Getting Gear Serviced.

[grouchyturtle]

I'm sure this has been asked a million times before, but I did a search and nothing really came up.

I've only been diving for going on 2 years, and it's almost time to take my gear in for it's first yearly service.

As far as I understand, most equipment warrantees cover parts, but you have to pay for labor.

I bought my gear all over the place, because there was no one LDS in my area, who was a dealer for all the stuff I wanted.

Can I take my gear to any LDS to do the service?
If not do I need to take it where I bought it or can it be to any LDS who is a dealer for the manufacturer of that particular piece of gear?

Bacically I don't want my gear to get screwed up, I don't want to wind up paying for something that should be coveres, and it would be nice to not have to drive to a bunch of shops this time every year.

 

[Hallmac]

Most shops can service the equipment ..... However if they are not authorized dealers for the piece of equipment you will not get the parts covered under warranty and you will end up paying for them. Most companies also have a policy that if it has not been serviced every year by an authorized service center the warranty is void. If you purchased equipment over the Internet the warranty may be void.

Ask the shop before you have them service it. Good Luck!!

Hallmac

 

[hantzu701]

What do you have that needs servicing? Who are the manufacturers?

 

[grouchyturtle]

Apeks regs, Deep Outdoors BC, and Halcyon wing

Regs and BCs (oh yeah and tanks) are really the only things that need to go in right? You don't need to bring in any of the little junk like lights right?

What about computers? I don't own one yet, but is there anything that really needs to be serviced on them other than changing batteries. I'd think if anything did need to be done you'd have to send it to the manufacturer anyway.

Actually here's one last question do you take all your gear in at the same time, regardless of when it was purchased? The Halcyon rig is only a few months old, but I figure it's much easier to just get everything serviced at the same time.

 

[ScottyK]

You'll probably get different opinions on the BC thing, but I've "never" paid to have a one serviced. It's easy to take everything apart and check it yourself. Keep it well rinsed, flush the bladder thoroughly, and go over it once or twice a year.

Lights, computers, and the other doodads are just common sense type things. Keep the O-rings free of sand and lubricated. Change them all once a year, and put new batteries in your computer at the start of each dive season.

Take some time to get familiar with all the ins and out's of your equipment. Being that it's your life support, you'll do a more thorough job of going over it than anyone else could.

Regs are a different matter. Any authorized dealer in your area will work on them, no matter where you bought them. If you can't find a place you like, my LDS has a great service dept, and does handle Apeks. I can grab them from you at Beneath the Sea to save you some driving.

 

[oxyhacker]

Or worse (with regs at least) if they are not an authorized dealer for that make they may not use any new parts at all, but just clean it and throw in a few generic O-ring. Another variation on the "underhaul".

I don't think it's ever a good idea to take a reg for servicing to a shop that is not an authorized dealer, unless you know the shop well, trust them, and know that they have a backdoor source of parts for the reg. Even then they probably won't be privy to the lastest service bulletins, or able to handle any upgrades or recalls their might be on your reg.

Most shops can service the equipment ..... However if they are not authorized dealers for the piece of equipment you will not get the parts covered under warranty and you will end up paying for them.
Hallmac

 

[Laser]

I'm sure this has been asked a million times before, but I did a search and nothing really came up.

I've only been diving for going on 2 years, and it's almost time to take my gear in for it's first yearly service.

As far as I understand, most equipment warrantees cover parts, but you have to pay for labor.

I bought my gear all over the place, because there was no one LDS in my area, who was a dealer for all the stuff I wanted.

Can I take my gear to any LDS to do the service?
If not do I need to take it where I bought it or can it be to any LDS who is a dealer for the manufacturer of that particular piece of gear?

Bacically I don't want my gear to get screwed up, I don't want to wind up paying for something that should be coveres, and it would be nice to not have to drive to a bunch of shops this time every year.

Chris at Abyss will service a reg set for 34.95. You have to send it in but he says that 5 business days is the turnaround. My shop wanted $70 in labor and $40 in parts and 2 weeks to do it.

www.abyss.biz ......go to sales/enter store/service

Even with the cost of shipping it to them it's a deal.

 

[Wijbrandus]

Ok, I may be stupid or something, but I don't see anything in my Halcyon manual about getting the wing serviced.

I was assuming that until something went wrong (frayed web, or a leak), it was indestructible.

How often should I be getting this thing serviced? I've had it three weeks, so I am thinking I'm safe for few more weeks at least.