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A while ago I visited a manufacturer and watched the servicing of a cave instructor's 1st stage -- it was filled with sand. I asked if cave instructions only serviced their regs when they failed or performed oddly, and the service technician's response was "Yeah, pretty much." So I'm curious, when do CDF members get their regs serviced?
somehow my post didn't go through.
Need to add a "after minor failure"
For me IP creep, and second stage leaking are the two minor failures that will cause me to rebuild regulators. Those both turn into major failures when the ip blows the first stage, and/or the second stage starts freeflowing seriously. That then causes the whole set to get rebuilt as a set. I like to do my regulators like I do car brakes and tires, do the whole set in one go.
My answer wasn't one of the choices. More of a "when I don't have any customer regs to work on." I have seven systems that get used, and I can usually remember which one is next.
And no, none of my regs fail. I've seen Scubapro Mark 20/G-250s go for many years of abuse and they still work within spec. Mine are treated with care, and almost never go three years without overhaul.
Whenever it starts actin' up I take it to be serviced.
If a reg craps out its no biggie, I just grab another and carry on. One of the benefits of having a bucket full of regs, I guess.
I have noticed with the price of getting some second stages serviced versus what they cost, that getting the usable life, then chunking then is nearing in the future.
Annually (myself) or if I think it needs it due to minor issues or unexpected abuse.....
Don't get to dive all that much anymore, so annual service is fine for my needs.
Note: I never take a regulator into overhead/deco dive IMMEDIATELY after service. Always do a shallow water/pool dive on a newly serviced regulator.
Just in case of an "oops" on re-assembly. Nobody's perfect...
I get mine serviced when they first start to breathe harder then normal. Usually find they are full of sand. Always amazes the guy who services them.
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I have never had a regulator fail in terms of not providing life support, It is usually things like Gage spools leaking, HP hoses weeping Shrader valves leaking that indicate it is time for service. The Regulator internal always look perfect brand new.
As an ex regulator jockey I was always amazed by what other people used in rebuilding regulators. Often cigar screens for bronze screens, non standard springs and other issues. My biggest pet peeve was people that scratched the internals of 1st stages and did not report them. This is a particular problem with Mares 1st stages.
My trick is a IM pressure gauge, breathe of the regulator and watch for pressure creep. Then again I have frankeinstein regulators so go figure.
I check the IP on my first stages about once a month. I do an overall condition inspection before each dive. The second stages get rebuilt if they start having a hard time maintaining the cracking pressure that I like (seat wearing out). The first stages get rebuilt after about 2 years or if the IP gauge starts to show problems. The last first stage I rebuilt wasn't showing any signs of problems but upon disassembly I could see the little oring inside the balance chamber was in really bad shape. It was all crumbling. It didn't seem to be adversely affecting the movement of the HP seat pin but I felt much better knowing I had a fresh o-ring in there.
I tear Mine apart every 6 months and relube, inspect, Repair or replace. Every year they all get a rebuild no matter what.
Every two years, or sooner if they act up. I get out the IP gauge and give them a checkup every few months.