When to upgrade regulators?

[mbs]

Which Mares and how much do you want for them?

Good question . I'll check later. I also have my old mares kit as well. Will let you know what both are.

 

[Bob DBF]

My question to some of the long-term divers in this forum is, Is it considered good practice to upgrade regulators every 10 years or so? Could that be considered overkill? Or is this more of a personal preference kind of thing?

The time to "upgrade" is when you can't get parts, it's broken beyond reasonable repair, or you just want another reg, and can afford it.

I mainly use a first from 2010, and seconds I like, mostly older, and not a match to the first. A lot of dives are on vintage, or at least old, regs I've picked up and repaired, '80's and earlier. If I was younger, I might try some of the new regs, or just go to Poseidon, as the old '60's model I have is still better than anything new I've tried.

 

[Pearlman]

Already mentioned in earlier posts about ALs financial troubles - just want to add my 2 pence here.

I only own a single XTX50 - the rest of my gear is all Scubapro. Before the purchase just around the end of the Covid lockdown, I spent many months debating whether to get a complete Apeks set from a dealer that runs a shop in my city and I also physically window shopped a few kits at the store and tolerated their sales pitch. Good thing I didn’t (I only got the XTX50 for its wide exhaust tee and size/fit of the mouthpiece) - many months ago I visited the same shop to buy a service kit for the XTX50 and the technician told me prices for all Apeks service kits have increased drastically across the board due to non-availability and the financial situation of AL (looking for a buyout I think).

Why would you want to buy a product from a company that has essentially ceased manufacturing and spare parts for which are going to be difficult to obtain?

 

[halocline]

Sounds like the tech is trying to make a sale.

 

[Still Kicking]

Already mentioned in earlier posts about ALs financial troubles - just want to add my 2 pence here.

I only own a single XTX50 - the rest of my gear is all Scubapro. Before the purchase just around the end of the Covid lockdown, I spent many months debating whether to get a complete Apeks set from a dealer that runs a shop in my city and I also physically window shopped a few kits at the store and tolerated their sales pitch. Good thing I didn’t (I only got the XTX50 for its wide exhaust tee and size/fit of the mouthpiece) - many months ago I visited the same shop to buy a service kit for the XTX50 and the technician told me prices for all Apeks service kits have increased drastically across the board due to non-availability and the financial situation of AL (looking for a buyout I think).

Why would you want to buy a product from a company that has essentially ceased manufacturing and spare parts for which are going to be difficult to obtain?

Just got a shipment with 200+ pats kits for AL/Apeks. There is no shortage in the US at this point at least.

 

[rsingler]

Just back from DEMA, and while I generally really think Apeks XTX50 is overblown, and Aqualung/Apeks is struggling financially, the new Apeks EVX second stage has me interested!
1) they took the poppet from the Scubapro C350 and made it into a poppet suitable for a balanced reg. Why Scubapro didn't do that for the C370 is completely beyond me. Look at this gas flow! It doesn't have to thread through the spring any more:

2) they've strengthened the flimsy barrel supports that plague the XTX50

Still too much plastic, but it beats the OP's Oceanic hands down. No, I wouldn't be diving an Oceanic second after ten years. The little metal pin in the depth sensing/balance chamber compartment (depending upon whether it's downstream or balanced) always rusts.

 

[noads99]

Hello,

I have been diving regularly for 10 years now. About 9 years ago I invested in my own set of regulators, a TUSA first stage and octo and an Oceanic second stage. I have been servicing them on schedule and never had any major problems on 300+ dives. The other day I was picking up my regs from my local dive shop after servicing and the technician on staff pitched me on a new set of Apex regs that were on sale. I don't recall the exact model but it was something like these:

XTX50 Regulator

The XTX50 Regulator is for the diver who wants the benefits of a feature-rich regulator at a moderate price. • This popular first stage has four medium-pressure ports all mounted on a rotating turret. This results in optimal hose routing while eliminating sharp bends in the hose • The first...

www.diverightinscuba.com

He said that Apex usually offers this special--both stages + octo for $650--every October/November. So the next time my current regs are due for servicing in the fall next year, he recommended replacing them instead.

I have heard it said that so long as regs are serviced on schedule, they can last a good long time--up to 30 years, or even a lifetime. However, the tech probably had a point when he said my regs are not exactly state-of-the-art, current technology. One point in favor of new regs, he said, is that with up-to-date parts involved, the techs at the shop can replace them at the shop faster. With my current set, they have to be sent away for full rebuild, which can take up to a month or longer. (Though Tabata recommends a full rebuild every year, I have settled into a pattern of rebuilding them every other year, with an inspection on off years, and this has worked out fine.)

My question to some of the long-term divers in this forum is, Is it considered good practice to upgrade regulators every 10 years or so? Could that be considered overkill? Or is this more of a personal preference kind of thing?

All thoughts appreciated.

Providing service kits remain available I can see no reason not to keep uour existing kit - don't forget to check your hoses as they do degrade internally.

 

[Mobulai]

Just back from DEMA, and while I generally really think Apeks XTX50 is overblown, and Aqualung/Apeks is struggling financially, the new Apeks EVX second stage has me interested!
1) they took the poppet from the Scubapro C350 and made it into a poppet suitable for a balanced reg. Why Scubapro didn't do that for the C370 is completely beyond me. Look at this gas flow! It doesn't have to thread through the spring any more:
View attachment 872065View attachment 872066
2) they've strengthened the flimsy barrel supports that plague the XTX50
View attachment 872069

Still too much plastic, but it beats the OP's Oceanic hands down. No, I still wouldn't be diving an Oceanic second after a decade. The little metal pin in the depth sensing/balance chamber compartment (depending upon whether it's downstream or balanced) always rusts.

At the risk of derailment; what’s happening witv all the orings at the adjuster knob; is that some sort of receding bal chamber ala g500?

Edit: Ok I read the banner; just sealing to keep the trash out

 

[happy-diver]

Now with the right marketing dealers need to set up shop next to the iphone shop

 

[ScubaBunga]

The time to "upgrade" is when you can't get parts, it's broken beyond reasonable repair, or you just want another reg, and can afford it.

I mainly use a first from 2010, and seconds I like, mostly older, and not a match to the first. A lot of dives are on vintage, or at least old, regs I've picked up and repaired, '80's and earlier. If I was younger, I might try some of the new regs, or just go to Poseidon, as the old '60's model I have is still better than anything new I've tried.

Fully agree here - I originally got an MK10 first and g200b second back in '93. I still dive those today. When I got them back from service and they were all wrong (2nd's diaphragm was folded over!), I started servicing them myself. When my boys got certified, I hit ebay and got a couple more of the same. I then got a couple more for backups. Then took self-reliant and got some more for pony bottles (for me and boys). I now have at least 10 sets of these regs. Unless I start breaking pistons, these will more than last my lifetime. Service is simple. Amount of orings per service is probably under a $1.00. Just got another one off ebay (wanted the depth guage in the set) - orings were crusty, but after service, locks up nicely and second cleaned up as well. I don't see any need to get "the next new thing" in regulators unless I start using a re-breather.
Get a good reg - either find a great service tech/lds or learn to service it yourself and enjoy.