trusting your training over advice

[soggybadger]

Hi there. I'm relatively new to scuba and passed my advanced open water last year but feel I still know very little about the sport so I try to take on board all the advice i can get.just recently I purchased a used set of regs from eBay and decided to get them serviced at the dive school where I trained. I believe this is always advised when purchasing used items.imagine my surprise when the manager of the centre told me not to bother if they worked.this seems to not only go against my training but to be stupid bordering suicidal. Any thoughts or advice on this would be appreciated. Thanks. Iain.

 

[cashew]

Find a new dive shop.

 

[Hawkwood]

Did he offer a reason why not to service them?

 

[John A Lewis]

Lots of thoughts going through my head, hinging on one question: would they have charged you anything for the service?

 

[soggybadger]

Basically just said not to bother if they work but as I had only tried them out in a pool I felt that I could hardly say properly worked.

---------- Post added December 4th, 2015 at 05:04 PM ----------

Yeah I would have had to pay about £90 for the service but what's that against failure at depth?

 

[John A Lewis]

Basically just said not to bother if they work but as I had only tried them out in a pool I felt that I could hardly say properly worked.

---------- Post added December 4th, 2015 at 05:04 PM ----------

Yeah I would have had to pay about £90 for the service but what's that against failure at depth?

Then my take on it is that--for whatever reason--he just didn't want to work on it. You, OTOH, prudently don't want to roll the dice.

Find someplace that will work on it and check it out.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Here's what you need to do. First of all buy an intermediate pressure gauge. Mike's in London has them -http://www.mikesdivestore.com/products/beaver-inspector-intermediate-pressure-gauge?variant=606019973

Then find out what the IP is supposed to be on your reg. Somewhere in the range of 125 -140 PSI is typical (9-10 Bar). Attach that to the low pressure inflator and put it on a tank. Turn the air on and watch it while you are breathing it. It should drop a little on the inhale and then come back up and stay there until the next breath. It should not slowly creep up over that 10 BAR number. If it goes over that quickly watch out. Shut the air off and purge the second stage.

If it locks up and doesn't creep your good to go with the 1st stage. next fill your kitchen sink with water and check the cracking pressure. This is where the second starts to deliver air. Holding the second stage upside down slowly place it in the water holding it level. As you do that note how far down you have to push it into the water before it starts to allow gas to flow.

You want it around an inch (25cm) maybe a little more or SLIGHTLY less. If that's ok, dive it! Those are the two things a shop will check with a gauge set up or maybe their own sink and ruler! Along with inspecting the hoses for cracks and water in the spg there's not much more to check. The filter on the 1st stage where it hooks to the tank should be silvery or gold in color. Not black or green.

If it has hose protectors near the first stage, pull them back and look for corrosion. If you see any clean it off with white vinegar and water. Then get rid of the hose protectors. They are not needed and often cause problems.

So now for 16.50 and some of your time you just saved 74.00.

 

[dmaziuk]

Yeah I would have had to pay about £90 for the service but what's that against failure at depth?

So did you tell them "I just got these from eBay, could you give 'em a thorough health check before I get underwater with them" or "I got these, they feel fine in a pool, should I have 'em fully serviced?" If they really said "don't bother" to the former, you should find a different shop.

 

[soggybadger]

Thanks john. Interestingly the same school sold my partner a set of the same model regs and serviced them for her for which she paid the service fee.she has been unable to use them as they constantly freeflow even after being returned for reservice.

---------- Post added December 4th, 2015 at 05:33 PM ----------

Yeah I made it clear they were purchased on ebay and I did not know when or if they had ever been serviced.

---------- Post added December 4th, 2015 at 05:35 PM ----------

Nice one.that's a good saving. Thanks for the info and advice.

 

[TMHeimer]

Maybe the manager doesn't like that you bought on eBay and not from him. Or maybe they're just too busy a shop and just don't need your 90 pounds. Either way odd considering what everyone says about the economy of dive shops nowadays.