Where to buy regulator parts?

[Web Monkey]

Since they're getting sent out by your LDS anyway, why don't you just check around, find someone who does great Dacor service and send it there?

Another (probably better) option would be to find out what you can get serviced properly, locally and switch brands.

Although regs aren't rocket science, unless you have a way to keep up on the engineering changes and have a really good supply of current parts and access to a test bench and tools, I'm not sure how happy you're going to be.

Terry

I have a Dacor Viper Metal regulator and dacor Viper Octo. I purchased them in 2001 and have been unhappy with the folks servicing them. So, I want to do it myself. I plan on getting the Airspeed press book, but I need a source for parts for my first stage, second stage, and the octo.

Anyone know where to order them?

Thanks!

 

[FatRob]

Servicing Regs is a breeze if you have some skills, just get the manuals and be anal about doing a good job.

If you dive proven technology eg SP mk10 then most of the engineering problems have been dealt with and / or well documented already.

I also have a set of Apeks ATX's that are so simple to service I can do a 2nd in about 15 mins, taking my time. 1 wrench, 1 screw, 1 allen key. (no need for the allen key for a 50 or above)

As mentioned above the conshelf series are easy and have readilly available kits too! mines a 21, but looks just like the 14 in the manual....

I've heard that dacors are a bit fussier... but vance's book is a great jumping off point...

R

 

[ScubaNorth]

I get my parts through a LDS that I have an understanding with. If you dont have that e-bay and the internet are your friend. Parts can be mail ordered from Europe and Asia for some regulators.

Unfortunately your situation is very common. Shops commonly fail to service per the manufacturers requirements and skip steps. Also an other neat trick is that they break parts and then charge you for them. Since you care about the performance of your regulator more than the shops do by all means do your own service.

Breaking parts while servicing anything is a risk. No the dealer should not eat the cost unless it is pure error on their part. I used to repair electric motors and some parts would be extremely fragile from over heating or what have you and they would break while the service was being performed. I started out eating the cost of the additional repairs and parts but then I smartened up and started charging for the parts as they usually broke because they were worn out or misused. Not that there aren't some crooks in the world but not everyone that charges for a part "they broke" is a crook.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

Breaking parts while servicing anything is a risk. No the dealer should not eat the cost unless it is pure error on their part. I used to repair electric motors and some parts would be extremely fragile from over heating or what have you and they would break while the service was being performed. I started out eating the cost of the additional repairs and parts but then I smartened up and started charging for the parts as they usually broke because they were worn out or misused. Not that there aren't some crooks in the world but not everyone that charges for a part "they broke" is a crook.

I thought the repair staff at two of the local LDS's were careless and dishonest. Not quite the same thing as saying they are crooks. It is dishonest if they break things and then lie to you about how they got broken. And unfortunately that has been my experience more than once. And also the experience of dive buddies of mine. Now if the store said up front we break it, and you pay, that would be part of the deal and would be OK with me. I just do not like being lied to. Also my assumption is that if you pay a premium to a presumed expert they should exercise a reasonable degree of care and not break too many parts.

I also do not like it too much when the repair staff knows demonstrably less about the service manual than I do. Like the time they told me they did not replace all they parts that were mandatory to be replaced as part of an annual service. Left me thinking what part of mandatory was unclear. And what else did they skip. So...I do my own service now since at least I know I do it to the manufacturers spec.

 

[scuba66]

it simply amazes me when a dive shop pi##es off a customer like this. what are they thinking? not only will they not be back but they come on a board like this and tell everyone what a lousey job they had getting service work done. its no wonder people want to try to do the work themselves. one thing you might want to consider is if you do the work on your regs yourself and something does go wrong , in an investigation they find out you did your own servicing. will your life insurance policy be null and void?