Atomic service cost

[jd950]

I am starting a new thread because I am changing topics, but this has grown out of my Aqualung reg problems thread if anyone needs context.

About an hour ago, I stopped by a LDS to inquire about their reg service costs and few other things. In the process, I got a sales pitch for Atomic regs. I used Atomics years ago and stopped because I kept encountering issues with rinsing/soaking and the seat saver, or more precisely, with not letting dive op employees “take care of the regs” because they typically either dumped or dunked the regs in a tank.

Anyway, LDS offered me what I guess is a good price on Atomics, basically a 20% savings off retail. I became mildly interested and I asked what the 3 year service cost was on a T3. Labor, parts and sealing is $280.00 assuming a regular octo and not the SS1.

I don't dive cold water, so I suppose I could forgo the Christolube, but I like the idea of a sealed first stage anyway.

I was kind of shocked. Is that low, high, average? I was going to call Atomic and ask what their factory service cost is...I assume they still do that? But I see they no longer list a phone number on their webpage and instead want a form filled out with any questions.

 

[Curious_George]

My last atomic service was about $115 for a sealed first and $65 for a second. That was the first stage version without the swivel and guessing it would be about the same for the other versions. I usually pay about $260 for my sealed ST1 with second and octo.

they get $35 labor per stage and the rest is "parts".

Are they saying 3 years with the titanium first stage? Guess I should add another year for my ST1.

 

[jd950]

They say 3 years or 300 dives for the T3, 2 years/300 on the other models.

 

[tbone1004]

Christolube is VERY expensive and a good bit of it goes into the chamber, like more than a lifetime supply to rebuild a regulator each time you pack.

I'd avoid Atomic, 20% off isn't enough to deal with that service cost and PITA factor of sealing the things.

 

[gqllc007]

My last service 2 months ago for my Atomic M1 sealed first stage and M1 second as well as a M1 Octo was $210 from Diventure in Nebraska. I don't think that is so bad especially if its a 2-3 year 300dive...That included shipping and sales tax back to me

 

[gqllc007]

Look into a Scubapro Mk19/G260 or Deep6 Signature series.

 

[gopbroek]

I like the way Atomics breath but see no reason to service them till 300- 400 cycles unless I start feeling a difference in how they breath. I have access to tubes of DuPont Krytox lube at work so I normally hand one to my favorite tech in Mexico and pay around $65 to get the set reworked.

 

[p_kos]

Christolube is VERY expensive and a good bit of it goes into the chamber, like more than a lifetime supply to rebuild a regulator each time you pack.

I'd avoid Atomic, 20% off isn't enough to deal with that service cost and PITA factor of sealing the things.

Cristolube or Tribolube can be found for $40/2 oz which should be more than enough for one reg. Lowest price I found online was $24. Some shops charge $80-100 which is ridiculous.

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

Probably not a fair comparison but I rebuilt my Atomic B2 1st and 2nd stage myself for the cost of $35 in parts. I just used silicone since the highest nitrox I ever go is 32% and I don't lend out that reg. The manuals are all online and the parts easily obtainable. It was the first time the reg had been overhauled since I got it new in 2003 and it was still breathing fine. The Cristolube in there was pretty caked however. I know that not everyone overhauls their own regs but I'd go broke if I had to pay someone to overhaul all of mine. I just figured you should overhaul your regs at least once every 17 years whether you need to or not.

 

[tbone1004]

Cristolube or Tribolube can be found for $40/2 oz which should be more than enough for one reg. Lowest price I found online was $24. Some shops charge $80-100 which is ridiculous.

$30 first stage parts
$40-2x second stage parts
$15 for tribolube though likely charging more for that
$35/stage*3=$100

Call it $200 and I can see that as reasonable to charge because that's what Airtech is going to charge. $260-$280 is crazy, but I just struggle with paying to waste all of that money on an inferior sealing technology