Crumbled regulator

[2stroketony]

Same breakdown occured on plastic Tekna 2100 regs.

 

[CT Sean]

Funny - I was wondering if they were Oceanics when I saw the title. Mine did the same thing, pretty much over the same period of time. I replaced all 4 (2 deltas and 2 Alphas) with replacements I found online plus I think I have a spare of each kicking around for travel.

 

[NJDiver18]

There's a regulator technician who sells serviced regulators on Ebay (and lots of other stuff). I've purchased several first and second stasges over the years for about $40 each, and occasionally sent him a reg for service. At that price there's almost no reason to mess around with old questionable gear that will cost more to service it. If you really wanted to fix the one you have, he'd be someone to speak to about it, you can use the Ebay messaging system just randomly pick one of his listings and contact him.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fss=1&_saslop=1&_sasl=diving4treasures&LH_SpecificSeller=1

Edited to add: Since I've moved to Europe I haven't ordered from him in quite a while, he's currently got about 150 Ebay listings but only a handful of regulators, he used to have a lot more. Anyway he could always service the ones you have for about $40 and I think no charge on return shipping.

thank you. I will check him out

 

[NJDiver18]

Funny - I was wondering if they were Oceanics when I saw the title. Mine did the same thing, pretty much over the same period of time. I replaced all 4 (2 deltas and 2 Alphas) with replacements I found online plus I think I have a spare of each kicking around for travel.

My delta 4

Funny - I was wondering if they were Oceanics when I saw the title. Mine did the same thing, pretty much over the same period of time. I replaced all 4 (2 deltas and 2 Alphas) with replacements I found online plus I think I have a spare of each kicking around for travel.

is still in good shape. At least that portion. But as mentioned I could replace the part and service but at that point I’m 1/4 the cost of a new set and a set that will take me in the direction I’m hoping to go now that I am able to dive again.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

The regulator? Or the spouse?

That right there is just funny. I don't care who ya are!

The wife?

 

[Derbdiver]

Now I won’t get into the long drawn out story of why I had a 9 year gap in diving. But I will say choose you spouse appropriately. Got all my gear back post divorce and was inspecting and cleaning so I can get into doing what I love. I went to purge my reg I use for on my pony bottle and my finger went right through to the diaphragm. Now it had been stored my home until it was moved into a shed ( not by me ) for over 3 years. And this was the end result. Sure parts wear out and I was going to upgrade my gear anyway but until that time I was hoping to use my old stuff after it was serviced. I already found the replacement part for this but just thought I’d share anyway.

I never would have gotten back in the water without checking and servicing my stuff. But let this be a warning to those who might. If it’s been awhile really go over your gear. Follow the service recommendations. And choose your spouse carefully. View attachment 864757

All other circumstances aside, I have had 3 Oceanic Regs purchased in the early 2000's that had the same issue. I am still using a Delta as a backup with no rubber left on purge (reg still works fine). 1 alpha, one delta and one Zeta that within 10yrs fell apart in the same way. I do not purchase anything Oceanic anymore due to this. My brother has Scuba Pro Regs from the 80's that are still fully in tact and he used to dive a lot! The 3 Oceanic Regs I had were maybe used on 30-40dives over the 10yrs since I live in Phoenix. They were always kept in a closet Dry and out of the sun. The only Oceanic item I ever had that lasted was an Isla BCD and it was good for 15yrs plus until the quick dump pockets ripped out but bladder was good to the day I tossed it.

 

[Nemrod]

Most of these regulators of many brands with the soft plastic purge covers will eventually have them get hard or turn sticky. The materials are just not stable. It is not just Oceanic. But people want the soft covers or at least the manufacturers seem to think that they do.

 

[lexvil]

I don’t think the soft covers are much of an issue once they have figured out the material, with that said it’s probably a much better idea to have the soft parts protected by a harder cover/cage sort of thing.

 

[Nemrod]

I think what "they" have figured out (with some exceptions) is that most newly certified divers pursue the advocation for less than 10 years, with some exceptions. At which time the regulator and other stuff gets shoved into a plastic bin and then into a garden shed with the lawnmower. None of which resurfaces, again with a few exceptions, until an estate sell off. So ten years is good enough.

 

[Geo7]

Everything has pros and cons: For example, I suspect Atomic developed their soft cover in the mid-1990s as part of an overall approach to make the reg compact and lightweight. Also the reg case is thinner than a G250 or G500/S600. As far as I remember, a T2X with the titanium swivel floats in saltwater when full of air.

And I think the old covers easily lasted 10 years when taken care of, and cost less than a service kit and are user replaceable. It seems the new ones just keep on going. What is more of an issue to me is the fine threads that need attention when screwing on the cover retaining rings. But I like the overall construction a lot.

As far as longevity goes, I am more concerned about the way many regs like Apeks clones don't lock in the barrell with a squared end, and instead use a tiny edge in the barrel that has worn out a few housing cases that I have seen, resulting in a wobbling lever (that damage can be avoided by using a second wrench to carefully counter-torque the jam nut while screwing on the hose).