Counter Balance Cylinder?

[divezonescuba]

...It looks like it had several age cracks in it and broke....

This is a common problem with the plastic composition used by some manufacturers.

The excellent Seaquest XR2 second stage regulators suffered an early death because the shuttle fractured after a few years. The parts supply was quickly exhausted rendering the regulators useless in the long term. We were lucky to salvage an intact shuttle from a “dead” regulator and prolonged the life of one.

DAN had an article on a US Divers octo, a few years ago, where the entire section of housing holding the hose fractured.

on the other hand, some other manufacturers have regulators that are running 30+ years with better composition plastics.

 

[rjack321]

So the response I got back was -

The counter balance chamber is a part in the 2nd stage which although it’s a durable plastic composite, does wear out over time and use. It looks like it had several age cracks in it and broke during cleaning. Only the annual service kits are covered by the AquaLung parts program. As it was age/wear related and not a defect in workmanship, it was also not covered under their limited lifetime warranty, thus the charge on your bill.


I mean guess for $5 that is fine, but I'm just surprised its not something covered under warranty or or it broke. I literally have under 20 dives in 10 years on this regulator.

This is not uncommon at all.
Plastic ages just sitting on the bench and that part is under spring tension 24/7. Most commonly the little wings chip off.
As a wear and tear item that is a once every decade thing, not an annual thing, its not part of the free service kit. Be grateful 1) the part is still made and available and 2) was cheap

 

[johndiver999]

Worried about a $5 part when you spent what??? over the 10 years (for almost certainly) superfluous service.

Only half kidding, I'm sure it feels good to know the reg has recently been properly serviced each time you dive.