How often does a regulator NEED to be serviced?

[halocline]

With the scary and exciting "life support" testaments, you'd think scuba diving was about as dangerous as skydiving, free wall high altitude rock/ice climbing, or trying to set the record for longest time in a cage with the world's most poisonous snakes. (I read that the guy that did that woke up one morning in the cage to find that the heat lamp that drew the snakes to the other side of the cage had burned out, and all the snakes were entwined around him for warmth.)

Yep, one regulator malfunction and it's just about certain you'll never survive. That's why "professional" regulator techs have to go to school for an entire 2 days to get certified.

Of course, there are some excellent reg techs with years of experience, attention to detail, and a comprehensive understanding of both the theory of reg design and the mechanical details of your reg. Having your reg serviced by one of these is likely to extend the useful life of your reg, make it breathe it's best, and allow you to enjoy your dive trip worry free. Well serviced and well maintained regs should last at least 100 dives, I would think. It depends on the reg, I guess.

But, better not push your luck and go to 101 dives. Is your life worth it?

 

[Jimmer]

Of course, there are some excellent reg techs with years of experience, attention to detail, and a comprehensive understanding of both the theory of reg design and the mechanical details of your reg.

I agree completely, snd in my experience a great deal of these excellent reg techs didn't get that way because they attended a reg clinic. I'm with Luis, Mattboy, et al. in the belief that there is no reason to fix something that isn't broke.

Now, having said that, here is a question for you guys that I've been pondering lately. On my used regs I service them when they need it, but on my doubles regs which were purchased new last December, I get free parts for life blah blah blah. The engineer in me is telling me not to screw with something that works fine, but on the other hand, the idea of having fresh soft parts in it every year at no costs seems appealing as well. Any thoughts?

Jim

 

[herman]

............... On my used regs I service them when they need it, but on my doubles regs which were purchased new last December, I get free parts for life blah blah blah. The engineer in me is telling me not to screw with something that works fine, but on the other hand, the idea of having fresh soft parts in it every year at no costs seems appealing as well. Any thoughts?

Jim

I have a several thoughts, first unless your tech is doing the work for free, the "saving" on parts is pretty much a joke, you are still on the hook for the major part of the service...something I am sure you know. Based on a lot of board comments and some personal experience, the most likely time a reg is going to malfunction is shortly after overhaul, so why increase the number of chances for failure and last but not least every time the reg is dissembled ware and possible damage to machined surfaces takes place. Check, monitor and repair when needed.

 

[themagni]

Your regulator is going to fail at some point. Mine failed on the surface on the first dive after servicing.

The failure will likely follow the "bathtub curve":

This is from:
Bathtub curve - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Jimmer]

I have a several thoughts, first unless your tech is doing the work for free, the "saving" on parts is pretty much a joke, you are still on the hook for the major part of the service...something I am sure you know. Based on a lot of board comments and some personal experience, the most likely time a reg is going to malfunction is shortly after overhaul, so why increase the number of chances for failure and last but not least every time the reg is dissembled ware and possible damage to machined surfaces takes place. Check, monitor and repair when needed.

I'm the tech.

 

[spectrum]

But what if you buy a used regulator (warranty now void) have it serviced and then use it two or three times a year. Is it really going to require yearly servicing in this case?

I'm with the many who have said it can go for a lot more than a year with good care and diver awareness.

A scuba regulator is simply another form of pneumatic regulator. Actually 2 of them with the first and second stage. They consist of some combination of springs seats and seals that balance against other forces such as the draw on a regulator diaphragm or the compression of a first stage spring. Induistrial equipment is loaded with this stuff and they fun for decades on factory air.

To believe that one will go 2 heck after processing a few hours worth of exquisitely clean breathing air is pure hype.

However there are a few gotchas that you need to stay on top of. You can't be getting water into the regulator. If you're a klutz at changing tanks, rinse haphazardly or not at all then you can get into trouble. Water, especially salt can promote destructive corrosion and lead to damaged parts or failure.

Secondly, the adjustment of you regulator, especially the carefully set 2nd stage will drift over time and through nothing more than storage can let the seat imprint enough to lead to free flowing. Storing the second stage with the seat out of contact can control this deformation. Some regulators are more susceptible than others.

As mentioned by knowing the history of your regulator, paying attention to it's performance and watching the IP for changes or instability you can have a good handle on how well it will regulate air.

Pete

 

[marchand]

I agree completely, snd in my experience a great deal of these excellent reg techs didn't get that way because they attended a reg clinic. I'm with Luis, Mattboy, et al. in the belief that there is no reason to fix something that isn't broke.

Now, having said that, here is a question for you guys that I've been pondering lately. On my used regs I service them when they need it, but on my doubles regs which were purchased new last December, I get free parts for life blah blah blah. The engineer in me is telling me not to screw with something that works fine, but on the other hand, the idea of having fresh soft parts in it every year at no costs seems appealing as well. Any thoughts?

Jim

Well, do all the steps necessary to get the free parts except the service.

 

[marchand]

I almost forgot. To the guy who compared regs to planes. Which is worse? When a scubadivers reg stops delivering air at depth when his buddy isn't around, or when a pilots plane has no wings at altitude and he has no parachute?

 

[Jimmer]

Well, do all the steps necessary to get the free parts except the service.

Well I'll have to double check with my shop owner, but I understand that they have to purchase the kits, then send back the old parts and get a credit, so I either use them or I dont bother with the service until they need it, which is how I'm leaning right now.

 

[Couv]

I understand that a well used regulator should be serviced yearly. I also understand that it needs to be done to keep the warranty in effect. But what if you buy a used regulator (warranty now void) have it serviced and then use it two or three times a year. Is it really going to require yearly servicing in this case?

Great advice from the usual suspects, I'll just add:

Next time you have the urge to squander your diving dollar having your regulator serviced, consider investing in one or both of the service manuals usually discussed here. Vance Harlow's (Oxyhacker on Scuba Board and else ware) "SCUBA Regulator Maintenance Repair." http://www.airspeedpress.com/newregbook.html and the Scuba Tools book, "Regulator Savvy" http://www.scubatools.com/

In the meantime, here is my usual cut and paste re regulator inspection and service frequency.

If you are determined to keep the useless and expensive warranty intact, you must follow the manufactures suggested service interval. However, even if keeping the useless and expensive warranty intact is not an issue, learning to check your equipment yourself is very important and will help YOU determine if your equipment needs service. The following checks should be done even if there has been a fresh service done by a reputable repair shop and of course before any dive trip.​

Regulator inspection:

There are a few checks that everyone is capable of doing. One is the intermediate pressure check . Get a scuba regulator intermediate pressure gauge : Intermediate Pressure Gauge Plugs Into The BCD Quick Disconnect Hose from LeisurePro.com

Find out the what the IP range should be for your regulator (most are ~ 135 +/- 10 psi .)

The intermediate pressure should remain steady after stabilizing within the acceptable range. If it tends to climb (creep) that indicates there is a problem with the first stage that must be corrected.

Another check is the cracking pressure of each second stage. Partially fill your kitchen sink and immerse the regulator with the mouth piece up. Air should begin to flow before the diaphragm gets more than a 1 1/2 of inches deep. You may have to put plastic tubing in place of the mouth piece to do this, but usually not. If you want to get fancy (there is no reason to get fancy) make a simple manometer from plastic tubing and a yard stick * » * » Manometer
and you can check the cracking pressure with a good deal of accuracy. If you want to get REAL fancy, buy a Magnehelic gage from eBay, but again no reason to do that.

Next, a water tight check is also very easy to perform and checks the integrity of the second stage housing. Hook
the first stage up to a tank and without turning on the air (or if you have a good tight dust cap you can use that instead) draw a breath on the second stage until you hear the diaphragm retract. Do not draw too hard as it will collapse the exhaust valves and cause a leak. Does the regulator hold vacuum? If so, it is probably water tight.

These simple checks can be done by anyone. They should be done prior to any dive trip, not to mention when new out of the box or after shop service.

Check early, check often.

couv