Regulator Service notes

[mcpowell]

I sent several regulator sets in for service and they have since been returned. (Y'all don't forget to send notes with your items to be serviced so Deep 6 knows what to do upon receipt).

When returned, there were some handwritten notes on my list of items..specifically 3 of my first stages had a note saying "flooded".

So I have a few questions:
1) How can you tell the first stage has been flooded? i.e. water comes pouring out? or is there a residue left behind?
2) What typically causes flooding? I haven't taken a first stage off while diving, so is it from improper post dive soaking?

 

[tbone1004]

1-usually residue inside of the first stage, pretty obvious
2-how are you soaking? but usually yes. Make sure they're pressurized when soaking, it's worth buying a tank just for that and doing IP checks before trips

 

[GJC]

2- If your regulator is not pressurized, and you put your second stage underwater, any little bump to the purge button will allow water in where it should not go. As mentioned above, only put your regulator underwater when it is pressurized, even for rinsing.

 

[rhwestfall]

Did you have the cap on the first stage when you dunked them?

 

[GJC]

Did you have the cap on the first stage when you dunked them?

Even with the first stage capped and sealed, if the second stage purge button is bumped, a small amount water will enter. You only need to be under a couple inches of water for the water pressure to be greater than the air pressure inside the hoses and the second stage.

 

[mcpowell]

So definitely the regs were not pressurized when they were sitting in the tub after a week of diving, or when we dunked them in the fresh water directly after diving. We do always seal the first stage tightly with the dust cap.

Based on the above comments, I think an inadvertent purge button bump would be the likely culprit.

 

[rhwestfall]

specifically 3 of my first stages

I think an inadvertent purge button bump would be the likely culprit.

those are amazing odds and coincidences...

 

[mcpowell]

Well, to be truthful, 2 of the first stages I bought used and was having them serviced before I took them along on a dive trip (I had not used them previously). 1 was my primary 1st stage and it’s been 2 years since I bought them. But I had not taken care to avoid the purge button while rinsing, so it would be hard to say if the purge was ever pushed or not. The other first stage was my son’s and had not been used as much as mine, and his did not show any flooding.

 

[tbone1004]

yeah, buy a couple small tanks that are cheap and use those while they're soaking....

 

[Southside]

i have rinsed un pressurized in warm water, it the cap is on secure you should be fine.

agree on hitting purge.. would take some work to get water all the way up hose into first stage to say the least, also no reason to press the purge anyhow.

Just FYI the owner of the company said that you shouldn't have to pressurize them when you soak them.