What regulator Kills the most divers?
- Thread starter gcolbert
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rhephburn3900
Contributor
only the one that has been neglected, eg. exposed to water salt, sand, not being rinsed and not being serviced , but can anybody tell me why a poseidon reg costs way more for a service? Is it the parts or do they get sent back to the factory?(that would explain the airline ticket I found in the reg bag when it came back! ) HA HA!
R.H.
R.H.
Snowbear:Hehehe..... Soooooo.... how many guys do you know who work on their own regs?
I work on my own, but I think that you are a far better tech than I am- I had several failures on the last dive trip- hoses coming loose, din adapters unscrewing, second stages practically falling off. As a matter of fact, 4 out of 5 regs had "issues" on the last trip. Most were above water, or experienced going in, but the hairy one was when the second stage worked itself loose before the gas switch at 20'. I pressurized the valve and saw a gush of bubbles. I think I'll use more chysto-lube and less beer next time!
Hoosier
Contributor
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do it easy:I work on my own, but I think that you are a far better tech than I am- I had several failures on the last dive trip- hoses coming loose, din adapters unscrewing, second stages practically falling off. As a matter of fact, 4 out of 5 regs had "issues" on the last trip. Most were above water, or experienced going in, but the hairy one was when the second stage worked itself loose before the gas switch at 20'. I pressurized the valve and saw a gush of bubbles. I think I'll use more chysto-lube and less beer next time!
You must follow your basic instinct rather than the manual
I saw some cases like that. The another tip for regulator service is to use a right tool with a manual..... IMHO...
manual? What's that? I did try to use the manual for the first reg, but by then, I was already a few beers into the project and the diagrams had too many fine lines and small numbers.
I think that most of the problems had to do with an interpretation of finger tight and the effect of temperature changes on metal. The schraeder valve inside my LP hose was loose, and I didn't do anything to that. Lucky for me, that type of failure doesn't cause runaway drysuit inflation- it only leaks when the hose is disconnected.
I think that most of the problems had to do with an interpretation of finger tight and the effect of temperature changes on metal. The schraeder valve inside my LP hose was loose, and I didn't do anything to that. Lucky for me, that type of failure doesn't cause runaway drysuit inflation- it only leaks when the hose is disconnected.
superstar:
One of my arguements is that failures after service are not rare. There is an intercept point where failures caused by not servicing equipment intersects with the rate of failures caused by inept service. The determination of this intersecting point is a key function of the rework component of Cost of Quality.
Ain't THAT the truth! :11: Which is one of the main reasons I decided to learn to do the work myself. Another reason is time... If I take the regs to a shop or send them off somewhere, it will generally be several weeks before I get them back. I'm not a pro and it takes me quite a bit longer than it would a "real" tech to service and rebuild 2 first stages and 2 second stages..... but I can generally get it all done in an evening.gcolbert:
Yet another reason is economics. The LDS wants to charge $125 for 1 first and 2 second stages, PLUS PARTS... even though the manufacturer offers a rebuild kit a year for free:11:
I don't know what the criteria is for the recommendation, but the dive shop that sold me the first regs told me they should be serviced every 100 dives or one year, whichever comes first.... So by that standard, I'd have to take them in at least a couple times a years (with the loss of several weeks of diving)
superstar
Contributor
I don't agree with the logic of servicing the reg every year. First off is why tear into a perfectly good working part just because your years up. Also think of this. What is a regulator, it's a demand valve, similar to your kitchen sink faucet. Do you change the faucets O-rings every year? no. When do you change them? when the faucet leaks, and how often does this happen? 10 years? am I correct. I bet the wife remodels the kitchen before the faucet leaks but thats an upgrade not a repair.
Still with me? good, my quarter hasen't ran out yet.
I think you will get my point, buy a reg, use it till it leaks, sell it on e-bay. I'll do the math on a reg I use to own a long time ago for an example.
Cost of reg $50 used 9 years before it freeflowed then sold it for $50. Total cost for reg ownwership including maintenence, $0. If I had it servived every year at $100 a pop for 9 years thats $900. Not enough to remodel the kitcken for the wife but plenty to buy a new reg.
quarters up
Still with me? good, my quarter hasen't ran out yet.
I think you will get my point, buy a reg, use it till it leaks, sell it on e-bay. I'll do the math on a reg I use to own a long time ago for an example.
Cost of reg $50 used 9 years before it freeflowed then sold it for $50. Total cost for reg ownwership including maintenence, $0. If I had it servived every year at $100 a pop for 9 years thats $900. Not enough to remodel the kitcken for the wife but plenty to buy a new reg.
quarters up
Well, actualy, I do end up servicing my regs *about* once a year. By then, one or more of them tends to have some 'issue' that needs to be addressed. The last service I did was January (or was it Feb?). One of the first stages had a little stream of tiny bubbles coming from it.... Solved by servicing. One of the second stages had been puked through and had needed to be taken apart 'in the field'. It turned out to have a bit of corrosion in it that was easily taken care of with the ultrasonic cleaner.
So I've decided that for my own regs anyhow, whether they need it or not, I dive often enough to warrant treating them to annual service... give or take a month or three. Hey ~ at least it gets me taking the regs apart, refreshing my techie skills, keeping familiar with their guts and of course.... making sure all's well
Though most of my dives are plain ol' vanilla rec dives, on the occasions I do more challenging or tech dives, I want to know that my regs have very little reason, if any at all, to fail.
So I've decided that for my own regs anyhow, whether they need it or not, I dive often enough to warrant treating them to annual service... give or take a month or three. Hey ~ at least it gets me taking the regs apart, refreshing my techie skills, keeping familiar with their guts and of course.... making sure all's well
Though most of my dives are plain ol' vanilla rec dives, on the occasions I do more challenging or tech dives, I want to know that my regs have very little reason, if any at all, to fail.
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