What regulator brands can I get my own parts for?

[redacted]

Got a guestion for all you 109 fans.
In your opinions (hummmm.... should I open such a big a can of worms ? ) is it worth upgrading the 109 with balanced (156?? ) internal parts or just leave it as the unbalanced version. Whatever first I use will likely be balanced so IP shift is not an issue. In other words, is the performance gain, if any, worth the added parts and complexity.

I have a few of each (109s and 156s) in my bag of 2nds. I usually use a balanced 2nd as my primary and a 109 as my alternate. When both are well tuned, I really can't tell the difference. I think I have collected enough parts to convert my 156s to 109s if I ever have trouble finding replacement rivet style seats or the little o-rings. At least that was my thinking a few years ago. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I may now have a lifetime supply of the parts I will need.

I did convert one of my 109s to BA just to test the Trident rivet style seat. Other than that, I have a hard time buggering up the simplicity and reliability of a 109 for some difficult to detect performance improvement.

 

[Zung]

I intend to set up a test rig with a 109 and a 156 for a side by side comparison. I'll tell you more after the next dive trip which, sadly, will be in a long time. Maybe next summer.

Meanwhile, all our primaries (mostly G250's) are balanced, and all our octos are unbalanced, for standardization purpose, so I only have to stock up on 2 different types of seats.

 

[V&G]

The main pin, on my opinion, in regs self-servicing is required tools: torque wrench, pneumatic adjusting tool etc. rather then replacements... You'll spend hundreds of $$$ to purchase all you need. Does it worth it?
If you don't have all these reqs you'll not able to serve your regs. Correct me, if I wrong...

 

[halocline]

The main pin, on my opinion, in regs self-servicing is required tools: torque wrench, pneumatic adjusting tool etc. rather then replacements... You'll spend hundreds of $$$ to purchase all you need. Does it worth it?
If you don't have all these reqs you'll not able to serve your regs. Correct me, if I wrong...

The only "specialized" tool of any cost that I have is a torque wrench set in inch/pounds. I think it was about $40. You certainly do not need the inline adjusting tool, you don't even need a magnahelic gauge. A sink full of water works fine to check cracking effort as long as you're not too concerned about the exact figure. Personally I set mine about as light as I can get them without freeflowing; the D series go a little lighter due to the advantage in case fault geometry, but with the adjustable barrel poppet regs, if you set them a bit too light and they flow a little in face-down position, you can just tighten the adjusting knob a turn or two and it stops.

Other tools required are an IP gauge ($25), I have the scubapro multi tool, a couple of o-ring picks, and the piston bullet. When I made the initial order at scubatools I think it was under $100, and that included a couple of tools for the MK15.

 

[halocline]

Got a guestion for all you 109 fans.
In your opinions (hummmm.... should I open such a big a can of worms ? ) is it worth upgrading the 109 with balanced (156?? ) internal parts or just leave it as the unbalanced version. Whatever first I use will likely be balanced so IP shift is not an issue. In other words, is the performance gain, if any, worth the added parts and complexity.

Its probably not worth it, but I do detect a little difference in smoothness with mine.

 

[herman]

The main pin, on my opinion, in regs self-servicing is required tools: torque wrench, pneumatic adjusting tool etc. rather then replacements... You'll spend hundreds of $$$ to purchase all you need. Does it worth it?
If you don't have all these reqs you'll not able to serve your regs. Correct me, if I wrong...

For the most part, special tools are not needed. There are a few that are required for some regs but they are the exception and most of them can be worked around or home fabricated. Most DIY types already have most of the tools that are necessary. Besides most of us are tool junkies anyway so adding a few more is not an issue. It's is a debated issue but I don't bother with torque wrenchs and I own several of them. I have been turning wrenches long enought to get it close and there are no high tolerance torques required on regs, still a torque wrench is not that expensive. Other tools like magnahelics can be had reasonably inexpensively or a simple manometer can be made for under $5 US. All the extra tools needed can be purchased for under $100 US, that is about what the annual service cost is for one regulator. I personally would rather spend $100 on tools for myself than to "save" it by paying $100 for each reg I have every time it needs service. Considering I own a lot of regs,that is a huge saving.

 

[Zung]

... When I made the initial order at scubatools I think it was under $100, and that included a couple of tools for the MK15.

+1

2 torque wrenches, $25 ea.
1 hook spanner, $10
1 face spanner, $10
1 manometer, $5
2 bullet tools, $25
1 just a wrench, $15 (I'm fancy)
Total: $115

Only the 2 last items comes from Scubatools, in my case.

 

[redacted]

The main pin, on my opinion, in regs self-servicing is required tools: torque wrench, pneumatic adjusting tool etc. rather then replacements... You'll spend hundreds of $$$ to purchase all you need. Does it worth it?
If you don't have all these reqs you'll not able to serve your regs. Correct me, if I wrong...

Sure you need tools to service regs. However, most regs can be serviced with few if any "special" tools. And those tools are generally in the tens of dollars rather than the hundreds of dollars with some dependency on the particular reg being serviced. Quite often, if you have enough mechanical ability to understand and service regulators and a good collection of common tool, you will be able to fabricate many or the "special" tools you might need or want. I estimate I spent well under $100 on tool to service my regs including a 1/4th drive torque wrench (I already had a good 3/8th in drive torque wrench). BTW, it is my impression that there are still quite a few small "authorized" shop that do not have any torque wrenches. My pneumatic adjusting tools are a screwdriver and a wrench. My IP gauge is my engine compression gauge with a scuba connection adapter. I fabricated my pin spanner, hook pin spanner, and yoke nut socket. I bought picks and a bullet tool.

 

[redacted]

Its probably not worth it, but I do detect a little difference in smoothness with mine.

Do you feel it or hear it?

BTW, we came in 2nd again.:depressed:

 

[padudle]

I have purchased o-rings from these guys with good results.
O-rings Online Frameset

I have Sherwood regulators. They are not fancy but are super robust and easy to rebuild and adjust. You can find the rebuild manuals by searching around on the web. All the o-ring part numbers are just slightly disguised standard o-ring specifications that you can find at the above online seller.

My only problem is the HP seat which eventually gets indented to the point where I start to get a little IP creep.

Just like everyone else, I'd prefer to buy the official Sherwood rebuild kit and throw it in every couple of years. Unfortunately, Sherwood dealers cannot direct to the customer unless the customer signs up for a factory repair class. I don't want to get that far into it for something so simple.