looking for advise on what to do - regulator service problem

[rick00001967]

thx so much for all the input. it is nice to know i ain't crazy. lol
i agree with just about everything you all said. i particularily agree with making sure i do my own "general" check over of the basics as suggested above. i am not usually the kind of guy who likes to rely on anyone else to fix anything i own. except maybe my car. but i have never had any training of any kind on servicing regulators. i would love to do that one day though. but from now on i will def do a basic check as suggested. and i think i will keep looking for another dealer. i will make sure i let them know my concerns with what happened.
just to clarify to everyone.......we did do a pool dive in coz before any actual diving. there was a training pool avail and the shop in coz encourages divers to do a check out dive in that pool. everything seemed fine. it was later we found the loose yoke nut.
to "awap".....i did contact aqualung and they did send a list of dealers in ontario. but i did not want to tell them why i was looking to switch shops. then i went to SSI and PADI web sites to cross reference the aqualung list with their list of shops in ontario. i have contacted several.
thx again for the input everyone

 

[Couv]

Hi Rick,

Sorry to hear of your troubles. The usual suspects have given you good advice, they've also put together a checklist everyone should follow (or something similar) upon receiving a regulator back from service or prior to a dive trip. You can find it here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/346813-regulator-inspection-checklist-rev-7-a.html

If you're going to send your regulator off for service (most of us feel annual service is a rip off, but that's another thread) consider shipping directly to a reputable service center such as home page

I also vote it to get your money back.

 

[The Chairman]

There are a few people who don't need to try to fix/service their own gear. DIY may not be for you. Also, there are a number of shops that do not have a dedicated service technician to do their servicing. While they may have some experience or even a class or two, they never get a chance to hone their skills on a daily basis. Fortunately, there are a growing number of shops that are dedicated to ONLY servicing gear. One just opened up down the street from me here in Key Largo Scuba called Scuba Tech. I got to visit with Antonio for a while and he is as nice as he is competent. I get the idea that he is pretty thorough as well and his work space is immaculate. He has access to all the parts he needs as well so he can get things done in a timely manner. If you use him, tell him I sent you!

 

[chrpai]

Dortunately, there are a growing number of shops that are dedicated to ONLY servicing gear. One just opened up down the street from me here in Key Largo Scuba called Scuba Tech. I got to visit with Antonio for a while and he is as nice as he is competent. I get the idea that he is pretty thorough as well and his work space is immaculate. He has access to all the parts he needs as well so he can get things done in a timely manner. If you use him, tell him I sent you!

I'm wondering if his website is out of date as it says he only services Sherwood, Genesis and Poseidon. Since it says "coming soon" for Dive Rite and Zeagle I'm taking it he can't do my Hog yet. ( Not that I need it yet... )

 

[The Chairman]

When you're ready to do that HOG, come on down and let me teach you how to do it. They are the only manufacturer who have a specialty (TDI) to teach peeps to rebuild their regs. I am an instructor for it and have just set up my reg bench. You'll love it.

 

[Couv]

I'll be there tomorrow. What's for lunch?

 

[elan]

The good news is at least they didn't just wipe them down with a cleaner and ship them back to you.

I bet he would have been better off had they done only wiping

 

[chrpai]

When you're ready to do that HOG, come on down and let me teach you how to do it. They are the only manufacturer who have a specialty (TDI) to teach peeps to rebuild their regs. I am an instructor for it and have just set up my reg bench. You'll love it.

You bet!

Although, I've been known to go awhile between servicings. ( Go ahead... call me a stroke! ) I kind of have the attitude of if the IP is good and the regs are breathing well and pass visual inspection, why fix what's not broken? I've seen Cedrich mention servicing the HP seat every 2 years or 200 dives so maybe that's a good starting point for me.

The truth is I had a Mares MR12 that I dove a couple hundred dives over 5 years and never had it serviced once. I figure that cost avoidance saved me enough money to buy the Hogs.

Smart or crazy? Somewhere in between?

 

[rick00001967]

Hi Rick,

Sorry to hear of your troubles. The usual suspects have given you good advice, they've also put together a checklist everyone should follow (or something similar) upon receiving a regulator back from service or prior to a dive trip. You can find it here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/346813-regulator-inspection-checklist-rev-7-a.html

If you're going to send your regulator off for service (most of us feel annual service is a rip off, but that's another thread) consider shipping directly to a reputable service center such as home page

I also vote it to get your money back.

thx for that link to the check list.

i also think that annual servicing is not necessary. especially for us. we only use them on vacation. although i am hoping to start more local diving this year. we had been told by the dealer we bought them from that every 3 or 4 years was plenty. in fact, he actually told me that the less you disturb the environmental seals the better. then he went out of business and when we contacted aqualung to find a service center they told us aboutthe requirement for annual service to keep the warranty valid. they were nice enough to reinstate our warranty once we had them serviced by an authorized dealer.
but we also have thought whether or not it is really worth it to have them serviced each year just to get free parts every second year. maybe i will re-evaluate what we are currently doing. perhaps i am better of sending them every 2 years and having them rebuilt each time.
i also just picked up the new style sherwood brut. that one i have been told is extremely simple and easy to rebuild. i have found a repair manual online and might give that a shot in a couple of years when it needs it.
to all the other with suggestions for service centers.....thx, but we live in canada so sending to the u.s. would not be very convenient.

 

[abnfrog]

thx for that link to the check list.

i also think that annual servicing is not necessary. especially for us. we only use them on vacation. although i am hoping to start more local diving this year. we had been told by the dealer we bought them from that every 3 or 4 years was plenty. in fact, he actually told me that the less you disturb the environmental seals the better. then he went out of business and when we contacted aqualung to find a service center they told us aboutthe requirement for annual service to keep the warranty valid. they were nice enough to reinstate our warranty once we had them serviced by an authorized dealer.
but we also have thought whether or not it is really worth it to have them serviced each year just to get free parts every second year. maybe i will re-evaluate what we are currently doing. perhaps i am better of sending them every 2 years and having them rebuilt each time.
i also just picked up the new style sherwood brut. that one i have been told is extremely simple and easy to rebuild. i have found a repair manual online and might give that a shot in a couple of years when it needs it.
to all the other with suggestions for service centers.....thx, but we live in canada so sending to the u.s. would not be very convenient.

i would agree with net doc diy might not be the way to go .....i have seen alot of bad repair techs too ..what i call "re and re monkies " that just know enough to re
+re the kits and if it doesnt work they havent got a clue ,(just enough knowlege to be dangerous ) there are a few guys in ontario who really are regulator mechanics pm me and we can talk ................