First service cost?

[Tortuga68]

Good for you

 

[halocline]

If the pissing contest is over, I'd like to answer the OP's question, "Am I getting screwed?" The answer is a big hearty YES. Unfortunately that's not so unusual; many, many divers that take their regs to the local shop for annual service are too. From ridiculously priced $25 service kits that include less than $1 worth of parts, to absurd policies about servicing regs annually regardless of use, phony "certifications" that are the result of one-day no fail seminars for professional 'techs', not even mentioning the insulting restrictions on parts sales, this whole part of the dive gear industry appears to be built on screwing customers.

The best dive decision I ever made, hands down, was to start servicing my own regulators.

 

[redacted]

I didn't catch your reg servicing credentials. What were they again? :bored2:

Do you mean that one day course that all pass?

 

[novasquid]

The best dive decision I ever made, hands down, was to start servicing my own regulators.

Sorry to threadjack, but can you recommend any books or online resources for learning to service my own regulators at home?

 

[Tortuga68]

Sorry to threadjack, but can you recommend any books or online resources for learning to service my own regulators at home?

http://www.scubatools.com/c-23-regulator-savvy-book.aspx

http://www.airspeedpress.com/regread.html

---------- Post added May 11th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ----------

...our hourly service rate (which is a lot lower than automobile dealer service rates, by the way)

I would hope so, it takes 4+ years to become an auto tech, not to mention the overheads/tools & equipment

 

[chrpai]

If the pissing contest is over, I'd like to answer the OP's question, "Am I getting screwed?" The answer is a big hearty YES. Unfortunately that's not so unusual; many, many divers that take their regs to the local shop for annual service are too. From ridiculously priced $25 service kits that include less than $1 worth of parts, to absurd policies about servicing regs annually regardless of use, phony "certifications" that are the result of one-day no fail seminars for professional 'techs', not even mentioning the insulting restrictions on parts sales, this whole part of the dive gear industry appears to be built on screwing customers.

The best dive decision I ever made, hands down, was to start servicing my own regulators.

Not the whole part. I know of at least one manufacturer who doesn't play these games. They get my business as a result.

 

[Colliam7]

I call BS! I am a decent tech. It takes me 2-3 hrs/ regulator set (sometimes a little longer with multiple interruptions). ... I am thorough. I change O-rings on every hose, gauges, batteries on computers & transmitters, Thoroughly clean all reused parts & then rebuild the replaceable parts. I thoroughly test & cycle (200- 300 cycles) the regulators & even do a "dunk test to check for leaks that may not be detectable by the ear.

OK, I will not call BS on this response, and your pace is just that - your pace.

But, wow! When you service a reg at the shop do you really cycle the reg '200- 300 cycles'? That seems like a lot.

I change all O rings (which are often part of the parts kit), and I usually manage to disassemble, clean, reassemble, test and leak check a first stage and two second stages in an hour, sometimes less. The second stages are a time-sink, I will admit.

 

[chrpai]

But, wow! When you service a reg at the shop do you really cycle the reg '200- 300 cycles'? That seems like a lot.

Scuba Testing Equipment and Tools - Regulator Break-In Fixture

 

[Colliam7]

Scuba Testing Equipment and Tools - Regulator Break-In Fixture

Seems like a cool tool. We should get one. I don't think most service techs - myself included - are cycling anywhere near 300 times, irrespective of claims that the poppets and seat don't fully set without doing so.

 

[buddhasummer]

For those who don't have the machine how do you cycle the regs? Cheers