Does this really ever happen? How often has /does a regulator actually fail?

[geoff w]

... Also to expand on this, how many of these regs were actually maintained properly?

Maintained properly, as in sent out somewhere for service? Or as in correctly serviced at manufacturer recommended interval using the complete manufacturer supplied parts kit by someone properly trained by a qualified manufacturer certified technician instructor, and cleaned and stored per manufacturer recommendations after all dives? Two potentially very different definitions of "maintained properly." A good friend has a local regulator service business, probably personally services more regulators than just about anyone else on the planet, and teaches some manufacturer regulator service classes (he is very humble and not prone to exaggeration). From talking to him, he gets a not-insignificant number of regulators in to look at because they were "maintained properly and just serviced" that aren't serviced correctly (or at all). As well, he occasionally testifies as an expert witness for regulator manufacturers (and providing forensic analysis) for cases involving injury or death. All I can say is there are very few I would trust to "properly maintain" my own regulators. Some of the things he's shown me makes me cringe!

 

[John_B]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/advanced-scuba-discussions/485553-how-often-does-really-happen.html

 

[sea_ledford]

I've seen 1.5.

One woman I was leading on a dive had her rental regulator fail closed somewhere in the first stage. I tried both of her second stages, neither worked. I checked her pressure gauge and that her tank was on. Took her back to the boat on my alternate, swapped regs and continued diving. We could never get the reg to do it again, but it was re-serviced anyway. It was properly maintained as well, even though it was a rental. At the time they were probably getting rebuilt every other month because we were getting bad seats from Mares which kept failing with a minor free flow. This was not that.

The half, was a guy that came into a shop I worked at and said his Hollis second stage fell apart mid dive. The screw down ring that holds the cover/purge button fell off and when he exhaled (prior to realizing the problem) he blew out the diaphragm. He swapped to his backup and ended the dive to come fuss at me (rightfully so!). I thought the ring just hadn't been screwed down tight enough, but when I went to the new regs, they were all VERY easy to unscrew. Like one finger easy. I tightened them down both with my palm as tight as I could make it and with the special tool, but it was still easy to unscrew. I think the machining was actually too fine, and there was just no friction between the parts to keep them tight. I'm not sure if Hollis regs are still like that or not, but a drop of loc-tite fixed the problem.

 

[flots am]

How often has /does a regulator actually fail?

Not talking about an out of air situation.

I'm talking a situation where you have plenty of air in your tank and you simply can not breathe off your reg.

Also to expand on this, how many of these regs were actually maintained properly?

One model of SCUBAPro first stage had a habit of unexpectedly splitting in half if the yoke nut was over-torqued.

flots

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

I've heard of several cases of debris in tanks causing complete loss of gas either by blocking the dip tube or the first stage filter. If you don't get any pressure the regulator does not fail open. I do not have direct experience with blocked tanks but have had several bad fills with excess water that did lead to corrosion inside the tank. That could have certainly lead to complete loss of gas supply if it went on long enough. And also one case where the compressor filter bled through oil and there was enough oil to taste. Not exactly ideal for a nitrox fill. All my bad fills have been on boats. The land based fill stations seem to do better.

 

[markmud]

Wow, I read all posts to this point. And I am surprised.

My wife, friend, and myself have had chattering issues with our Mares regs. My first stage started to split open. But, in all cases, our regs free flowed when the IP crept up.

I am glad I dive with pony rig after this thread.

markm

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Wow, I read all posts to this point. And I am surprised.

My wife, friend, and myself have had chattering issues with our Mares regs. My first stage started to split open. But, in all cases, our regs free flowed when the IP crept up.

I am glad I dive with pony rig after this thread.

markm

I guess the point of the thread is it can happen (catastrophic failure). But simple inspections pre-dive will catch almost every problem before a problem can becomes serious.

Some, like a missing dip tube in a rental tank or an over-tightened and damaged part may not be evident.... but this is really, REALLY rare.

Most "errors" in servicing result in freeflows or leaks. Only a few result in catastrophic failure, and if the tech is halfway competent and conscientious these are easily avoided.

Or, like a lot of us, you can service your own gear . Since I started servicing my own regs, my reg "issues" have dropped to zero.

Best wishes

 

[Jax]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/advanced-scuba-discussions/485553-how-often-does-really-happen.html

Exactly why I started this one. Everyone went off on a solo rant, instead of answering a question.

 

[John_B]

Wow, I read all posts to this point. And I am surprised.

My wife, friend, and myself have had chattering issues with our Mares regs. My first stage started to split open. But, in all cases, our regs free flowed when the IP crept up.

I am glad I dive with pony rig after this thread.

What if it's your inflator that fails "open" when that IP creeps up? Can you disconnect the hose when it's under pressure? Have you tried? There are a lot of potential problems that a pony bottle won't solve.

 

[Jax]

Exactly why I started this one. Everyone went off on a solo rant, instead of answering a question.

What if it's your inflator that fails "open" when that IP creeps up? Can you disconnect the hose when it's under pressure? Have you tried? There are a lot of potential problems that a pony bottle won't solve.

Never fails.

Use that four-letter word (in gray above) and the cussin' & discussin' starts.