The New Atomic TFX

[OMyMyOHellYes]

As I've been following this lengthy thread since day 1, I wanted to share two divers' subjective assessments after 40 dives with the TFX (unadjusted from factory tuning). For reference, our previous second stages were lightly-tuned Atomic ST1, but we've also used a variety of other regs over the years.

Whereas I'm a dive gear nerd, my wife is on the opposite end of the spectrum and has no idea what brand/model of regulator she's using. When I mentioned that she'll be using a new second stage, she shrugged with disinterest. In some ways, she was the perfect evaluator.

I immediately fell in love with the TFX... it was so smooth that I could breathe more naturally. After the first day of diving, I asked my wife if she noticed anything different with the new regulator. I expected another shrug, but she perked up and said its the first regulator she's ever used where she didn't have to think about breathing. She also said there was no going back to our previous regulators. So two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Do you have the ST1s listed in Classifieds yet? How much?

 

[AKPDB]

She didn't fret over the odd way of flooding it? Did you have to teach her? Or hasn't it arisen as an issue yet?

Good questions. I showed my wife the unique way of flooding the TFX, but it turned out to be a nonissue. The only time we had any free flows was when we took our regulators out while bobbing at the surface post dive, but those were quickly stopped by inverting the reg. I don't think either one of us paid much attention as to how we inverted the reg and it didn't seem to matter as they stopped free flowing quickly.

I should also mention that I had an additional TFX second stage that I carried as my backup breather (just to drive Scubaboarders nuts! ) and never had any issues with freeflow. Caveats - we did not do any giant stride entries, just back rolls, and kept the venture assist lever to the minimum setting (two boxes).

One other note... I appreciated the angled and more streamlined position of the diaphragm on the TFX when we were hooked in on high current sites like Blue Corner in Palau. On previous trips with other regs in Palau and Indonesia, there were times when we were hooked in and the current was really ripping and I had to use my hand to block the current to prevent free flow and keep the regulator from getting pulled out of my mouth. The profile of the TFX is advantageous in these situations.

[SIZE=3]OMyMyOHellYes[/SIZE], sorry, I already sold my old regs!​

 

[Pressurehead]

I should also mention that I had an additional TFX second stage that I carried as my backup breather

I would have to sell a kidney to buy 2 here.
Enjoy.

 

[TMurrr]

Yes, you have the updated grey exhaust valves.View attachment 883923

This is the older black one, right?

 

[rsingler]

This is the older black one, right?

Appears to be, yes.
I confirmed that the grey valve will come in the service kit. I just tried to order a few, and we'll see if Atomic is shipping them. They still haven't released the Service Technician video training, so I don't know if they're releasing kits.

 

[TMurrr]

Appears to be, yes.
I confirmed that the grey valve will come in the service kit. I just tried to order a few, and we'll see if Atomic is shipping them. They still haven't released the Service Technician video training, so I don't know if they're releasing kits.

Awesome. I’m most likely picking up that reg with the older black exhaust. If you get anymore info on upgrading it I’m all ears.

 

[Mas.]

@rsingler maybe you missed my question in this long thread. Would it be possible to share your recommendations for the TFX service topic.

How often do you recommend to get a service done?

Is there any specific tuning you recommend for us now?

And where do you recommend to make this service and tuning, for people who don't have access to any service centers nearby?

Thank you @rsingler can I also ask you about your recommendation for TFX services?

What are all recommended services/ tuning/ maintenance, etc we better plan for in coming 0-10 years? Anything needed now?

Where? We don't have any service for Atomic around me but we can always send TFX to the US for any services needed.

 

[rsingler]

@rsingler maybe you missed my question in this long thread. Would it be possible to share your recommendations for the TFX service topic.

How often do you recommend to get a service done?

Is there any specific tuning you recommend for us now?

And where do you recommend to make this service and tuning, for people who don't have access to any service centers nearby?

The TFX service interval is 3 years or 300 dives.
Since the service tech training has not been released yet, I don't know how many dive shops will get their techs certified.
The reg is pretty simple to disassemble, as demonstrated in Regulator Geeks 4: The Atomic TFX. If you have a small pin face spanner, you can tune it yourself by removing the top and turning the double slotted cap inside, clockwise to increase cracking effort and counter-clockwise to decrease it.
Self service is also pretty easy if you understand center balanced valves. The problem if there's no nearby service center will be finding service kits. I'm sure the service manual will turn up here on Scubaboard one of these days.

 

[BoltSnap]

If you have a small pin face spanner, you can tune it yourself by removing the top and turning the double slotted cap inside, clockwise to increase cracking effort and counter-clockwise to decrease it.

Did you speak loudly and tell the guys at Huish to add a cracking pressure knob to the second stage to be able to adjust the cracking effort easily underwater when you took the seminar??????