Massive SP D350 freeflow in dive mode

[ericpitar]

remember the D350 can be up to 20 years old, and has likely lost some of its strech and are prone to split from the corners around the switch. I try to remove them with a motion that will also loosen rather than tighten the screw down diaphram cover (pull on hose side first by sticking my thumb in the exhuast) then rock back and forth until it is off.

I take it it's to prevent over-tightening the diaphragm cover and cracking it as DA Aqua warned? This seems to be what happened to mine erlier this week. Just as as the tech was removing the rubber cover, it suddenly broke free from the body along with the diaphragm cover stil inside. After pullung the diaphragm cover out, it was cracked. Not sure tho really if it cracked from the overtightening or from the removal inside the rubber cover through its small opening.

Isn't there also a possibility of loosening the spoked cover enough that it wold just slip off the body just as mine did? From finger-tight, how many turns does it take to loosen and remove the screw down diaphragm cover from the body, anyway?

 

[halocline]

Only the seat was changed per my request because the repair kit was just too costly.

e

The repair kit for this reg consists of a poppet, set screw, dive/pre-dive o-ring and a hose o-ring. I don't think you can replace just the seat; you need the whole poppet. If you can find a separate seat I'd like to know about it. The poppet alone would not be much cheaper than the repair kit. You also need the set screw if your old one is corroded.

So I'd like to know how much the "seat" cost, and what was the price for a repair kit? I usually pay around $25.

This regulator has been quite a saga for you, hasn't it? Sorry to hear that.

 

[ericpitar]

heheh. You got it, Matt. I was just thinking of all the "challenges" this reg has given me. It almost seems like the cursed D350! Objectively though, I think if I had the right tech from day one, it wouldn't have been such a PITA.

The seat alone cost around $11 at a dive shop here in the Philippines. A complete repair kit set as you described was around $47 which was the main reason I just opted for the seat. I had another look at the set screw a few days ago when the "new" tech dismantled it and it really didnt look that bad.

When I do get that diaphragm cover, I think I will install it myself. Have you any idea how much that part costs?


Eric

 

[Couv]

Ericpitar,

It is time for you to get rid of that plastic crap and get a real regulator. Sell that puppy on eBay, buy a 109 or BA. You do not seem to have any qualms about opening a reg up and just from what I have seen in this thread through your pictures, you could have rebuilt and dived a 109 several times.....AND you would not be having the problems you are with that POS.

You live in a part of the world where parts and service do not come easily. A 109/BA just needs a seat and a few o-rings every few years (no special tools required) and you are worry free. I'm sure there are other regulators out there that are equally easy to service but I think you must already own a SP first stage and there is a LDS that services them if needed.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong, but I never am. Just ask my wife....she keeps track.

Now my spelling and punctuation, Mattboy sorts that out for me.

couv

 

[Isaac-1]

Isn't there also a possibility of loosening the spoked cover enough that it wold just slip off the body just as mine did? From finger-tight, how many turns does it take to loosen and remove the screw down diaphragm cover from the body, anyway?

It takes one full turn to unscrew the cover.

Ike

p.s. I have a cracked one on a now retired very well worn D300

 

[halocline]

The seat alone cost around $11 at a dive shop here in the Philippines. A complete repair kit set as you described was around $47 which was the main reason I just opted for the seat.

Eric

What did the seat look like? Was it just a small neoprene disc with a hole, like a washer, or was it a metal post with plastic stuff on one end and an o-ring on the other; sort of looks like a small "dumbell"?

If it was just a disc, then your tech had to disassemble the poppet assembly, which includes some very small and delicate o-rings. $11 for a small neoprene washer is what I would call "bold" pricing. I've heard they don't sell just the seat for this reg. If it was a dumbell sort of thing, then you got the whole poppet assembly for $11, which is a good deal.

$47 for a repair kit, jeesh.

 

[ericpitar]

It was just a disk. I didn't really see him install the little thing coz I was browsing at the shop floor at that point but I did get the "old" replaced disk to take home. The receipt also stated someting like "D400 seat"--not kit.

That's the thing here, the labor is much cheaper, but they get you back w/ 2x-priced parts.

If anyone has any idea how much a diaphragm cover (the spoked plastic) costs in the US, I'd like to know!

 

[DA Aquamaster]

About $6-$7.