Vance Harlow's Guide to Regulator Maintenance... awesome book with well thought out instructions.
Overhauling regulators
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OP
diverrick
Contributor
O.K. I decided to take each regulator to a different LDS in our area. (there are only two) To see who did a better job, having never owed my own regs until now.
My wifes regs were dropped off at the LDS and they said they would be sending them out to be overhauled. My shop said that the tech would be by on Mondays to do the weeks work they had. So far so good. Both said they would replace anything that was questionable, or worn. One week later I went to pick them up.... Guess what they were not even started! Next week.... not started yet. Now I am getting annoyed. Three weeks later I get mine back from the tech. He told me what he had found, what he had replaced, what he thought should be done in the future Etc. We ops checked them right there in the shop to be sure everything was working. They were.
My Wifes regs were now shipped out, but not back. Week four found me back at the LDS that I had given my wife regs to. They handed me the regs, and told me how much I owed. That was it. I ask to do a ops check that they did do after asking. We then preceeded on our vacation (Belize, Roatan, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Miami). My Regulators ran perfect. But the Wifes had this annoying ultra high pitched squealing sound every time she inhaled.
It was almost painful to swim next to her due to the frequency of the squeal, then on the third dive, her HP line to her console decided to start failing. Bubbles were coming from all along the length of the hose. Now that really had her upset, and me mad! I just returned from the trip about 1 hour ago, and I fully intend to be in that shop bright and early to have a word about their so called "overhaul" I am just thankfull that the line didn't completely fail! I know now where I'll take any future maintenance too.
My wifes regs were dropped off at the LDS and they said they would be sending them out to be overhauled. My shop said that the tech would be by on Mondays to do the weeks work they had. So far so good. Both said they would replace anything that was questionable, or worn. One week later I went to pick them up.... Guess what they were not even started! Next week.... not started yet. Now I am getting annoyed. Three weeks later I get mine back from the tech. He told me what he had found, what he had replaced, what he thought should be done in the future Etc. We ops checked them right there in the shop to be sure everything was working. They were.
My Wifes regs were now shipped out, but not back. Week four found me back at the LDS that I had given my wife regs to. They handed me the regs, and told me how much I owed. That was it. I ask to do a ops check that they did do after asking. We then preceeded on our vacation (Belize, Roatan, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Miami). My Regulators ran perfect. But the Wifes had this annoying ultra high pitched squealing sound every time she inhaled.
It was almost painful to swim next to her due to the frequency of the squeal, then on the third dive, her HP line to her console decided to start failing. Bubbles were coming from all along the length of the hose. Now that really had her upset, and me mad! I just returned from the trip about 1 hour ago, and I fully intend to be in that shop bright and early to have a word about their so called "overhaul" I am just thankfull that the line didn't completely fail! I know now where I'll take any future maintenance too.
I don't think it's possible to know whether a HP hose is going to fail until it actually does. If it's bubbling along the whole length, it probably means that the pressure-holding inner hose is leaking. Not something that you can predict. It's just probably time to get a new HP hose.
I had an interesting experience with a balanced piston first stage in the late eighties that would whistle on inhalation. In that particular case I spent a great deal of time trying to solve the problem as the whistling sound of the Mk 10 made spearfishing impossible as it really annoyed and drove away the fish.
I could never get to do it in on the bench and in the water the problem was intermittent and would occur throughout the dive on about every 3rd or 4th dive. Eventually I discovered it always whistled when used with one of my tanks and never whistled with the others. Once that discovery was made it did not take a rocket scientist to figure out the whistling was due to a sympathetic resonance between the first stage and the tank valve. A replacement of the offending tank valve with a different brand and the problem was solved.
So just a suggestion but you may want to see if your wife's reg whistles with other tank valves before you determine it is a problem with the reg itself. Could be it just did not play well with the valves used by that particular operator.
The HP hose leak is hard to detect unless you dunk the whole reg under pressure and look for bubbles. They normally start with a few bubbles around the point where the hose bends below the hose protector and then progress down the hose over the course of several dives or several hours if the hose is left pressurized between dives. Attentive dive buddies normally see the leak first when it is still near the second stage. When the hose starts bubbling near the console, the diver will suddenly notice the leak.
On my regs I will let the IP stabilize and then shut off the tank valve and see how the pressure holds over the course of a 1/2 hour to an hour or so. If there are any leaks the IP will fall a bit. It won't tell you where the leak is but it will let you know there is a slight leak somewhere. A dunk in the tub and some patience will usually narrow it down further. However neither of these techniques is very likely in a dive shop due to time constraints.
You can get an IP gauge from peterbuilt with a fitting to connect to your standard power inflator hose for $21.00. It is handy to be able to test the health of your own regs both after an overhaul and during the season. The IP gauge will allow you to check the Ip to see if it is within allowable limits, check for slow leaks in the system and to check for a slow upward creep in the intermediate pressure that signals a worn and leaky HP seat or a damaged knife edge.
http://www.scubatools.com/Gauge.html
I could never get to do it in on the bench and in the water the problem was intermittent and would occur throughout the dive on about every 3rd or 4th dive. Eventually I discovered it always whistled when used with one of my tanks and never whistled with the others. Once that discovery was made it did not take a rocket scientist to figure out the whistling was due to a sympathetic resonance between the first stage and the tank valve. A replacement of the offending tank valve with a different brand and the problem was solved.
So just a suggestion but you may want to see if your wife's reg whistles with other tank valves before you determine it is a problem with the reg itself. Could be it just did not play well with the valves used by that particular operator.
The HP hose leak is hard to detect unless you dunk the whole reg under pressure and look for bubbles. They normally start with a few bubbles around the point where the hose bends below the hose protector and then progress down the hose over the course of several dives or several hours if the hose is left pressurized between dives. Attentive dive buddies normally see the leak first when it is still near the second stage. When the hose starts bubbling near the console, the diver will suddenly notice the leak.
On my regs I will let the IP stabilize and then shut off the tank valve and see how the pressure holds over the course of a 1/2 hour to an hour or so. If there are any leaks the IP will fall a bit. It won't tell you where the leak is but it will let you know there is a slight leak somewhere. A dunk in the tub and some patience will usually narrow it down further. However neither of these techniques is very likely in a dive shop due to time constraints.
You can get an IP gauge from peterbuilt with a fitting to connect to your standard power inflator hose for $21.00. It is handy to be able to test the health of your own regs both after an overhaul and during the season. The IP gauge will allow you to check the Ip to see if it is within allowable limits, check for slow leaks in the system and to check for a slow upward creep in the intermediate pressure that signals a worn and leaky HP seat or a damaged knife edge.
http://www.scubatools.com/Gauge.html
OP
diverrick
Contributor
Well, your right about the squeal.. it did start with just a small bubble or two from the end of the hose according to my wife, but it was at the console end. I wish she had mentioned it at that point when she first noticed it, then I could have replaced the line right then and there, As I would prefer, and I am sure she would prefer, to not have this happen under water. The squeal was intermittant, and yes it did appear to scare away any fish in the area. We used a bunch of tanks. from 4 different dive operators, as we were on the move on this trip. It squealed with every one of them, so I wouldn't think it was a problem between the tank valves and the Primary. You are also right that it does not do it on the test bench, which will make it hard to figure out where the problem lies.
I guess I assumed that when regs are overhauled that the tech does puts them into a tank of water to detect any leaks. I guess that's what I get for "assuming"
I guess I assumed that when regs are overhauled that the tech does puts them into a tank of water to detect any leaks. I guess that's what I get for "assuming"
VTernovski
Contributor
I consider myself pretty technical... where do I go about learning how to service my own Apeks regs.. I have TX50, TX100, ATX40 and ATX200. Where do I get the parts from?
I am too very dissatisfied with the service that my LDS performed my regs, not to mention he charged me an arm and a leg. Does anyone have any comments or experiencing sending the Apeks regulators back to UK? I know SimplyScuba also services their Apeks regs, it pretty much seems the same price as what my LDS charges, and that includes the shipping. but I think will pay anything just to know the job was properly done by somehow know actually knows what they are doing and values their work.
I am too very dissatisfied with the service that my LDS performed my regs, not to mention he charged me an arm and a leg. Does anyone have any comments or experiencing sending the Apeks regulators back to UK? I know SimplyScuba also services their Apeks regs, it pretty much seems the same price as what my LDS charges, and that includes the shipping. but I think will pay anything just to know the job was properly done by somehow know actually knows what they are doing and values their work.
What type of reg does your wife have? That would help identify possible causes.
savagemyth
Registered
Dunno about part kits, but I happen to have a copy of the repair/ rebuild instruction CD that I could send you for "review".
email me at savagemyth@charter.net and i can send it to you.
OP
diverrick
Contributor
who were you asking your question too? My wifes were tusas.
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