Crumbled regulator

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Well known with those, better to just replace it

The wife?

 

[lexvil]

The wife?

And

 

[Nemrod]

This is why I resist regulators with soft diaphragm/purge covers. Many will turn to sticky goo or they get hard and crack when the plasticizer leeches out and in either case there is often not a replacement. This has been a known issue with several major brands including Aqua Lung, Atomic and Oceanic and others. To the credit of Atomic I think they had suitable and improved replacements available.

 

[NJDiver18]

There were some flexible plastics used for scuba purge covers starting in the late '90s or early '00s that weakened and became brittle over time. These were adopted because it let the manufacturers save a few cents and grams by getting rid of a separate purge button. It took years for enough of them to break for the problem to be recognized and the formulation changed. Some regs like the plastic Mares Proton were out of production by then so never got updated covers (however, the covers from the metal Protons could be substituted until those ran out too).

But you are in luck. If you want to keep using that reg, an updated replacement cover is available: Oceanic Alpha 8 2nd Stage Replacement Purge Cover for sale online | eBay

Thank you very much! I appreciate the link.

 

[NJDiver18]

This is why I resist regulators with soft diaphragm/purge covers. Many will turn to sticky goo or they get hard and crack when the plasticizer leeches out and in either case there is often not a replacement. This has been a known issue with several major brands including Aqua Lung, Atomic and Oceanic and others. To the credit of Atomic I think they had suitable and improved replacements available.

Yes I am going to opt for a brand with different purge covers for my next set.

 

[NJDiver18]

I can't agree with you more. Good for you and now it is time to live your life to its fullest and enjoy what you enjoy doing without their spoiling your enjoyment and making your life a living hell.

That is definitely my plan! Thank you

 

[NJDiver18]

Once bitten … I feel for you

I don’t understand people who choose to jump back into that fire.

I would just replace those regs. The choices have improved much since you purchased those.

Lots of excellent used regulators show up for sale here on Scubaboard for little more what it will cost you to bring those back into service.

That’s a very good point. Yes I purchased those back in 2009!

 

[tursiops]

Those covers may no longer be available . Not sure if there are replacements.

The oceanic alpha purge coves are readily available. Just search for "oceanic alpha 8 purge covers"

 

[Nemrod]

The oceanic alpha purge coves are readily available. Just search for "oceanic alpha 8 purge covers"

Yes, they show on eBay and Amazon in yellow, blue and grey if that is all they need. In the grand scheme of things 2009 is not exactly old and aside from their likely getting hard and cracking yet again in another ten or so years no reason they cannot be put back into use on that account.

Scuba stores probably will not bother to order them for you preferring instead to sell you something new which will probably do the same thing in that same ten years.

 

[tursiops]

Frustrating, isn't it?