Servicing Regulators

[ams511]

You don't get good at regs until you've built a hundred or so, and you don't stay good unless you do a hundred or so every year. But that's just my opinion - I could be wrong.

Actually, if you have a lot of regs and hate paying a chunk of change to get them serviced, I fully understand wanting to learn to do them yourself. But read my first sentence.

Define good. I have rebuilt several first stages and they work fine. After I was done I was surprised how easy it was.

[ams511]

Soo... I'd like to start servicing my own regulators. I'm not sure how to get from here to there so I'm hoping for some advice

I'm wanting to learn about my dive rite regs for now, since I have about 10 of them and they all need to be serviced. (mostly 2100s or earlier models)

I know there are specialized tools, and I'm happy to pick up what I need. I like tools so I'm looking forward to having new toys. It looks like you need to be blessed by someone to get a manual.

I've opened up a reg or two in my day, but never did any work on them, so I'd like a full walk through and would prefer some sort of official training/certification...

There is an Apeks flash presentation floating around that you may want to take a look at. Dive Rite regulators are similar in design to Apeks so it is beneficial. Also there is a pretty active DIY forum on SB if you need some help. You probably have most of the tools you will need except for the pin spanner, picks, and torque wrench.

[whodunit68]

I know there are specialized tools, and I'm happy to pick up what I need. I like tools so I'm looking forward to having new toys. It looks like you need to be blessed by someone to get a manual.

here is the list of tools needed for the HOG reg repair class. As stated earlier, nothing special for HOGs needed.

[Sludge]

Define good. I have rebuilt several first stages and they work fine. After I was done I was surprised how easy it was.

I've heard it said that for every twenty regs, nineteen go together and work perfectly, but that twentieth one can make you pull your hair out. Ever seen a picture of me or Forrest?

[SlowDiver]

I've heard it said that for every twenty regs, nineteen go together and work perfectly, but that twentieth one can make you pull your hair out. ?

That's when you box up all the parts and send them to Russell and say fix this and I need it yesterday.


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[hunabku]

I highly recommend getting and reading Regulator Savvy. It is an amazing manual for anyone who wants to understand how and why regs work.

[nakatomi]

Frankly speaking, if I knew someone who did a great job with Apeks regs for a reasonable rate, I would not service the regs myself. It is not as easy and simple as some people say it is, there are actually quite few things that can go wrong and lots of stuff that can break or get lost in the process.
Just to give you a few examples, two years ago I partially stripped the chrome plating on two entire sets of 1st/2nd stages because the acid in the ultrasonic cleaner was a little bit too much. I've broken an Apeks housing , actually the plastic part the exhaust mushrooms sits in, after trying to work the mushroom back in.
I lost a little clear washer in the sink when I did my old Aqualung Legend, that spare part was a pain to buy.
And no, I don't have "two left hands", LOL. Stuff like that just happens, it's part of the learning experience.
Basically I would agree with what Russell says. If you have someone at hand who is good at it, maybe it's better to have them do it. Since I have nobody back here whom I trust, I'll keep servicing my own regs. I'm sure I'm doing a better job now than most of the shops I would have access to who have their trainees and part time employees tinker with the regs.

[scubadude]

I'm sure I'm doing a better job now than most of the shops I would have access to who have their trainees and part time employees tinker with the regs.

+1 on the above.

[ams511]

I've heard it said that for every twenty regs, nineteen go together and work perfectly, but that twentieth one can make you pull your hair out. Ever seen a picture of me or Forrest?

Then the twentieth one gets eBayed. lol

[ams511]

I tried to edit my post explaining why I do it myself and I got timed out. I am not going to rewrite it all but in short I was cheated once and received substandard service, so I lost faith in service technicians. I know that guys like you, Forrest, and DA Aquamaster (wherever he is) can do a much better job than me but you guys are not the average technician. As another poster mentioned the techs are the low men on the dive shop totem pole.