Shoddy gear service- what would you do?

[gfaith]

I am not, by any means, getting the technician off the hook. I am saying that both parties have to check everything. The technician must check it as if he is working on his little precious daughter's equipment and not assume that she will double check his work and that you, the user, must check it and not take anybody else's word or trust anyone else with your life.

@BurhanMuntasser I believe the OP has already figured out his responsibilities here and is looking to learn more not to be brow beat.. By the way DSS does have a bungee mount for the Viper Air.

 

[BoltSnap]

I believe the OP has already figured out his responsibilities here

I am sure that he knows that very well now and I hope that he learns how to do a better job in checking his equipment in the future, a good diver is a dive who is always learning

 

[coloradojay]

I am not, by any means, getting the technician off the hook. I am saying that both parties have to check everything. The technician must check it as if he is working on his little precious daughter's equipment and not assume that she will double check his work and that you, the user, must check it and not take anybody else's word or trust anyone else with your life.

Point well taken. I do appreciate the pointers but was missing where the contradiction was. I don't feel hypocritical to hold a factory trained tech to a higher standard of inspection then myself or anyone else with my level of training. On the other hand it is indeed life support and if I didn't make it back to the surface, that's on me, not my buddy, not the tech.

 

[BoltSnap]

I do appreciate the pointers but was missing where the contradiction was

The contradiction I understood from your comments is that the hose was OK after your checking it and during the two first dives. It may imply that the issue wasn't with what the technician did or didn't do but, perhaps, it was something else that happened to the regulator during the transport or something else. If you did indeed check the hose/gauge by hand and it didn't come off, then it was all OK then. The gauge/hose don't need a huge amount of tightening/torque.

At any rate, my philosophy, based on personal experience, don't take their word for it, verify always.

Going back to your original question concerning what to do with the LDS, several commentators above have given you good advice about going back to the LDS manager/owner and explaining to him, in a calm non-confrontational manner, what happened and ask him to make it right for you. If he is cooperative and does the right thing, then he is OK. If he has a negative attitude, take your business elsewhere.

 

[redacted]

Not at all. It had more to do with liability, exposure, responsibility and CYA.

All you can drink koolaide.

What next? Would you believe customers think they should be able to drive away from a tire dealer without checking that the mechanic tightened the lug nuts.

Three words: DIY

 

[coloradojay]

The contradiction I understood from your comments is that the hose was OK after your checking it and during the two first dives. It may imply that the issue wasn't with what the technician did or didn't do but, perhaps, it was something else that happened to the regulator during the transport or something else. If you did indeed check the hose/gauge by hand and it didn't come off, then it was all OK then. The gauge/hose don't need a huge amount of tightening/torque.

What is that torque spec anyway? I don't know the metric "huge amount" is that like gutentight?

The point was it wasn't tight enough to survive a third dive, but a tug didn't suss that out. The real check here turns out to require popping the SPG out of the console to confirm the fastener wasn't loose. It's on a rotating joint so just spinning/tugging it would not tell you if it's tight either.

It would be interesting to see how a shop responds if a renter starts to disassemble their rental console with the explanation "it's my life at stake, I'm going to tear down this rental gear so I can fully inspect it".

Hopefully that helps clarify the issue and my viewpoint.

 

[BoltSnap]

It would be interesting to see how a shop responds if a renter starts to disassemble their rental console with the explanation "it's my life at stake, I'm going to tear down this rental gear so I can fully inspect it".

No, not tearing it apart, it is about making sure that it is "tight" and doesn't come off by hand. One other part that some technicians forget to tighten up properly is the LP hose to the second stage.

 

[coloradojay]

No, not tearing it apart, it is about making sure that it is "tight" and doesn't come off by hand.

If take you look at my console (see attached photo in previous reply), you will find that you can't actually touch or see the fastener inside, making what you are saying not feasible. I was actually imagining it required a special tool kind of like an automotive O2 sensor socket that fit's over the hose and slips inside the console. It turns out that you have to remove the SPG from the console and fish the hose through- which is why I said "tear down". It's not destructive, or even difficult now that I know how, but it would cause physical wear to the SPG, hose, and console.

"Doesn't come off by hand" isn't the same as torqued to spec. Somewhere between 'hand tight' and 'huge amount' doesn't seem scientific enough to me for "life support equipment". I also doubt that's what the service manual says.

I have added crescent wrench and pliers to my list of dive kit essentials. If I'm ever in the position where I don't have my gear and I'm renting a console that conceals the fastener, I'll pop it out and check it just for peace of mind. Then I'll probably find out what that shop thinks of that procedure and share with them why I added that to my gear check.

One other part that some technicians forget to tighten up properly is the LP hose to the second stage.

On every second stage I've seen the fastener is visible so then your suggestion would work- you can throw a hand, or better yet a tool, on it without any disassembly. There's probably an exception to that which I'm unaware of though.

Your suggestions about "calm and non-confrontational" are spot on- that's my plan. I'm not mad at them and want to know what they suggest to make it right. Your words do seem calm, however a bit confrontational.

I appreciate you freely sharing your knowledge and experience. The details matter though.

 

[coloradojay]

I found this...

New hose installation, how tight, where to get a torque wrench?

Looks like somewhere between 45 to 80 inch lbs.

 

[scubafanatic]

Depends on what gear you buy. Deep 6, and others will teach users to service their gear and sell parts. Most will not.

OK, fixed it for ya.