Very disappointed to see this thread and to now be part of it as well. I have had the SR-1 now for 6 months. This is my second one though. The first one the diaphragm seal popped on the boat. No physical outside damage and I dove with it anyway, not really knowing what was going on. I returned that one back to my LDS and got a brand new one that day. That was 3 months ago...
Now my new one wanted to pop again, this time extremely. I had completed my first dive and was all geared up for my second. I turned the tank valve on and the WHOLE seal, top rubber peice and all expanded like a balloon about an inch high. I shut the valve off quickly because it looked like it was going to explode. I tried again, turning the valve on while purging the regulator...same thing...a third time without purging...same thing...it just wanted to pop and explode and i shut the valve off every time to stop it. Had to cancel my dive...
As of right now it's at the shop. I'm supposed to call Tuesday to see what's the problem. To be honest with you, my faith in it has really died. I don't know anymore, I loved how it performed but I can't keep doing this. I have a Sherwood Brut on my pony, a Sherwood Wisdom computer, Sherwood Kinesis fins, so I have nothing against the company...but I'm really looking into the Mares Abyss 42 and 22 now.
I mean sure parts are warrantied for life but not labor...so sure Sherwood will give me the $1.00 rubber diaphragm for free to replace but I have to pay the $70-$80 dollar labor costs each time to fix it? No way...Sherwood needs to put a better warranty on this or the SR-1 is done.
And this is happening on only 1% of the SR-1's built? Something tells me that number is skewed...what am I getting all the 1%'s? If I'm to keep this regulator Sherwood needs to give me peice of mind on this $600 regulator...
As of now I believe my local dive shop is willing to exchange it for me for an Abyss. Or I can get a new SR-1 and try again...but I'm scared now because if this happens A THIRD TIME a year from now I won't have that option of simply exchanging it for another brand, I'll be stuck with it...I'm stuck in a crossroads worth $600 and my safety and I don't know what to do...
Sincerely,
-Confused & Frustrated:depressed: