What to look for and ask when your equipment needs servicing

[alo100]

The list you just provided is the basically following the list you used before:
• Checking the Intermediate Pressure
• Perform a vacuum test on all second stages
• Perform a Magnehelic test to determine cracking pressure of all second stages
• Perform a baseline flow test
• Inspect and note any obvious problems. (Corrosion, bad mouthpiece, bad hose etc)

So the list is "high level" and the "procedure guide" is of lower level, right?

I think he is saying that each manufacturers have provided a list (high level) for them to follow and each of them could be a bit different, and you are saying that only SP is doing it. Correct?

 

[cerich]

The list you just provided is the basically following the list you used before:
• Checking the Intermediate Pressure
• Perform a vacuum test on all second stages
• Perform a Magnehelic test to determine cracking pressure of all second stages
• Perform a baseline flow test
• Inspect and note any obvious problems. (Corrosion, bad mouthpiece, bad hose etc)

So the list is "high level" and the "procedure guide" is of lower level, right?

NO, not all all. The list is a tool and checklist the shop would use to document each stage of the repair process. The cust would get a copy and the shop keep one. It also shows empirical data from that reg being submitted for service pre and post. The actual service comments would read something like this

Followed Oceanic SP 12-2202-r02,SP 12-2216-r01, SP 12-2803-r01, SP 12-2809-r01.
Noticed abnormal internal contamination, looks like compressor oil- advise cust and ask where they are getting fills
Replaced primary LP Hose old one had a bulge
Replaced Computer Battery

The individual service procedure guide from the manuf is THE most important document to follow during a service!!!!!!


I think he is saying that each manufacturers have provided a list (high level) for them to follow and each of them could be a bit different, and you are saying that only SP is doing it. Correct?

No, all the manuf. provide the dealers with Service procedures guides. What I am saying is that the ONLY time I have seen presented to follow a list is during a SP clinic. That was presented in a "professional shops use something like this" fashion it was not mandatory by any means.

I have taken clinics from ATOMIC, SHERWOOD, GENESIS, CRESSI, SCUBAPRO, SEAQUEST, US DIVERS, MARES, DACOR, OCEANIC, DRAEGAR and as a student have only had the concept presented once and that was David Rhea from SP (Thanks David)

I have taught clinic for OCEANIC, Mares and Dacor and I suggest they develope and follow such a list as well.

 

[redacted]

I disagee for the type of service I'm talking about! Some online places are $39 for the reg set, I saying $30 bucks more for a local place that supplies a warranty, uses the correct service kits and has invested in the tools to do the job correctly. No shipping, less waiting and someone who is invested in you as a cust.

I agree that the $30 difference may be pretty much washed out by S,H,&I but I also believe it is better if the customer understands all the options and makes an informed decision rather than pay an LDS $70 (or $150) and learn later that other options only charge $40.

Having the work done nearby is not all that important if they do a good job. It's when they do a poor job, that distance really counts. I've had my share of bad experiences with LDS reg service. It's a lot like trying to find a good auto mechanic.

 

[cerich]

Agree, however the reason I wrote this is because if a diver knows what to look for and what to ask they can determine a good source to get service done.

Any shop that can answer in the affirmative to these points has put a great deal of effort into the repair facility and generally will do an above average job.

If you just want to spend $40 bucks , do so but be aware that you will get what you pay for.

If I HAD to send away a reg for service because I don't have a local source or one I trust then I would call and ask all the same questions. In fact if you call Larry at Scubatoys or Phil at Divesports I'm sure they would be happy to answer any question you may have and even send you pictures of their shop. NOT all online guys will do that.

To me if there is a competent nearby shop that would trump a far away competent shop any day.

 

[jim T.]

Thanks for posting the list Cerich. I taught in public schools for many years and documentation of written steps/procedures and accountability were always prioritorized.

I'd expect no less from someone who services my life support equipment!

I now know what to ask for and will print up my own copy if my LDSes don't already have a procedure/test list. I've already scoped out how clean and organized the shop is but now I know what equipment to look for and ask for. Thank you.

Although our small shops sometimes get two weeks behind in "the season" and if I know/see why, I can understand or accept that limitation. Not seeing the correct
equipment on the bench or a checklist procedure used would not be acceptable.

Thanks again for posting this.

 

[SparticleBrane]

I worked at an LDS last summer and I'll be the first to say that it's nice to see what goes on "behind the scenes" so to speak. After watching a few reg overhauls I can say that where I worked, the reg techs (basically everyone in the store except for me, since I was just temp college labor) treated each reg as if their own life depended on it. Each tech was skilled and enjoyed the work. Personally that's the kind of service that I would like to see everywhere; unfortunately it isn't always the case.

As to the "1 week" comment--I'm going to go with the crowd on this one and disagree. Where I worked we were open MWF (11am - 6pm) and Sat from 9am-3pm. If it's just myself and the owner in the shop for most of the day and we're both dealing with customers/filling tanks/doing paperwork etc--then neither one of us would really have time to do the regs, especially if there's a backup. Note that I never touched any regs since I'm not qualified to do so. This definitely complicates matters until another employee comes in. If they got time throughout the day they would work on the regs in pieces--say--it might take all day, but any spare time they got would be put into doing regs or BCs etc. A dive shop definitely has a lot going on!
As a slight sidebar--just with any kind of repair facility, if someone says "I don't need this for the next month" then their equipment is going to take the lowest priority out of anyone whose gear is currently in the shop. Note that just because something is "in the shop" for more than a week doesn't mean that it took that long to do the work. Where I worked we had people bring in 4 Al80s to get hydro'd, VIP'd, and filled. They still hadn't picked them up 2ish months later, even after repeated phone calls, etc. So in some cases it'll depend on the customer.

Personally I also found out that you can learn a lot about a person by the condition that their regs are in. The one main instance I remember was when someone brought in a set of regs for their annual service and the first stage was completley flooded.
I do my best to take care of my regs. I dive a DiveRite RG2500 setup and they always get thoroughly rinsed in warm/hot water after every dive (and by that I mean at the end of the day, not necessarily between dives during the same day), no matter what conditions I was diving in. Sometime in the future I'd like to take the course to serivice DiveRite regs so that I may service my own. This way if something ever goes wrong I have no one to blame but myself (that, plus I just think it's neat stuff ).

 

[spectrum]

This is often untrue. In our area, 10 days to two weeks is the norm. Also, with smaller shops, the tech(s) may be in charge of other areas. They may be instructing, managing the shop, etc. They may not be able to service as many regs in a day as a shop which has the luxury of employing full time techs. This does not mean they enjoy the work any less or are any less qualified. Quantity doesn't necessarily equate to quality.

I have a problem with any buisness that operates like they have a God given right to operate with a backlog. Peak times may be an exception but the norm should be somehting on the order what the OP stated.

Be it dive gear or any other peronal or industrial item I use if they can't find an hour to devote to my unit in a week they better say so up front.

Pete

 

[san diego diver]

i asked my local shop if i could set an appointment to service my regs and those of my dive buddies (total of 5 regs) i let them know that i didn't want our regs sitting on the wall for a--- weeeek--- !!! two of the shops said i had to put them in and wait ,and one said that i could make a appointment and drop them off on the day before they worked them and pick them up the day after !! total days without regs 2 1/2-dropped off monday after work and picked up wednesday morning for the afternoon dive !!
the two shops that did not see my point of view will not see my buisness anymore !

 

[san diego diver]

is there a way to get a class to become qualified to rebuild your own regs?

 

[cerich]

is there a way to get a class to become qualified to rebuild your own regs?

Thru a shop.

Qualified and competent are two different creatures however!

Best,

Chris