Annual Service/Overlook - speed?

[rstofer]

New regulators are worth functional testing but I, personally, have never seen a new regulator fail. Never even heard of anyone who thought they once talked to somebody who's nephew might have had a failure. Well, ignoring the regulators that aren't assembled right. And we know who makes those! You'll note that they weren't the one I recommended!

OTOH, I see about a 100% failure rate in regulators coming back from service. Worse, it doesn't show up until the regulator has been in service for a few minutes. Then it starts to free-flow.

So, two new regulators that are unlikely to have a problem along with two old regulators that haven't been touched and, odds are, the trip will go off as planned.

But, absolutely, do NOT have them serviced and take the on a trip unless you have a couple of dives on them.

Richard

 

[PhilEllis]

New regulators are worth functional testing but I, personally, have never seen a new regulator fail. Never even heard of anyone who thought they once talked to somebody who's nephew might have had a failure. Well, ignoring the regulators that aren't assembled right. And we know who makes those! You'll note that they weren't the one I recommended!

In the past month, I have assembled two BRAND NEW regulators that needed internal repairs (one a seat failure immediately on lock-up, one failed during set-up cycling). Oh, these were from the "good" guys. So, like anything mechanical, even new regulators are subject to failure.

OTOH, I see about a 100% failure rate in regulators coming back from service. Worse, it doesn't show up until the regulator has been in service for a few minutes. Then it starts to free-flow.

If you are seeing nearly 100% failure after service, or 50%, or 10%, or 5%, you need a new regulator technician. A properly serviced regulator, properly cleaned, properly cycled and tested prior to final adjustment, and PROPERLY adjusted to a reasonable cracking effort WILL NOT fail or free-flow, barring some mechanical breakdown that could not have been anticipated during service. Now, the word "properly" requires someone who knows what they are doing, and there are many, many of them around. Unfortunately, I hear that many stores have someone who is POSING as a regulator technician, without really knowing what they are doing. So sad.

Anyway, just my opinion.

Phil Ellis
www.divesports.com

 

[rstofer]

If you are seeing nearly 100% failure after service, or 50%, or 10%, or 5%, you need a new regulator technician. A properly serviced regulator, properly cleaned, properly cycled and tested prior to final adjustment, and PROPERLY adjusted to a reasonable cracking effort WILL NOT fail or free-flow, barring some mechanical breakdown that could not have been anticipated during service. Now, the word "properly" requires someone who knows what they are doing, and there are many, many of them around. Unfortunately, I hear that many stores have someone who is POSING as a regulator technician, without really knowing what they are doing. So sad.

Anyway, just my opinion.

Phil Ellis
www.divesports.com

Do you know of or recommend any shop where I can just ship them off? I have several spares so having a longer turn-around isn't a big deal.

FWIW, all of my regulators are Oceanic Omega IIs while the others used in our little herd are AquaLung Titan, Dive Rite Hurricane and Edge Epic.

I have several Omega IIs that I recently bought on eBay that should be serviced as soon as possible.

Richard

 

[PhilEllis]

Do you know of or recommend any shop where I can just ship them off? I have several spares so having a longer turn-around isn't a big deal.

FWIW, all of my regulators are Oceanic Omega IIs while the others used in our little herd are AquaLung Titan, Dive Rite Hurricane and Edge Epic.

I have several Omega IIs that I recently bought on eBay that should be serviced as soon as possible.

Richard

We service every one of those. You can simply send them to DiveSports.com and we will turn them around within a week. If you have any questions, give us a call toll-free at (800) 601-3483. Thanks.

Phil Ellis
Discount Scuba Gear at DiveSports.com - Buy Scuba Diving Equipment & Snorkeling Equipment