Reg. maintenance

[redacted]

Scubapro, for one, make an aluminum 1st stage.

Ph of Simple Green is about 9 so it is alkaline, not an acid.

 

[rcs9250]

Aqualung service manuals instruct not to immerse any plastic parts in the vinegar solution.
It's difficult if not impossible to remove all salt water that has gone down the thread helix on certain parts of the reg. The salt water that gets trapped in the helix is not detrimental to the reg if you have it serviced regularly. It will be removed at disassembly in the ultrasonic cleaner or by brushing by the tech. All you can do is a good soak as you said you did. Very important if you soak regs that your first stage cap seals well. Some of the rubber ones get pretty crappy as they age.

 

[halocline]

If you're talking about a splash of vinegar in several gallons of water I would not really worry about it. In San Antonio our municipal water supply is pretty alkaline. A very small amount of vinegar in a tub of water might bring it back to somewhere around 7, certainly not acidic.

But, I don't see where it's necessary or even useful. Using warm water is probably a good idea.

 

[Kunundrum]

I can't even remember the two manufacturers, but I did see the caution.

Atomic is one that does not advise the use of simple green.

And Yes I am aware that Vinegar is an Acid, but one can use to soak a regulator when in diluted form (IE: 1 part vinegar to 10+ parts water), just enough to raise the PH of tap water to mildly acidic, this is especially helpful if you happen to have "hard" water.

 

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

We have a very active (I have a full time, 5 days a week, service technician) service department at our shop. When we do a reg service we hook it up to a bench test machine and note the before and after results of the reg performance. You would be shocked with those numbers. Majority of the time there is a big difference when we get done with it. The fact is, that in general, divers don't take care of their gear well. Now don't get me wrong, there are those that do (small majority). I don't feel that the ones who say "regs don't need to be serviced" can grasp what we see. Come work in an active, quality service department for a year and I think that you'll be singing a different song!!

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

After a 12 dive week is there anything special I should do with my regs (sealed 1st stage, 2 2nd stages)? I soaked them well at the tub by the dive shop, then showered them off back home. How do you know for sure if small amounts of salt water didn't penetrate the 2nd stages? Thanks.

What did you do the other four days that week?

 

[RJP]

We have a very active (I have a full time, 5 days a week, service technician) service department at our shop. When we do a reg service we hook it up to a bench test machine and note the before and after results of the reg performance. You would be shocked with those numbers. Majority of the time there is a big difference when we get done with it. The fact is, that in general, divers don't take care of their gear well. Now don't get me wrong, there are those that do (small majority). I don't feel that the ones who say "regs don't need to be serviced" can grasp what we see. Come work in an active, quality service department for a year and I think that you'll be singing a different song!!

You ain't kidding!

I'm with the smaller group of folks who take good care apparently, and when I stood next to Mike (the aforementioned full-time tech) as he took my reg apart I was shocked to see what it looked like after about a year of active diving.

:shocked2:

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

All that good seasoning adds flavor to the air you breath!