Atomic servicing: which is more important 1st or 2nd stage
- Thread starter Mtbr
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
[-]The one you need in order to breathe.[/-]
OK, flippant answer deleted.
I've experienced saltwater corrosion in my B1 first stage, but not in my second. For that reason, were I forced to choose to do only one, I'd do the first stage, recognizing that after servicing the first, I might need to adjust the second.
But it's certainly preferable is to do them both at the same time. I think this applies to all brands.
OK, flippant answer deleted.
I've experienced saltwater corrosion in my B1 first stage, but not in my second. For that reason, were I forced to choose to do only one, I'd do the first stage, recognizing that after servicing the first, I might need to adjust the second.
But it's certainly preferable is to do them both at the same time. I think this applies to all brands.
Having been through the regulator class from Atomic, I would say the 1st stage. The 2nd stage is tough and has the best internal parts I've seen.
With that said, why wouldn't you get them both serviced at the same time?
All the best, James
With that said, why wouldn't you get them both serviced at the same time?
All the best, James
R
redacted
Guest
I do my own Scubapro regs. I usually only fix the one that is broken unless I'm bored. I find the balanced piston 1st stages usually need more fixin' that the 2nd stages. And broken usually means showing more IP creep than I chose to dive with. The unbalanced adjustable 2nds with 2 o-rings and a hockey puck LP seat are about as close to bullet proof as you can get.
Arcaporale
Contributor
Piston 1st stages typically are more tempermental, but the second stage is equally as important. If one stage fails the other is rendered useless. I would consider them equally important in terms of servicing. You can easily check to see if your reg needs service or tuning all you need is an IP guage. If the second stage is leaky, noisier than normal, or delivers air oddly it should be looked at. For the first stage plug your bc low pressure hose into an IP guage. The pressure should be around 150 psi plus or minus 5 psi. Breathe from the reg and if the ip doesn't return back to normal after you stop breathing or creeps up you have an hp seat leak. If the first stage makes a loud honking noise you have a problem. Regardless get it serviced every year or two years if you have less than 200 or so dives in a year on it and get the first stage and both second stages seriviced together.
halocline
Contributor
What makes you say that? More temperamental than what, diaphragm 1sts or all 2nds? I own 8 piston 1st stages and I would hardly call any of them temperamental.
It is a bizarre question, which stage is more important to service, in fact it doesn't really make any sense. Maybe he meant "which stage is more likely to fail" in which case my answer would be "it depends."
One advantage 1st stages have over most 2nds in terms of long-lasting service is that they are open when unpressurized, which means there is no wear on the HP seat. 2nd stages are built much more lightly with much softer seat materials, and those materials are probably more likely to wear out faster. OTOH, 1st stages have a much tougher job in that they must withstand extreme pressure differentials.
Hello James,
From reading some of your other post I'm sure you know this already and you probably just make a fingerfelder; but, just for clarification, usually when tolerances are given, they are either given in a range such as 125 to 145psi OR they are given as 135 +/- 10 psi.
Now that isn't to say you will never see a spec given like 120 +10 -0 psi, but I think you see the point.
Cheers,
Couv
From reading some of your other post I'm sure you know this already and you probably just make a fingerfelder; but, just for clarification, usually when tolerances are given, they are either given in a range such as 125 to 145psi OR they are given as 135 +/- 10 psi.
Now that isn't to say you will never see a spec given like 120 +10 -0 psi, but I think you see the point.
Cheers,
Couv
scubafanatic
Contributor
- Messages
- 5,090
- Reaction score
- 914
...guess I'm still waiting to see why the OP is contemplating doing 'half' a reg service....can afford an Atomic reg, yet can only afford (I assume) 'half' a reg service ???
Brewone0to
Contributor
I get my Atomic 1st stages rebuilt 2-3 times as often as their 2nd stages.
But, then again. I often run excessively high tank pressures (aka "cave fills")
and this tends to beat up the seats in the first stages,
while having no adverse effects on the second stages.
While I do not suggest that this is
by any means "normal" wear & tear.
But, that it is (at least for me) a sound reason
for not performing a full service on the regs.
That being said, it is my belief that
if the reg is used under normal circumstances.
If you are having any part of your reg serviced.
It is wise to have ALL components serviced at that time.
The key factor here is to NOT let frugallity effect prudence.
After all, this is "life support gear" and should always be treated
as though your life depends on it.
But, then again. I often run excessively high tank pressures (aka "cave fills")
and this tends to beat up the seats in the first stages,
while having no adverse effects on the second stages.
While I do not suggest that this is
by any means "normal" wear & tear.
But, that it is (at least for me) a sound reason
for not performing a full service on the regs.
That being said, it is my belief that
if the reg is used under normal circumstances.
If you are having any part of your reg serviced.
It is wise to have ALL components serviced at that time.
The key factor here is to NOT let frugallity effect prudence.
After all, this is "life support gear" and should always be treated
as though your life depends on it.
Similar threads
