I took my Sherwood Magnum Regulators to my LDS for servicing before I left for 5 weeks of diving throughout the Caribbean. There was nothing wrong with them, but they hadnt been serviced in just over 2 years (around 200 dives) and I didnt want any problems on my dive trip.
I have 4 Sherwood Magnum 1st and 2nd stages. I have two for my doubles, one for a pony bottle, and the last is for a stage or backup. I put two second stages (one my normal primary, and the other my pony bottle) on my primary first stage so that I could get two 2nd stages along with one 1st stage serviced. When I got them back, I checked them in the LDSs pool, and all seemed fine.
I reconfigured the 2nd stages, putting the pony 2nd back on the pony 1st, and I put my other (second post regulator) 2nd stage on as an octo for this trip, since I wouldnt be diving doubles. This second post regulator was less than 2 years old (as far as use goes I bought it as New Old Stock).
Well, on my trip, my main 2nd stage became very difficult to breath, especially below 50-ft. I have the inline adjusting tool, and adjusted the cracking point to where is would almost free-flow. Even with this adjustment, the unserviced 2nd stage (from my second post regs) breathed much better. Even while holding in the purge valve on the serviced 2nd stage was still difficult to breath. It was also breathing wet. I lived with this condition since the water was warm, the visibility was great, and I wasnt doing any challenging diving (nothing over 100-ft, no wrecks, no deco, etc.).
When I returned, I took the regs back to the LDS, where the owner told me they were very old design, and were not performance regs. I agreed they were older design, but the problem was with one 2nd stage since it worked fine before servicing, and the other (not serviced) 2nd stage worked fine under the conditions I dove. I suggested that maybe something other than what was in the service parts kit might be going bad (maybe a diaphragm or seat). He said he would have his repair tech look at it.
Well, I got a call from the repair tech stating that he took it apart, looked at it, and didnt find anything wrong, and put it back together. I asked if it met the specs when tested. He said they dont have test equipment to test! I asked about a magnehelic and was told he didnt have one. When I picked up my reg set today, I was charged for another service job. But, by the techs own admission, he found nothing. The shop salesman told me it was serviced and adjusted. When I questioned him on the adjustment portion, since the tech told me he didnt have any equipment to objectively measure, I was told all that was necessary was to put it under water.
While I understand that placing a reg underwater, can indicate free-flow potential, I didnt think it was the accepted method of adjusting cracking pressure and inhalation effort.
I asked why I was charged if the tech didnt do anything, and was told that the tech charged them (the LDS) so they had to charge me. The manager and owner of this LDS are both out of town, so I couldnt discuss this with them. Also, Ill have to drive several hundred miles to find a location where I can dive deep enough safely this time of year, to determine if there is any change.
So, what do you guys think? Is this techs procedure acceptable given that he knew that one 2nd stage (which worked fine before his service) was considerably different (inhalation effort and wet breathing) than an identical (except not serviced by him) 2nd stage, both connected to the same 1st stage?
I know that the usual place to look for at depth problems is the 1st stage (is it maintaining IP at depth) but since another identical 2nd functioned fine at depth, I ruled out the 1st stage. Also, I still believe that the wet breathing may somehow be connected.
Lastly, to whom would you suggest that I send this reg to for repair? It seems clear that I expect more than a take it apart, replace some o-rings, look at it, put it together, and charge the customer effort.
I have 4 Sherwood Magnum 1st and 2nd stages. I have two for my doubles, one for a pony bottle, and the last is for a stage or backup. I put two second stages (one my normal primary, and the other my pony bottle) on my primary first stage so that I could get two 2nd stages along with one 1st stage serviced. When I got them back, I checked them in the LDSs pool, and all seemed fine.
I reconfigured the 2nd stages, putting the pony 2nd back on the pony 1st, and I put my other (second post regulator) 2nd stage on as an octo for this trip, since I wouldnt be diving doubles. This second post regulator was less than 2 years old (as far as use goes I bought it as New Old Stock).
Well, on my trip, my main 2nd stage became very difficult to breath, especially below 50-ft. I have the inline adjusting tool, and adjusted the cracking point to where is would almost free-flow. Even with this adjustment, the unserviced 2nd stage (from my second post regs) breathed much better. Even while holding in the purge valve on the serviced 2nd stage was still difficult to breath. It was also breathing wet. I lived with this condition since the water was warm, the visibility was great, and I wasnt doing any challenging diving (nothing over 100-ft, no wrecks, no deco, etc.).
When I returned, I took the regs back to the LDS, where the owner told me they were very old design, and were not performance regs. I agreed they were older design, but the problem was with one 2nd stage since it worked fine before servicing, and the other (not serviced) 2nd stage worked fine under the conditions I dove. I suggested that maybe something other than what was in the service parts kit might be going bad (maybe a diaphragm or seat). He said he would have his repair tech look at it.
Well, I got a call from the repair tech stating that he took it apart, looked at it, and didnt find anything wrong, and put it back together. I asked if it met the specs when tested. He said they dont have test equipment to test! I asked about a magnehelic and was told he didnt have one. When I picked up my reg set today, I was charged for another service job. But, by the techs own admission, he found nothing. The shop salesman told me it was serviced and adjusted. When I questioned him on the adjustment portion, since the tech told me he didnt have any equipment to objectively measure, I was told all that was necessary was to put it under water.
While I understand that placing a reg underwater, can indicate free-flow potential, I didnt think it was the accepted method of adjusting cracking pressure and inhalation effort.
I asked why I was charged if the tech didnt do anything, and was told that the tech charged them (the LDS) so they had to charge me. The manager and owner of this LDS are both out of town, so I couldnt discuss this with them. Also, Ill have to drive several hundred miles to find a location where I can dive deep enough safely this time of year, to determine if there is any change.
So, what do you guys think? Is this techs procedure acceptable given that he knew that one 2nd stage (which worked fine before his service) was considerably different (inhalation effort and wet breathing) than an identical (except not serviced by him) 2nd stage, both connected to the same 1st stage?
I know that the usual place to look for at depth problems is the 1st stage (is it maintaining IP at depth) but since another identical 2nd functioned fine at depth, I ruled out the 1st stage. Also, I still believe that the wet breathing may somehow be connected.
Lastly, to whom would you suggest that I send this reg to for repair? It seems clear that I expect more than a take it apart, replace some o-rings, look at it, put it together, and charge the customer effort.
