Regulator service - Do you get what you pay for?
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2airishuman
Contributor
While I realize that this was tongue-in-cheek, there are some fittings where proper torque is critical. On some diaphragm first stages, the spring housing must be properly torqued so that the diaphragm is properly retained. Excessive torque, or insufficient torque, can lead to the diaphragm separating from the edge of the housing during a dive, leading to an extremely rapid loss of gas. There have been accidents.
I do my own service. I use a torque wrench.
Ok. I was not award of this. Explains why I stick to the easy ones. But, that being said, I am off to look at torque wrenches. Is there a range (N/m - ft/lbs) you would recommend?
J-Vo
Contributor
If your handy, it's easy. Apeks maintenance manuals are all over the internet. You'll need to invest in a few tools however.
OK, I know that your question was about service otions, and prices. And, even more specifically, VALUE. But, your opening sentence offers a great segue to a personal concern.
I teach an Equipment Specialist class - I like to think (maybe, self-delusion) that it is not the 'usual and customary', I show people how to: properly maintain gear (OK, not that hard, just rinse the d@#m stuff in fresh water after you use it), disassemble regs, how regs actually work, do VIPs, repair wetsuits, service BCDs, etc.. It is fun. I tell my 'students' that I am NOT credentialing them as service technicians, rather I tell them how to diagnose common problems, and what formal training they need to perform competent service, and how to get it. I make a specific, particular statement in EVERY class: 'The time when problems with gear, particularly regulators, are most likely to occur, is immediately after service. ' That is NOT a criticism of service technicians in any way. (H@#L, I AM one!) Rather, I try to tell them that service is a straightforward, not terribly complicated, process BUT it often involves seating parts, 'breaking in' O-rings etc., AND the technician is often 'dry-servicing' the gear. I can tune a reg on a bench like a skilled artisan, I can put it on something like a Scuba Tools Quick Set regulator break-in device and work it, hard, to seat the new parts, until it meets specs, and it is stable, etc. And, problems AFTER service can still occur. I am NOT getting in the water with it, descending to depth, subjecting it to temperature variations, etc. I check the IP of every first stage before service, and - if it is in the 'target' range' - I set the first stage to that IP after service and re-assembly. I check the cracking pressure of every second stage before service, and - unless the customer says there is a problem (i.e. 'it breathes hard', or it 'tends to freeflow too easily') - I set the second stage to that same cracking pressure after service. And, problems AFTER service can still occur. Not terribly frequently, but they do occur.
I am happy to perform after-service adjustments, if needed. But, I can't do that if the regulator, or BCD, etc., is in Cozumel, or Bonaire, or Florida, and I am in VA or NC.
The WORST time to have gear serviced is immediately before that big dive / excursion / trip, etc. If you want to have it serviced, do it well in advance of that big trip, then dive it locally, in easy conditions, where calling a dive is not a big deal, and you can take it back in to the service center for a quick adjustment, if needed.
Now, as to value: from my perspective, the technician - even if highly efficient - is NEVER paid what s/he should be paid for the work, if the hourly rate is the basis for assessment. (I do it because I enjoy doing it, and it is NOT my primary source of income, or satisfaction.) BUT, that has nothing to do with 'value' to the consumer. If you are the consumer: if you can do the work yourself, and do it well, why pay someone else? It is NOT rocket science, or neurosurgery, but, it does require some manual dexterity, and the ability to follow a step-by-step procedure. If you CANNOT do it well, and competently, then the 'value' is a different issue. How much is you self-assurance worth?
Errrrm. I have been THAT diver who didn't care well for their regulator. @Jim Lapenta (and anyone else who would like to jump in), would you be willing to share the steps you suggest to best care for a regulator? I.e., my husband says to run fresh water through all those little holes in the first stage and also let it sit in fresh water after we finish diving for the day (in reality, if we were diving morning and then doing a night dive he'd do this morning and night). I've been sloppy, and last time I had my reg serviced they had to replace the spring in the first stage.
Btw, after I got it serviced (ScubaPro Mark 25) I now hear a whistling that sounds like one of those bird warble whistles - it is more pronounced at the beginning of the dive but it's still there at the end - and it's happening whether I'm inhaling, exhaling or temporarily breath-holding. Any idea what that is? Is the spring in upside down? It doesn't affect my breathing.
Lucia
Registered
My husband and I have 7 year old Cressi regulators which are fairly basic - we’ve been very happy with them and have had no issues or problems. We just had them serviced at a dive shop in Kansas City. I asked the shop if they found any problems or concerns and was told no. We have a trip coming up in June and we’ll do a pool test before the trip. I found this thread after searching for info on service cost as it was higher than I expected:
$137 annual service
$34 first stage parts kit
$29 second stage parts kit
$29 octo parts kit
(plus $20 “labor” to change a battery on a computer)
After reading some of the info here, I am thinking of trying to talk my husband into servicing our stuff in the future
. Primarily for the goal of being more confident that things are done thoroughly (I realize I really know nothing about the competency of whoever worked on our stuff and since we aren’t located anywhere near a coast, the options are limited). I would not feel comfortable giving this a try but he is a dentist (used to working on intricate small things with a variety of tools), he’s mechanically inclined, and he’s a perfectionist. But, he’d still have to take the time to learn and time is the one thing we are always short on. I also wonder if working on our own stuff would be hard since it would only occur once per year - I mean, would it need to be re-learned each time?
Is it feasible to learn how to do this from videos? I saw the regulator service technician training thread about upcoming seminars in May but I don’t think the scheduling would work for him - but watching videos on his own schedule seems more plausible. (EDIT - just realized the May seminar I was looking at was last year - oops!) Suggestions appreciated!
$137 annual service
$34 first stage parts kit
$29 second stage parts kit
$29 octo parts kit
(plus $20 “labor” to change a battery on a computer)
After reading some of the info here, I am thinking of trying to talk my husband into servicing our stuff in the future
. Primarily for the goal of being more confident that things are done thoroughly (I realize I really know nothing about the competency of whoever worked on our stuff and since we aren’t located anywhere near a coast, the options are limited). I would not feel comfortable giving this a try but he is a dentist (used to working on intricate small things with a variety of tools), he’s mechanically inclined, and he’s a perfectionist. But, he’d still have to take the time to learn and time is the one thing we are always short on. I also wonder if working on our own stuff would be hard since it would only occur once per year - I mean, would it need to be re-learned each time?Is it feasible to learn how to do this from videos? I saw the regulator service technician training thread about upcoming seminars in May but I don’t think the scheduling would work for him - but watching videos on his own schedule seems more plausible. (EDIT - just realized the May seminar I was looking at was last year - oops!) Suggestions appreciated!
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