Doing your own reg service

[Blastman4444]

Thanks for all the info I'm not even sure I will service my own regulators right now probably not, but I want to get something that is easy to get serviced, and or cheaper to service local. In the future I might learn to service my own.

 

[buddhasummer]

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.

But only Zeagle and DiveRite will actually sell "openly" with Edge/Hog I believe you have a hoop or two to jump through first.

 

[Texfrazer]

Thanks for all the info I'm not even sure I will service my own regulators right now probably not, but I want to get something that is easy to get serviced, and or cheaper to service local. In the future I might learn to service my own.

Aqualung and/or Scubapro regs will be easily serviced by dive shops almost anywhere in the world you happen to be.




For everyone referencing the 109 as the easiest 2nd to service, I would think that the 108 would actually be easier to service (though not as easy to tune) due to the more easily user created lp seat.

 

[redacted]

Aqualung and/or Scubapro regs will be easily serviced by dive shops almost anywhere in the world you happen to be.




For everyone referencing the 109 as the easiest 2nd to service, I would think that the 108 would actually be easier to service (though not as easy to tune) due to the more easily user created lp seat.

With the current duro poppet in the 109, they both use the same seat.

 

[AquaNSun]

Actually, the 109 has only 2-orings and a flat LP seat for annual service. The 108 has washer, insert, and a nylon nut in addition to what 109 has (if I remember correctly).

 

[Zung]

... and you don't have to deal with the lever height adjustment, if you could find you way through the 3 or 4 flavors of lever

 

[Couv]

Brother Zung,

That's just for idiots like me who take all of their regulator apart to clean all the pieces at once for later rebuild. If the spring, lever, poppet worked before, they should work again, but if you change something like a poppet or lever, you may end up with a parts compatibility issue.

I know you know this already.....it's for others reading this.

Couv

 

[Zung]

You mean "pro", Bro

Reminds me the 1st time I took a MK20 DIN apart, I made a mental note of writing down which spring goes where: seat retainer, and air filter retainer. That note stayed... mental, and to this date, I'm still not sure. But hey, it works!

 

[Blastman4444]

I plan on buying used unless I find a great deal on new, but I have been doing well so far on eBay almost have all my gear for under $500.00 I'm more interested in how the regulators work I was the kid that took everything apart to see how it worked, by age 12 I rebuilding car engines. I fix almost anything now home AC, refrigerators, so this will probably be the same. I find I can buy good equipment used I can save money. I have been told by shops, and instructors that I should never buy used, but isn't renting just using used equipment. Not like I'm not going to have it serviced before I used it. The rental equipment looked like it hadn't been serviced much.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I plan on buying used unless I find a great deal on new, but I have been doing well so far on eBay almost have all my gear for under $500.00 I'm more interested in how the regulators work I was the kid that took everything apart to see how it worked, by age 12 I rebuilding car engines. I fix almost anything now home AC, refrigerators, so this will probably be the same. I find I can buy good equipment used I can save money. I have been told by shops, and instructors that I should never buy used, but isn't renting just using used equipment. Not like I'm not going to have it serviced before I used it. The rental equipment looked like it hadn't been serviced much.

Hi kell490,

Shops (and instructors working for shops) need to sell new equipment to stay in business. So, although they may be nice folks, you need to take the "don't buy used" advice with a large grain of salt.

You nailed it.... rental equipment is USED. Brand new gear is all USED after the first dive.... etc.

Well-maintained gear will last a lifetime (maybe two lifetimes!) of diving.

Best wishes.