Self serviceable octo brand? Hog no go? :(

[temet vince]

I'm planning on upgrading my regs because they are extremely tempermental and I also want to service everything myself. I'm really leaning towards Hogs. But hog doesn't manufacture an octopus, right?

Any recommendations on a good octopus that's well known for it's ability to get serviceable parts if you're just an average individual without credentials? I don't want a hog as a backup second stage because I hate extra hoses, and I can fit an octo on my low pressure inflator hose.

Help! Thanks.

 

[smorneau]

How about two HOG primaries.

 

[temet vince]

I've thought about that a lot, but I hate hoses enough that I would prefer an octo because it can use the low pressure inflator hose. Can I do that with a hog second stage? I've never really thought about if it were possible to be honest.

 

[redacted]

Are you talking about something like this? SCUBA Diving Equipment for Technical, Sidemount, Rebreather, Wreck and Cave Diving: Dive Rite, Inc - Product Catalog - Rite Source Octo

I believe DiveRite supports parts sales but check first. Zeagle is another possibility but, in both cases, I am not real sure whether the manufacturer supports of just does not prohibit such parts sales. HOG clearly supports.

 

[hypnodiver]

It can be done - during my OW course the shop gear had a standard second stage at the end of the BCD inflator hose with an attachment so that the BCD could be attached as well. Our instructor referred to it as an "escorter", but this was nearly 20 years ago, and I've never seen any reference to an escorter since.

But...

I would strongly not recommend it. The size of the second stage and the length of the BCD inflator hose meant that if you were sharing your air source, you could only face to your left because the hoses were too short. Fair to say that this completely put me off the idea of ever using a combined BCD inflator and alternate second stage.

 

[temet vince]

Thanks for the link awap. I'll check into it! It would be nice.

And I can see how that would be a pain, hypnodiver. I probably should just man up and deal with an extra hose lol. Still, I abhor hoses.

 

[D_B]

one thing that I think is an important consideration is that the stock 30"-33" hose that comes on most regulators is no way long enough for comfortable/safe air sharing (remember that you will be donating your primary , and if you straight arm them, you will be pulling the reg out of their mouth)

I put a longer 42" hose on my primary just because of that (it actually makes it more streamlined as I route it under my arm)

But ... I will be replacing the inflator/reg combo eventually because it's on a longer corrugated BC hose that hangs down too far, forcing me to hold it to my chest , even with a bungee around the hose .. and any future diving progression will require it to be replaced anyway

 

[jar546]

one thing that I think is an important consideration is that the stock 30"-33" hose that comes on most regulators is no way long enough for comfortable/safe air sharing (remember that you will be donating your primary , and if you straight arm them, you will be pulling the reg out of their mouth)

I put a longer 42" hose on my primary just because of that (it actually makes it more streamlined as I route it under my arm)

But ... I will be replacing the inflator/reg combo eventually because it's on a longer corrugated BC hose that hangs down too far, forcing me to hold it to my chest , even with a bungee around the hose .. and any future diving progression will require it to be replaced anyway

Now that we are thread drifting, I will add to this:

Yes, a 30"-33" primary reg hose is definitely too short for effective air sharing. I have a 28" that I am bumping up to a 32" because at 28" it barely reaches my mouth comfortably.

My octo is 42" and I have the hose tucked under my arm. Problem is: When you have a short primary and you give up your octo that is run under your arm, it is just as short until you are able to get it out from under your arm so there can be a bit of a delay.

Back on topic, I am setting up a HOG with 2 primaries regulators, one of course for the octo. I also have an XTX200 primary with a HOG as an octo. Why not have the same comfort in breathing and adjustment when you really need it, right?

 

[TSandM]

Are you asking whether there is a combined octo-inflator that is self-serviceable? I'm sure they all are, but to my knowledge, no one who makes one makes the parts readily available to the consumer.

Hoses aren't a big deal, if you keep them close to your body. Using the long hose/bungied backup system, with either a 5 or 7 foot hose, avoids any long loops of hose and keeps everything very clean and streamlined.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

"Octo" is an interesting thing... it's short for "octopus" which some people use to refer to the safety second stage, and some use to refer to the entire regulator set, due to the fact that many open water setups look like an octopus with 4 hoses dangling. I bought a regulator recently from a guy who called it all a "spider" for the same reason.

Then, when you refer to the safety second stage as an "octo" and the one you use as a "primary" then it does get tricky. Some say "well I use two primaries, and one primary is the safety second."

What they typically mean is, that they use two adjustable second stages.

However, whether adjustable or not, it's still a second stage. It seems like a lot of confusion here is stemming from the fact that the OP wants a second stage that is non adjustable, and goes in line with the lp inflator hose for his wing/bc.

I am not a fan of those style regulators, and would tend to want to put the safety second stage around my neck on a bungee, "tech style." There, you can use an adjustable or non adjustable second stage. I have a mishmash of second stages on a lot of regulator sets...for sidemount, I've got a Hog on one side and a non adjustable Scubapro reg, sold as an "octo", on the other. But on my o2, I've got a nice, expensive Scubapro X650, adjustable regulator. Why? Some think it's so I can relax and not have to worry about the reg breathing hard at all on deco, but in reality, I have a friend who really didn't like the "darth vader" style of the x650, so I loaned her a Hog and took the x650 to use on my gear. I'm not the biggest fan because it's kind of ugly, and I sometimes dive with photographer friends, so I put it on a bottle that won't get photographed much.

In short, my advice is to have the Hog as your "octo" if you are going to have a Hog as your "primary." Its simple, high performance, low cost, self servicable, and all around good performer. If you want to distinguish it as the "octo" then buy the yellow rubber face for it.