Find a better tech, your symptoms are those common to IP creep and nothing else. I will disagree with awap slightly on the cause, my bet is a defective balance chamber. A common cause of this type failure is a small scratch in the balance chamber (caused by a careless tech). Initially the scratch is filled with lube and works fine but as the lube extrudes from the scratch under pressure, the IP creep starts and gets worse, how bad depends on the scratch. A scratch on the main body in the hard seat mating surface or the hard seat oring groove will also do the same thing and are also easy areas to put a scratch for a careless tech. A defective balance chamber or hard seat oring are also a possible cause. In any case, dirt in the second stages is not the cause.
This is a very easy thing for the average diver to determine (the IP creep, not the actual cause of it) for themselves. Get yourself an IP gauge ( under $15) and check the IP for yourself. Checking IP is a check every diver should do on a regular basis, it's quick, easy and can show lots of problems way before they become a real issue.
This is a very easy thing for the average diver to determine (the IP creep, not the actual cause of it) for themselves. Get yourself an IP gauge ( under $15) and check the IP for yourself. Checking IP is a check every diver should do on a regular basis, it's quick, easy and can show lots of problems way before they become a real issue.