Aqualung reg

[kevin316]

Is this a good setup and what water temperature would it be good for. I don't think I would go any colder that 45 +/-

Aqualung Titan LX first and second stage with Aqualung low profile octopus. No Gauges

It's 2 or 3 years old and looks to be in good shape (not abused)
What do you think it would be worth?

I tried post pictures but had no luck

 

[Bubbletrubble]

When I bought my first reg setup, I purchased the ABS octo. I really didn't like it...but it worked. Eventually, a local shop had the Aqualung Legend octo on sale. I bought it. The Legend octo turned out to be much better.

The first stage would probably be fine for 45°F water. If water temps dipped down into the low 40s, then I'd probably want to install a "dry" environmental kit on the first stage. You may want to do that anyway.

The Titan is a great workhorse reg. It would have to offered at a very attractive price (less than 50% MSRP) in order for me to want to buy it, though. Know that you'll probably have to pay for reg servicing. Including parts and labor, that could easily be $125. Compare this to the price of a new Titan reg setup.

 

[Reallydg]

Do you have a LDS that you like? If so, I would take the info to them and find out what they thought and what it would cost for them to

1. Get this set up serviced.
2. Set you up with something new.

Not saying you need to buy from them, but then you're making an informed choice.

Also need to ask yourself if you're someone who wants his regs serviced every year or not. If so, new Aqualung regs have free parts replacement for life IF you get it serviced every year. That's another cost to consider.

If that's not important to you, or if you don't know if you can get it serviced every year then that's not an issue. (If you miss getting it serviced one year the warranty is off.)

Just some things to think about.

As far as the Titan, I agree with Bubbletrubble ....great workhorse. Personally, I like the ABS because there's no "upside/downside" to it. Nice when I'm working with students....keeps them from putting it in their mouths upside down.

Just some thoughts worth every penny you paid.

 

[mike_s]

I agree. figure out what it would cost on LP... and then compare that to the used price + $125. $125 for service for 3 stages labor and parts is a fairly good price basis for service at a lot of spots.

as for the ABS octo... I've got one. I like how you cna break it upside down easily. However I will say that it doesn't not breath as good as the Legend 2nd stage. I like how low profile it is though.

 

[PvtStash]

I dive Great Lakes area, I've got jus' over 200 dives on my Titan LXS and have had it down to 130' and 40 degrees w/o incident, I've been very happy with it.

 

[keyshunter]

I agree. figure out what it would cost on LP... and then compare that to the used price + $125. $125 for service for 3 stages labor and parts is a fairly good price basis for service at a lot of spots.

as for the ABS octo... I've got one. I like how you cna break it upside down easily. However I will say that it doesn't not breath as good as the Legend 2nd stage. I like how low profile it is though.

Mike,
I agree that the ABS octo hangs very unobtrusively, and can be used in either direction, but IMO those points do not overshadow the fact that it breaths rather poorly.

Unfortunately, LP is no longer a good indicator of Titan LX pricing, since they have not had an old model (pre2009) LX in stock since shortly after they ran their blowout sale in Dec 2008. And they have NEVER shown the new Titan LX in stock even though it has been on the market for more than a year.

Kevin,
If you do a search on SB, you can find a great many posts disputing the validity of the free parts game. FWIW, for my own 3 Titan LX's, I generally go about 300 dives before I service a first stage, and at least 200 before I service the second stages. That said, 2 of my LX's have been bought used, and although I do most of my own service, I figure the cost of having a competent tech do a full service into the purchase price.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Unfortunately, LP is no longer a good indicator of Titan LX pricing, since they have not had an old model (pre2009) LX in stock since shortly after they ran their blowout sale in Dec 2008. And they have NEVER shown the new Titan LX in stock even though it has been on the market for more than a year.

Since keyshunter brought up the issue of Titan LX pricing, here's a link to a Spanish online retailer who sells the Titan LX for $232.18. That doesn't include the octopus. I'd recommend getting the Legend octo for $108.93. The only difference between the Titan LX second stage and the Legend octo is cosmetic. Since the retailer is located in the EU, there will be fluctuation in USD prices on account of variation in currency exchange rates. (I haven't purchased from Dive Inn Scubastore.com, but others on SB have...and had a positive experience.)

If you purchased a new Titan LX + new Legend octo from Scubastore.com, your overall price would be approx. $340 (excl. shipping).
A used setup would have to be priced at about $215 to be equivalent to that price since you'd have to pay about $125 to have it serviced.

You won't get the free-overhaul-parts-for-life deal if you purchase outside of authorized Aqualung dealers in North America, but you could view this as an opportunity to learn how to service your own regs. It's not very difficult so long as you have the technician repair manual and the appropriate tools. Overhaul kits can be purchased in various places. They can sometimes be spotted on Ebay.

 

[mike_s]

The only difference between the Titan LX second stage and the Legend octo is cosmetic.

Good point. I should have pointed that out when I said the ABS octo doesn't breath as well as the Legend 2nd stage. Because the Legend 2nd stage is the same 2nd stage as the Titan, but with only cosmetic differences.


Keyshunter: you have a valid point that LP doesn't have the latest model up. I didn't check before my post. but like BubbleTrubble referenced, Dive Inn, etc are other comparison options.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Good point. I should have pointed that out when I said the ABS octo doesn't breath as well as the Legend 2nd stage. Because the Legend 2nd stage is the same 2nd stage as the Titan, but with only cosmetic differences.

@mike_s: I just checked the Aqualung reg exploded parts diagrams. To expand on the comparison among Aqualung 2nd stages...

Titan LX = Titan LX Supreme = Legend = Legend Supreme = Legend octo = LX octo

Titan = Calypso = Calypso O2 = Octopus

The Titan LX 2nd stage is the same as the Legend 2nd stage (with the exception of cosmetic differences.)
The Titan 2nd stage is internally different from the Legend 2nd stage.

I like my Legend and Legend octo 2nd stages. I don't have much experience with the Titan 2nd stage. IMO, a fair comparison would be to attach the 2nd stages (tuned identically to the same cracking pressure) to the same first stage for a subjective breathing test. I wonder if anyone has done this.

FWIW, after taking apart my Legend 2nd stages, it's hard not to see a striking similarity (probably identical) to the internal structure of my Apeks ATX second stages. In fact, several parts in the Legend diagram use part numbers that begin with the letters "AP," which denotes an Apeks-line part. More reg trivia in case you were interested...

 

[keyshunter]

Bubbletrouble,
Actually, the Apeks ATX second, Titan LX second and regular Legend second have identical internal parts which are interchangeable between models. This includes air barrels, shuttle valves, seats, orifices, etc, and even o-rings. The Legend LX has a knob instead of a hex screw, so the parts are slightly different. And, if someone wants to be the only one on his block who has a Titan LX with an adjustment knob, that is an easy retrofit. The Apeks XTX is similar and uses many of the same parts, but has some differences because of the reversible air barrel.

The regular Titan you mention is a simple downstream, as opposed to the pneumatically balanced seconds above, and is completely different.