Doing your own reg service

[Blastman4444]

This might have been asked already but I have searched. Which regulator brand is the easiest to service, and or lowest service costs. I have read that some brands are expensive and parts are hard to find.

 

[AquaNSun]

Scubapro Mk2 first stage and R109 2nd stage.

 

[ScubaFeenD]

This might have been asked already but I have searched. Which regulator brand is the easiest to service, and or lowest service costs. I have read that some brands are expensive and parts are hard to find.

Well, HOG advocates (or at least openly supports) self maintenance of their regulators. They offer a class and openly sell parts necessary to repair and maintain their regulators. So I would say HOG regs.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

This might have been asked already but I have searched. Which regulator brand is the easiest to service, and or lowest service costs. I have read that some brands are expensive and parts are hard to find.

Hi kell490,

Another way to approach this is to look for regulators that you can openly buy parts for, online. These brands will sell parts to the public via online vendors:

Zeagle
Edge/HOG
Dive Rite

Maybe Mares (I say maybe because I have been able to buy parts online, but I don't think it is "official" company policy to allow this. I'm not sure).

Rebuild kits are not super expensive. ZeagleExpress charges $20.00 for the first stage kit, and $12.00 for the 2nd stage kit. HOG rebuild kits are about the same.

You will need to invest in some tools and gauges; Scubatools is a good place for these:

Scuba Tools

I'd recommend Vance Harlow's book and Pete Wolfinger's book, and you should try to get the manufacturer's service manual for the regulators you decide to rebuild.

This forum and the DIY forum are great resources, and folks are very willing to help.

Best wishes.

 

[keyshunter]

Actually Sherwoods with the barrel first stage (Blizzard, Oasis, Magnum, Brut) are probably the easiest and least expensive to service--if you can get the parts kits. The last kits I bought, which include parts for both first and second stages, cost $8.00 US retail. However, officially, like many other companies, they do not sell to individuals. But, if you learn the secret handshake...

 

[Zung]

Here are my picks:

First: Scubapro MK20/25

• Great breather
• Easy to service: everything comes apart cleanly, no hidden o-ring inside the body, unlike the MK5/10
• Con: you NEED the original service kit because of the seats and the bushings

Second: Scubapro G250

• Great breather
• Easy to service: the orifice is the only adjustment you have to deal with
• Con: none, all parts can be second-sourced

 

[Couv]

1st: SP MK2
2nd: SP 109 closely followed by the Balanced Adjustable.

c

 

[cbmech2]

The Sherwood line-up is also easy to service and parts are cheap. I do not think that the parts are readily available to the do it yourselfer though.

 

[herman]

A couple things determine which is best. Are you buying new or used regs and is the easiest to service that important or would a slightly more complicated reg do.
If new and a little more complicated then either HOG, Dive Rite or Zeagle. Of the 3 my pick would be Zeagle due to their more extensive dealer network, otherwise all are good regs.

If used and the most simple then I would go with a Scubapro MK-2 with a 109 or 390 second stage. Very easy to service, dependable as they come and if bad comes to worse you can make your own service kits. HP and LP seats can be easily home made, the rest of the parts are common. The orings can be purchased lots of places and the filter can be bought from Trident.

There are also options somewhere in between the 2 extremes. UDS/Aqualung Conshelf and SEA series for example. A little more complex to rebuild and find parts for but solid regs with a long history plus a huge world wide service network. Or the SP MK-5, solid design, fairly easy to service and parts are available worldwide...allthough some times hard to pry out of the dealears hands. Still both USD/AL and SP parts kits can be had on eBay if you watch and like others have said can be had if you build a relationship with a dealer.

My suggestion for your first purchase is both books Leadturn suggested. Learn all you can about the regs before diving into repair. It's not rocket science but a solid foundation of how regs work will put you way above many of the "certified" techs. Welcome to the dark side.

 

[knowone]

Just buy the regs that you may like and or want, after some research, at the right price, that are future adaptable, new or second hand, that are at the better end, and figure the rest out later unless you plan on moving to Vladivostok.