Why can we service our own regulators?

[greatlakeswreckdiver]

You said quite a bit of specialized tools. In reality there is usually only a couple things or maybe one outside of normal every day hand tools that the average persn would have in their home. Or in the case of an IP gauge that the average well prepared diver would have.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

Gotcha. I guess that phrase may make a bit of a difference.

 

[lemke]

As opposed to the kid who comes by the dive shop a couple days a week (if they need him) who attended a whole day of training and doesn't even know you???

Not any dive shop I go to!

 

[ams511]

Replacing parts (seats/o-rings) is easy, for the most part. But, diagnosing a problem beyond parts replacement and analyzing the "dialogue" that occurs from the cylinder to the first stage to the second stage to your lungs is paramount to every diver's safety. Some of this entails a thorough understanding of gas laws, engineering, and experience. All things considered, it is money well spent. And actually, the guy at the reg bench is getting the short end of the stick!

I have nothing to back me up but I would assume that 90-95% of regulator service done at a dive shop is a simple annual (now bi-annual) rebuild. If the regulator worked properly before the rebuild then it should work properly afterwards. If it doesn't then either parts were damaged during the service, installed improperly, or the service kit parts were bad.

If the regulator was not working before the rebuild then a dive shop will usually do a rebuild to see if it fixes the problem. If it doesn't then they will either 1) Change every part they can and see if it works or 2) Try to sell you a new regulator. I doubt there is much diagnostic work going on, after all time is money.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

The internet has really helped to rip many sleazy dive shop farces wide open for all to see.
I remember when we had to take the dive shops word for it that regs needed to be serviced once a year whether they needed it or not or you were going to die. Inside information was scarce and few people had any internal connections with dirty dive shop techs to get contraband parts for DIY.
Now with ebay, craigslist, several dive forums/classifieds, it's easier than walking backwards to get parts for regs.
And also now getting info on printed material is easy for specs and do it yourself books, not to mention websites that sell tools.
This is the good old days for the DIY'er.
The dive shops absolutely hate it too, which makes me happy. They've definitely gotten their fare share from me, now it's my turn.

I only use regs that I can easily get reasonably priced parts for. This pretty much eliminates Scubapro.

 

[tech3324]

With the cost of a new HOG regulator set at $170, why even bother servicing a reg? Buying a new HOG every two years costs about the same as two annual services.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

With the cost of a new HOG regulator set at $170, why even bother servicing a reg? Buying a new HOG every two years costs about the same as two annual services.

There is some truth in that....

But some of us are just weird enough that we enjoy servicing regs.

I just bought 3 new HOG "Classic" 2nd stages on sale at 65$ each, to be used as backups for my current regulator sets, and for an eventual independent doubles setup I plane to put together.

I'm looking forward to servicing them when they eventually need it, in 3 - 4 years I'd guess!!

Best wishes.

 

[Hickdive]

Some regulator manufacturers don't even require you to take a factory course to become a "qualified" technician. You can pay $40 to do it online.

The overwhelming majority of people don't want to DIY, whether it is electrical/plumbing work in the home, mechanical work on their car or servicing regulators. There will always be a market for paying a "professional" and I don't see that enabling the DIYer by supplying parts will significantly impact that. In Germany, where you are legally obliged to sell replacement parts for manufactured goods, that policy hasn't killed off dive shops, plumbers, electricians etc.

 

[Ste Wart]

The reality is it's just not that hard to service your regs.

People will say you need and array of special tools, but this is a falsehood. Yes, if you follow the guidelines laid out in the service manuals it would seem like you need a small arsenal of specialist kit. However, I've maintained my own regs for years with only the specific purchases of a C-spanner, vice handle and IP gauge. Most other stuff required is usually in your toolbox.

I've generally looked at Torque pressures as just 'nip it up a bit' and the inline adjustment is a great time saver, but you can get the job done with a screwdriver and a bit of patience.

People will tell you, you need to 'cycle' the regs 200-300 times after servicing before taking them in the water. Fair enough, knock yourself out. I'll balance, leave for a bit, depressurise and check the next day. Oddly my regs work without fail

After 7 years I've yet to replace the kit in my APEKS 2nd stages, cleaned them a few times, but generally just stick them back in and they are good to go. 1st Stages I'll do after 18-24 months, however, always with new kits.

Now if I was working in a shop and treated your regs like that you might be unimpressed when I hand you a $100+ bill for servicing. But for bog standard home servicing this gets the job done. I have 4 regs and they all work flawlessly. Not saying it is right or wrong, just sayin'

 

[ams511]

I only use regs that I can easily get reasonably priced parts for. This pretty much eliminates Scubapro.

I have no idea why you hate Scubapro so much. For second stages you can use generic seats and o-rings. For the first stages, MK-2, 3, 5, 7, 10 can use generic parts, the others need kits but if you watch you can purchase them for the same price as Aqualung and Apeks. Also given a two year service interval, even if you need to spend an extra $10 on a first stage kit that is only $5 a year which is nothing.

---------- Post added June 7th, 2014 at 01:11 AM ----------

With the cost of a new HOG regulator set at $170, why even bother servicing a reg? Buying a new HOG every two years costs about the same as two annual services.

I remember a post where a person mentioned they would watch Leisurepro for sales and purchase at that time. Then when another sale rolled around at service time they would buy a new reg and eBay the old one for very close of what they paid. The person said they were way ahead of the game and always had a new regulator.

---------- Post added June 7th, 2014 at 01:28 AM ----------

In Germany, where you are legally obliged to sell replacement parts for manufactured goods, that policy hasn't killed off dive shops, plumbers, electricians etc.

The dive shop model is evolving and the shops and manufacturers are trying to slow done the evolution because they don't know where it will lead. Your plumbing and wiring do not have service intervals like a regulator does. Probably the closest analogy is an automobile oil change. What proportion of drivers use the dealer for an oil change? I would venture less than 5%.

 

[Hickdive]

The dive shop model is evolving and the shops and manufacturers are trying to slow done the evolution because they don't know where it will lead. Your plumbing and wiring do not have service intervals like a regulator does. Probably the closest analogy is an automobile oil change. What proportion of drivers use the dealer for an oil change? I would venture less than 5%.

Different market place. In the UK vehicles over 3 years old require an annual inspection called an MOT, most people get their cars serviced at the same. I reckon the number of people who do their own vehicle oil changes in the UK at under 5%. Dive shops in Germany certainly don't seem to have suffered.