Regs, to service or not to service

[tbone1004]

@Macan Removable HP Valve Seat Tool Set for Apeks First Stages

@halocline
1. even at 200 dives/year, the regs aren't going to "wear out", most of the big time tech instructors are putting on at least 400 if not more dives/year and they will typically go at least 2, if not 3-4 years on their regs before service. Using them also keeps them in good working order as everything is moving regularly and doesn't give it as much chance to lock up or have something else weird go wrong with it after sitting for a long time. Air flow through the regulators also helps to get anything that got in, out, in a short order of time
2. yes, but it is likely to show up immediately after servicing, very rarely will they show up after more than a few minutes on a regulator.
3. this is the biggest fear for me and my dive buddies with having others service their gear
4. highly unlikely any environmental issues will cause a permanent issue with the reg. I.e. they can tolerate freezing and you don't have to fix anything after they thaw out. Air supply is however a big issue and the reason to ensure that you perform a visual inspection of the filters on a regulator basis
5. bingo, usually improper rinsing.

agreed with your conclusions

 

[Aqua-Andy]

It is more complicated than what you are stating and it has to do with gas density at depth and ability to move larger volume of air in an emergency situation. It isn't just a simple how many divers can you give air to on the surface.
Piston regulators are superior to diaphragm regulators in this regard. You will have to talk to the engineers at Atomic or SP to understand this point based on their engineering background on this matter.

I believe what the engineers were doing when they were explaining this to you is dazzling you with BS.
The reg can only flow as much as the valve, there is no way around this fact. You can hook a firehose up to the sillcock on the side of your house, but that firehose will only flow what the 1/2" pipe soldered to the sillcock will supply. But maybe the laws of physics cease to exist in piston regs IDK.

 

[redacted]

I believe what the engineers were doing when they were explaining this to you is dazzling you with BS.
The reg can only flow as much as the valve, there is no way around this fact. You can hook a firehose up to the sillcock on the side of your house, but that firehose will only flow what the 1/2" pipe soldered to the sillcock will supply. But maybe the laws of physics cease to exist in piston regs IDK.

I would expect that device flow rate capacity is measured in such a way that supply rate is not a limiting factor.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

I would expect that device flow rate capacity is measured in such a way that supply rate is not a limiting factor.

That is kind of my point. I'm sure a MK25 can flow the 300CFM SP claims it can, but that number is meaningless in real world usage. If the valve can only flow 50CFM than the regulator can only flow 50CFM. In actual usage the supply from the valve is the limiting factor.

 

[Centrals]

However, when it comes to servicing the Apeks FSR first stage, I'm stuck. The FSR requires a special Apeks tool to remove and install the HP Valve Seat. Is there a workaround solution without having the Apeks special HP Seat Tool?

I use disposal chop stick(soft wood) and file it down so it can push right through the opening. Soft wood would never scratch anything metallic.

 

[Macan]

I use disposal chop stick(soft wood) and file it down so it can push right through the opening. Soft wood would never scratch anything metallic.

Thanks Centrals . How did you manage in removing the diaphragm clamp on the FSR? Back in the US, unusual tools like a 34mm wrench is easy to find and that's what I used to remove the diaphragm clamp when I was there. Out here in the PH, I can't find a 34mm spanner wrench, only an adjustable wrench that did not work (it was too thick).

 

[Centrals]

Thanks Centrals . How did you manage in removing the diaphragm clamp on the FSR? Back in the US, unusual tools like a 34mm wrench is easy to find and that's what I used to remove the diaphragm clamp when I was there. Out here in the PH, I can't find a 34mm spanner wrench, only an adjustable wrench that did not work (it was too thick).

Readily available in Philippines:
Buy C Hook Wrenches & other Spanners & Sockets parts | RS Components

 

[grf88]

Investing a few dollars in an IP gauge and learning how to use it would help divers understand when their first stages needed service.

 

[TMHeimer]

fair enough, though clarinets are a helluva lot simpler than saxophones. Repairing a regulator is infinitely easier than getting the octave mechanism or G# mechanism put back together and adjusted on a saxophone

Sorry being off topic, but OMG you're right. My job usually at the school year's end was to (try to) fix those *&^%$#@ octave keys on the Bari Saxes & Bass Clars. A reg HAS to be easier.

 

[redacted]

Investing a few dollars in an IP gauge and learning how to use it would help divers understand when their first stages needed service.

Better that that, it can give you up to a year or more warning of an impending need for service.