Originally Posted By: Violet
Arby,
This is a seperate three piece weight set you buy. What comes on a Presto is a counterweight.It is only meant to hold pressure in the canner, not for regulating pressure for canning. A Presto uses a dial gauge. It will keep climbing in pressure if you keep the heat on high. The dial MUST be tested before you use it as it may be off by as much as 4 lb. and it would not be safe to use. I test many brand new gauges that are bad from factory.
I contacted Presto, as well as the National Center for Home Food Preservation a year or more ago. I came up with the idea to use the weights instead. Both Presto and NCFHFP told me it was fine to do so. You then leave the dial on, but you don't have to test it before use or each year like otherwise you would need to. You then use the weight off the set for your altitude. Most everyone uses 10 lb. weight. You then use the weight and it will rattle the whole time you are using it, but it will self vent and keep the canner at 10 lb. pressure. You don't have to sit and watch that gauge the whole time. Makes life easier, for sure.
Any more questions, just ask.
You order part number 50332 for the weight set. It comes apart. You have 3 pieces. The center is 5 lb. Add one ring and you have 10 lb. , add the third piece along with the other 2 and you have 15 lb. pressure.
Okay, now I am really confused. My pressure canner (Presto) came with a "pressure regulator" that looks just like the 3 piece weight set. I cannot figure out how to get it apart. When I go to the website you reference, it shows a "pressure regulator" for my cannerPresto 175005) that doesn't look like the one I have or the three piece weight set. Is there a secret to getting it apart? Our friends didn't know theirs came apart until he dropped it. I tried that also but didn't work.
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