Proper regulator storage

[sid101]

I own a Scubapro S600 reg, not too long ago I overhead a conversation at my LDS about when you storage regulators with adjustment knob you should leave it in some position to relief pressure from some internal part of it, I dont remember neither wich position nor what are you taking pressure from, can someone please clarify for me?

Thx a lot!!

 

[davetowz]

Read your manual, probably fully CCW. unloading the pressure on the seat.

 

[dmoore19]

Couldn't you just hit the purge button to relieve pressure? I really don't know just asking.

 

[davetowz]

The adjustment that the OP referred to is actually the preload applied to the spring that keeps the seat in contact on the second stage. Dumping pressure by purging will not affect this.

 

[redacted]

Storing it with the user adjustment knob in the easiest breathing position, turned counterclockwise as you look at the knob, will relieve all pressure between the soft seat and the orifice. But, that knob should be turned to the opposite hardest breathing position while soaking. So, after your dives, turn the knob all the way in while soaking and then all the way out for storage.

 

[halocline]

The adjustment that the OP referred to is actually the preload applied to the spring that keeps the seat in contact on the second stage. Dumping pressure by purging will not affect this.

Storing the reg with the purge slightly depressed will separate the seat from the orifice, and as such will certainly affect seat wear for most 2nd stages. It will also slightly compress the spring, but its very slight and probably won't affect spring wear in the slightest. Some older SP 2nd stages came with a "key" to slightly depress the purge in storage, and the R190 had a feature with which you could slightly depress the purge and turn it to lock in place for storage. The S600, properly adjusted, has really light pressure on the seat anyway with the knob all the way out, and it has that plastic orifice, which has less of a knife edge than the older metal orifice has. So there's very little seat imprinting anyway.

 

[sid101]

thank you guys now i understand, yes as you said its with the adjustemente knob all open, altho for what you say a regulator like mine doesnt benefit very much from it i guess can't hurt right?

Thank you all very much

 

[oncor23]

How long is "storage"? A day, a week, a month, a year? Is there a limit to how long a regulator can be stored before it should be serviced?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

How long is "storage"? A day, a week, a month, a year? Is there a limit to how long a regulator can be stored before it should be serviced?

@oncor23: It depends on a lot of different factors. Rubber parts can degrade just by sitting. O-ring lubricant can become gummy/crusty. The best thing to do is perform comprehensive, systematic functional tests on the reg setup. If everything tests out OK, then I'd take the equipment out on a very conservative shallow check-out dive. Prior to every subsequent dive, I would continue to do those same functional tests.

If the reg fails any of the functional tests, the obvious course of action is to get it overhauled/serviced/tuned.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

How long is "storage"? A day, a week, a month, a year? Is there a limit to how long a regulator can be stored before it should be serviced?

Bubbletrubble's answer above is your best bet.

I don't think there is a definitive answer regarding a limit on regulator storage... I've used regs that had been stored for a least 5 years, and maybe not serviced prior to storage for several years as well.... so maybe 8+ years since service? And they were fine.

And on the other end of the spectrum I've had reg where the 2nd stage soft seat "took a set" (deep seating groove that resulted in an inabilty of the demand valve to 100% seal) and needed to be serviced after just 18 months in storage.

Proper storage goes a LONG way towards longevity, but to be safe you still need to test the regulator carefully before using it... and this should really be done EVERY time, even if you just used the reg the week before... the tests are fast, easy, and can be performed without taking the reg apart.

Best wishes.