Mares Proton Metal and SS1 maintenance interval

[circusoflife]

I'm about to sell my scuba setup which includes a:

1) Mares Proton Metal & V16 - 1st and 2nd stage.
2) Atomic Aquatics SS1 - integrated octo

I bought both of these in 2005 and they have been used for about 90 dives.
The last time in March 2010.

I've read the official warranty /service periods....but maybe somebody could help on a personal level.

I had the Mares serviced in early 2008, then about 30 more dives with it. The Atomic Aquatics has never been serviced. I've never breathed out of it in the water, only to test it before going in - so it has been used only as an inflator.

Everything is in excellent condition in terms of a visual inspection. My question is what are people's thoughts on whether the purchaser needs to have either of them serviced given the light use.


Thanks

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Since it sounds like it has been over a year since you last used the regulators, I'd tell the buyer to have them inspected prior to use.

In my opinion good inspection would include a complete visual "once over", plus testing the intermediate pressure, removing the 2nd stage cover(s) to have a "peek" inside, and doing leak (vacuum) and breathing tests.

Here is a good checklist for do it yourself tests:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/346813-regulator-inspection-checklist-rev-7-a.html

While the regulator may likely be just fine and ready to dive, I would feel like I had a moral obligation to either have the regulator inspected prior to selling it, or inform the buyer that the regulator has not been serviced since 2008 and urge him/her to have it inspected prior to use.

Best wishes.

 

[circusoflife]

thanks for the reply and the link. The first prospective buyer is a friend of mine...and he was diving with me when the equipment was last used in the Caribbean!

Since then all the equipment has been sitting in the dark in a walk-in closet here...so not exposed to the elements - heat or cold by any means...besides it's spring like weather here year round - so air is moist (no dryness to crack rubber)

But living in Medellin, Colombia..where servicing may be an issue....and he doesn't have as much dive experience as I do...and never owned his own equipment...so just want to be clear with him on what he needs to be aware of. I'm leaving the city after some years...and can either sell it here or sell it on Ebay/Scubaboard back in the USA.

Sounds like he is done with rental gear, had a bad experience in Cozumel.

I sent him a list of International authorized dealers, and made him aware he could get it serviced abroad when they go diving again to Cozumel, etc...if the dive shop(s) here aren't able to do it...

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

It is more than likely just fine.... but with the Proton 2nd stage (I have 3 of them), there is a possibility that the soft "seat" has developed a groove.... this will happen over time even if the regulator is not used, from the pressure of the poppet spring that holds the valve closed.

What this means, if it has happened, is that when you pressurize the regulator you may hear a soft hiss from the 2nd stage.... this is cause be the soft seat being "grooved" and no longer making an air tight seal... sometimes a simple adjustment will fix this, but sometimes the seat neads to be "flipped" or changed.... so this would be one major reason to have the regulator inspected.

The first stage is different... when not pressurized the high pressure poppet is NOT in contact with the sealing surface, thus is not "taking a set" over time like the 2nd stage low pressure seat does.... but intermediate pressure should still be tested.

Any dive shop can test the regulator, they do not need to be a Mares dealer.

But, chances are it will be just fine.

Best wishes.