Hand me the screwdriver!

[Stone]

Roakey says (and I agree):

If you want to learn to maintain your own equipment DO NOT bother with any agency class. There’s two ways. First, and best, is to suck up to your LDS and go to DEMA with them as an “employee” and take the classes you need from the manufacturers (or catch a class if a manufacturer representative is coming to the store to give a class).

In my case, "sucking up to the LDS" meant I had to take the PADI equipment class from the LDS first ($$ for him), then he sponsered me into the manufacturer's Reg Maintenance class (which comes to my area a couple of times a year).

Remember, you will have to buy repair parts, either from the LDS or the manufacturer (hopefully the manufacturer will let you buy direct once you have taken the class).

Also, per NetDoc's mention of an intermediate pressure gauge (IPG), I posted a Do-it-Yourself IPG last month.

 

[Snoopy]

Did minor cleaning by opening the mouth piece covers and such. Anything more than that, I will send it into the LDS.

Yeah, I am glad that I bought from the LDS. So far, they have checked my set FOC and cheerfully, thought it was only 50 dives since new. Then the other weekend, some water leaked into the 1st stage when I was cleaning it at home, after a weekend's diving. Took it down to get it fixed in a minute or 2.

On the next weekend, the 1st stage was making a rattling sound everytime I breathe in. Almost aborted the dive but was allowed to continue with the DM & buddy close by, just in case.

Took it back, they fixed it the next day saying that something torn inside. Could be that I open up the tank valve too fast. Anyway, it was done FOC and I get to keep the replaced parts (for my curiousity).

Anyway. I am gald that I didn't save that few $$ from buying cheaply from other shops. These are the service support that I need.

Oh, yes, I dropped a GREAT hint that I wanted to be in their next eqpt servicing class. Or I will change brand and tell the world of my "misfortunate" with their regs.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Regs are life support equipment.
Cars are life suport equipment (when they are moving and we are in them.

I see no reason one can't work on their own. Any diver or driver that doesn't understand their equipment (to a basic level) is asking for trouble.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I have been approached by a couple of our DM's about sponsoring them to do repair classes. I don't have a problem with doing it. As it is it's hard to make it worth their while to help with classes. Their services are worth saving them a few bucks a year in repair costs. I doubt I would do it for someone off the street. I just don't have a reason to do it. Education costs. If it wasn't for the fact that it is foriden, I wouldn't have a problem selling parts.

Most of these classes are a waist of time. We go to them because without the stupid cert from the manufacturer our insurance company gets upset.

 

[thethumper]

Stone once bubbled...
Roakey says (and I agree):



In my case, "sucking up to the LDS" meant I had to take the PADI equipment class from the LDS first ($$ for him), then he sponsered me into the manufacturer's Reg Maintenance class (which comes to my area a couple of times a year).

Remember, you will have to buy repair parts, either from the LDS or the manufacturer (hopefully the manufacturer will let you buy direct once you have taken the class).

Also, per NetDoc's mention of an intermediate pressure gauge (IPG), I posted a Do-it-Yourself IPG last month.

That would be nice but what would you do if you had an Odin (Poseidon)?