Regs, to service or not to service

[KeithG]

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

Just don't be surprised if your LDS refuses to sell you an IP gauge. I had to buy mine online after both LDS said they WILL NOT sell me an IP gauge since I was not a certified reg tech.

Sigh...

 

[tbone1004]

who is your LDS? If you go to Dan's Dive Shop, I'd be surprised if they wouldn't sell one to you...

Either way, you probably wouldn't want to buy local anyway since they're likely to charge a fortune for them. DGX has some really nice ones that are pretty cheap.
Compact IP Gauge (PSI and BAR)
Deluxe IP Gauge (PSI and BAR)

what you really need from that is just the BC QD to NPT fitting. The gauge itself is the same gauge that is used on shop air compressors and what not, just need the way to adapt it to a BC QD

 

[halocline]

Just don't be surprised if your LDS refuses to sell you an IP gauge. I had to buy mine online after both LDS said they WILL NOT sell me an IP gauge since I was not a certified reg tech.

Sigh...

Nice to know we don't have a monopoly on dumb dive shops in U.S....

 

[grf88]

Just don't be surprised if your LDS refuses to sell you an IP gauge. I had to buy mine online after both LDS said they WILL NOT sell me an IP gauge since I was not a certified reg tech.

Sigh...

Sounds like you need a new LDS.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Just don't be surprised if your LDS refuses to sell you an IP gauge. I had to buy mine online after both LDS said they WILL NOT sell me an IP gauge since I was not a certified reg tech.

Sigh...

I would have stood there right in the store, pulled out my phone and ordered one right then and there. Seeing I was already paying shipping I would have ordered anything else I was going to purchase on that visit.

 

[KeithG]

I would have stood there right in the store, pulled out my phone and ordered one right then and there. Seeing I was already paying shipping I would have ordered anything else I was going to purchase on that visit.

You are assuming the LDS owner has the ability to learn....

 

[scubafanatic]

I would have stood there right in the store, pulled out my phone and ordered one right then and there. Seeing I was already paying shipping I would have ordered anything else I was going to purchase on that visit.

...while pulling things up on your phone in at the LDS, don't forget to ask if they will price match!

 

[scubafanatic]

I am interested to hear people's real world experiences of not servicing their regs. I have two sets of regs, an aqualung Titan lx set and a Dive rite rg3100 set. The Dive rites have been serviced once in there lifetime and the aqualung Titan lx set have never been serviced. They are 6 years old and have completed over 300 dives and still breathe like the day I bought them and don't appear to be in need of servicing, IP is on spec and locks up, I have replaced the mouthpiece and hoses and soak in freshwater for 10 mins after every dive. Does anyone else have anything they want to share good or bad about reg servicing or lack of?

If both sets work fine now, you can likely postpone servicing, as long as you bring both sets with you on trips, so you'll have back up (assuming your dive destination doesn't have access to rental sets). You're going to hear from both extremes (the guy who went 30 yrs without service successfully) and the guy who's LDS screwed up their reg and ruined an expensive vacation or killed someone. If you have access to good reg techs, then you're past the point where I'd be comfortable delaying annual service. If you either don't trust or have access/knowledge of a good reg tech, then I'd continue to risk it 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' school of thought.

Over the years there have been assorted references to highly recommended reg techs where you can ship regs for service if they're not local to your area. One suggestion is Scubatoys, I met their reg tech 'Tom' yesterday, by the way, a very nice and knowledgeable gentleman. Their servicing prices are probably as low as anyones, and they are a very high volume LDS, which means Tom has seen/serviced many a reg set and knows what he's doing. If you go there in person to pick up your reg, you can test breathe off of it before you take delivery, to help make sure it meets your standards. (I just picked up 3 reg sets from service there yesterday). Just a suggestion if you are looking for service help.

 

[Storker]

My favourite is a 1 inch long 1/2 inch open end spanner required to remove the carburetors from my old English sportscar.

Lucas - Prince of Darkness - Lucas Electrical Humor Jokes

 

[KeithG]

Lucas - Prince of Darkness - Lucas Electrical Humor Jokes

Austin-Healey 3000 - Wikipedia
Mine is a big Healey, a tricarb BN7, very distinctive engine growl from the 3 litre straight six. A bitch to work on.