Equipment Servicing

Does anyone service their own gear (B/C, regulators, octos, ect...)? If so, how did you learn to do it? One of the reasons I ask is I've talked to my LDS and they told me they will service what they sell. They aren't exactly reasonable in their pricing either...

Okay, so I just found the DIY section and realized I should have looked there first...

However, since I can't figure out how to delete this thread some advice would still be appreciated!

on the same line ,if i ,later down the road,want to be certified to service ,do you have to go to the specific line,,i.e. Aeris,Oceanic,ect.Is it hard to get into the servicing?Just curious

Miller64:

on the same line ,if i ,later down the road,want to be certified to service ,do you have to go to the specific line,,i.e. Aeris,Oceanic,ect.Is it hard to get into the servicing?Just curious

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Is that this information (reg self servicing) is treated much like a National Security Issue... you have to be sponsored/affiliated with a shop to recieve this sacred knowledge... cant just have Anyone be able to do their Own work! (and skip out on those "servicing" fees)

xsnapplemanx:

Does anyone service their own gear (B/C, regulators, octos, ect...)? If so, how did you learn to do it?

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I service my own. I started the same way most adolescent males learn how things work - I took gear apart to see how it was put together, then reassembled it (generally, without leftover parts). I took the PADI Equipment Specialist course, which didn't provide a whole lot of new information as far as prescribed course content, but which allowed me to ask a bunch of specific questions about servicing. My primary interest was in learning more about regulators, so I took a Regulator Service Technician course offered in the Raleigh, NC area (at Air-tech; VERY good course). I then got my LDS to register me for the Zeagle and Apeks seminars (I own Zeagle and Apeks regs) at DEMA as a shop staff member (which I am and have been as a DM/AI/OWSI, but not as a service technician - yet another benefit accrued from being a LDS loyalist, I might add). I took the DSAT Gas Blender course, which included oxygen cleaning, and by necessity, tank valve diassembly, service and reassembly. My progression in learning to service gear has not necessarily been efficient, or logically planned, but it has worked for me.

miller64:

on the same line ,if i ,later down the road,want to be certified to service ,do you have to go to the specific line,,i.e. Aeris,Oceanic,ect.Is it hard to get into the servicing?Just curious

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It isn't hard necessarily, but shops generally do want you to be certified by (multiple) manufacturers to work on gear (or, at least by the manufacturers of the gear lines they stock), before they will hire you to do so. So, although regulator function is remarkably similar/identical across manufacturers, you do end up going through training seminars for the specific lines. These aren't particularly hard or long - for regulators, they are usually a half-day, involving regulator disassembly and reassembly. There are also longer technician courses that you can take to get a start. I mentioned Air-tech. There are many others. For example, Virginia Scuba Dive Center in Manassas, Virginia, offers a service technician program. These won't necessarily help you in Houston, but I mention them as examples. I am certain there are quite a few others. Even if you only want to service your own, they are a good source of information and training.

Here are some good starting places:

Vance Harlow's OXYGEN HACKER'S COMPANION From AIrspeed Press
SCUBA REGULATOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR by Vance Harlow

The problem will be getting parts.

So, use Dive Rite regulators! They post the service manual online and sell parts kits to end users.

The cost of regulator maintenance isn't much of an issue. The problem is the quality of the service. If you get them back and they start free-flowing after a few minutes of use, you can be certain they weren't cycled properly after reassembly. Who says the LDS techs are any good? That they have taken a course lasting an entire half-day doesn't instill confidence.

Richard

Its just knowledge I would like to have one day,in case it's needed.I tend to have extra parts left over or force something that shouldnt be.I would like to be able to do it right and to me thats being taught,on something that a life depends on.mine. I would like to have real training.I have heard that getting parts are next to impossible,so,mostly just a curiousity thing about how one would go about getting the training

Miller64:

Its just knowledge I would like to have one day,in case it's needed.I tend to have extra parts left over or force something that shouldnt be.I would like to be able to do it right and to me thats being taught,on something that a life depends on.mine. I would like to have real training.I have heard that getting parts are next to impossible,so,mostly just a curiousity thing about how one would go about getting the training

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Not really, if you know where to look. Some LDSs will sell to you if they know you well, Ebay has kits all the time and there are several on line dealers both in the US and other countries that will sell parts...I got Scubapro and Aqualung- 2 of the hardest to get, from them. In addition many of the parts are basic Orings which can gotten from lots of places. Some regs manuf do not limit the sale of parts although your LDS may BS you and tell you they do. Basically, parts can be had if you take the time to hunt them down.