Thanks for the constructive and humorous replies, guys! Scubaboard is great ;-)
Just to clarify, I took some artistic license in describing the incident, but this is more or less what happened:
Maybe 15 minutes into the dive, I noticed my head was starting to hit my reg 1st stage when I looked "up". Then, my dive buddy noticed my tanks, bcd, and reg looking funny, so he comes over for a closer look, and after some fiddling, notices that both my wingnuts are missing. I hope that's reasonable now, because that's what happened
hoosier:
After reading through this thread again, I think there might be another factor can affect this incident.
For the divers who don't use a lock washer, are you diving in a double or single (STA)?
I'm diving single w/ an STA. How would that be a factor, Hoosier? The supplier assembled the equipment for me, and there were definitely no washers of any kind at all on the wingnut side. I don't know if there were any on the bolt head side.
Back on the surface, my buddy fixed my rig, and this is how it is now:
wingnut side, top bolt - flat washer
bolt head side, lower bolt - flat washer
It looks like different divers are really using different standards, from no washers at all, to flat washers, to lock washers, to special washers.
Anyway, IF I use washers (& I'll probably use lock washers ;-)), where should they be placed? wingnut side, bolt head side, or both? top bolt, lower bolt, or both? Sorry for being O/C about this, but I'll probably relax after using my rig a few more times.
Scubaboard rocks
Reggie
P.S. I post at the manufacturer's forum after getting your replies ;-)