in the reg body seems odd. Perhaps it was owing to thermal properties, given the temp increase with higher rof? Again, just curious, as it seems strange not to have at least the first RT valves all in stainless, just as the classic/MM valves were. __________________ "Dude. I'm pretty sure he's behind one of those bunkers over there." My Feedback: http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/f...-feedback.html

11-09-2012, 08:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
redlaser666 US ARMY SIG CORPS Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Spanaway, Washington	Lightness and also ease of machining a more complex regulator. There are more air pasages in the RT style regs then the clasics. __________________ My Feedback!

11-09-2012, 09:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
luke-AO lukescustoms.com Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cottonwood AZ	Real simple, we all griped at tom kaye on AO until he made a lighter valve system. __________________ My Feedback Last edited by luke-AO; 11-09-2012 at 11:56 PM.

11-09-2012, 09:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Menace Currently less swamped Join Date: Oct 2008	More air passages? The original intake passage (that held the classic reg piston assembly) has been machined through, and there are more complicated drop-in reg internals, but the body itself doesn't appear to have any more complicated machining than the classics did. Of course, I've never broken one of the newer ones down, so I may be missing a lot here. __________________ "Dude. I'm pretty sure he's behind one of those bunkers over there." My Feedback: http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/f...-feedback.html

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11-11-2012, 01:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
ta2maki Yes, that is a joke ----> Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sunny Southern California	The real question is why didn't they use aluminum at the get go(classic valve)? Answer was that TK felt that the available aluminum was not strong enough. Which is why the xvalve is made from a different alloy from the other Al parts on a mag. I'm guessing that the RT has half and half because the back half does not see the stresses the front half does. IIRC, the alloy on the back half on the xvalve is different from the front.