ScubaPro Reg Clinic
- Thread starter NAUIwowee
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Zung
Contributor
The implied qualifyer is: "... under normal diving conditions...", or: "... 2-3 years or 100-150 dives, which ever comes first...".
There are times when I dream of the possibility to do more than 30-40 dives a year...
The true reasons for servicing are:
There are times when I dream of the possibility to do more than 30-40 dives a year...
The true reasons for servicing are:
- Soft parts wear
- Lubricant drying up
- Crud build up
Scott L
Contributor
Rene Dupre makes the class educational, fun and interesting. It is amazing how much he knows about regulators. You can only attend the clinic through a ScubaPro dealer. Wasn't a real cheap class if I remember right, I did the 2 day class. Well worth it if you service ScubaPro.
Zung
Contributor
I guess everyone can choose to live a SP-Law abiding life.
But here's the math: assuming one 1st and two 2nd stages over a 3 years period, and a labor cost of $30 per stage:
- The SP way: free parts, but $30 per stage per year labor: 3 x 3 x $30 = $270
- The "outlaw" way: 1 service every 3 years, plus $30 parts: (3 x $30) + $30 = $120
LeadTurn_SD
Contributor
halocline
Contributor
In order to take this class, I believe that you need to be sent by a SP dealer, not just any dive shop. You take the class on the assumption that you will be working on SP regs professionally after 2 whole days of training. So much for the 'life support' argument.
Regarding the service interval and the MK25 vs atomic regs, I can't speak for how well atomic regs hold up between servicing, but I can say that a MK25 properly serviced and maintained can definitely go a good long time without creeping. IOW, if SP simply changed it's policy to match that of atomic, I suspect that the regs would perform about the same. The composite piston in the MK25 locks up extremely well. I put one in a friend's MK20 a few years ago. Usually she'll bring it by before a big trip and I'll check it out; so far zero creep, perfect IP stability after more than two years.
The sealed atomic 1st stages probably have an advantage in terms of length of service interval in that it's simply easier to keep the ambient chamber clean.
Regarding the service interval and the MK25 vs atomic regs, I can't speak for how well atomic regs hold up between servicing, but I can say that a MK25 properly serviced and maintained can definitely go a good long time without creeping. IOW, if SP simply changed it's policy to match that of atomic, I suspect that the regs would perform about the same. The composite piston in the MK25 locks up extremely well. I put one in a friend's MK20 a few years ago. Usually she'll bring it by before a big trip and I'll check it out; so far zero creep, perfect IP stability after more than two years.
The sealed atomic 1st stages probably have an advantage in terms of length of service interval in that it's simply easier to keep the ambient chamber clean.
OP
Hey everybody! Yesterday's Intro clinic was great! As others have stated, Rene' runs a very informative and entertaining session. It was pretty long (about nine hours) but with frequent breaks and short movie clips, it didn't seem that long. The Hilton was pretty good about having snacks and cold drinks available at our breaks and offering a small buffet lunch at mid-day. When I got there, I was wearing my sun-faded, salt-stained ScubaPro cap. Rene' saw it and informed me that they offered a lifetime warranty on SP caps. He then gave me a new one to wear. As the day went on, anytime anyone asked a good question, Rene' would award them with a cap. By the end of the day, everyone had a cap and an emroidered SP t-shirt. There were 17 of us in the Intro clinic. Todays Pro clinic wil have 24.
We did have a bit of extra entertainment thrown in when at about 9:30AM, the fire alarms and strobes start going off. At first we thought maybe it was a drill or test, but then we were informed to evacuate the building. When we came out of the meeting room, you could smell something burning (smelled kinda like electrical) and you could see a light haze in the air. We then had to go down the stairwell (from the eleventh floor) and stand across the street. Soon N.O.F.D. shows up with a pumper truck and goes inside to investigate. After about 30 minutes, they give us the clear sign and we went back up to the room. We never did find out what exactly caused it, but it was apparently small.
Like I said, Rene' ran a very good class. Lots of demonstrations, illustrations, and explanations of how different systems and features work prior to our hands on disassembly, inspection, and re-assembly of the MK2 first stage, R295 second stage, AIR2, and BPI. Everyone was issued a tool kit that included all the necessary tools for break-down and assembly, which answered some of my questions as to what some of those strange looking tools I see at the shop's repair station are actually for. (Unfortunately, we couldn't keep the tools. Rats!) That was the "Intro" course. Today is the "Pro" course, covering the MK17, MK25, S600, and A700. I REALLY wanted to attend todays course, but work and school won't allow it. I'll just have to get it next time around. Unfortunately, I had to head back home last night; so I did not get to attend the high-level evening meeting and learn the hi-sign.
And yes, you have to be a staff member of a SP shop to attend.
We did have a bit of extra entertainment thrown in when at about 9:30AM, the fire alarms and strobes start going off. At first we thought maybe it was a drill or test, but then we were informed to evacuate the building. When we came out of the meeting room, you could smell something burning (smelled kinda like electrical) and you could see a light haze in the air. We then had to go down the stairwell (from the eleventh floor) and stand across the street. Soon N.O.F.D. shows up with a pumper truck and goes inside to investigate. After about 30 minutes, they give us the clear sign and we went back up to the room. We never did find out what exactly caused it, but it was apparently small.
Like I said, Rene' ran a very good class. Lots of demonstrations, illustrations, and explanations of how different systems and features work prior to our hands on disassembly, inspection, and re-assembly of the MK2 first stage, R295 second stage, AIR2, and BPI. Everyone was issued a tool kit that included all the necessary tools for break-down and assembly, which answered some of my questions as to what some of those strange looking tools I see at the shop's repair station are actually for. (Unfortunately, we couldn't keep the tools. Rats!) That was the "Intro" course. Today is the "Pro" course, covering the MK17, MK25, S600, and A700. I REALLY wanted to attend todays course, but work and school won't allow it. I'll just have to get it next time around. Unfortunately, I had to head back home last night; so I did not get to attend the high-level evening meeting and learn the hi-sign.
And yes, you have to be a staff member of a SP shop to attend.
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NAUIWowee,
Thanks for the update. I’m glad to hear all went well and you found it to be a worthwhile trip…..but no Tipatina’s?
Did Rene’ give you a website where you could find the answer to Parzdiver’s question about a posted class schedule?
c
Thanks for the update. I’m glad to hear all went well and you found it to be a worthwhile trip…..but no Tipatina’s?
Did Rene’ give you a website where you could find the answer to Parzdiver’s question about a posted class schedule? c
OP
…..but no Tipatina’s? I know. It sucked, but I had to run in and run out. We have a large project bidding next Monday and today we are issueing our final addendum. Plus, I have an algebra test this evening at school. Of all days, everything had to converge on this day. I thought about telling everyone to go take a flying leap and attend todays clinic anyways....but then my responsible side took over. Doh! Stupid responsible side.
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