EmptyTank
Contributor
Just don't get talked into an "upgrade"
Annual Reg Servicing??
- Thread starter al248005
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I help out some at the dive shop and they look after my stuff. 
just using cost of labor for plumber /mech as examples of real cost of labor...plumber/mech labor is usually based on alot more than $50. an hour, closer to $150.-$175. Here in NY, just to roll out a truck to a customer costs $150. before the worker even gets out of the truck at the work site, that is the true cost from 10 years ago when I worked in telecom industry......regulator tech may be only getting a small part of the labor fee,as in any job. Employer pays for workmans comp insurance,electric bill,rent,tools, day to day operating costs. We live in a place called USA , not a socialist society or a commune, and a business is in existance to make a profit on its labor and to pay its employees fairly..You do not have to buy or use their product,but if you do that is the simple costs of doing so. Don't like the costs then either do it yourself as many do,and that is no problem, or do not participate in the activity.Its as simple as that. A dive shop owner is not likely to hire someone to just do regulator repairs,usually also a instructor, sales help, computer savy person and he/she also needs to be paid when not just working on regulators.
If you bought your Oceanic regulator from an authorized dealer and have it serviced every year at an authorized service shop, the parts are free forever.
OP
al248005
Contributor
That's what I thought but there is some language on the agreement that makes it sound like you must have it serviced at the LDS where you originally bought it from for this to be true. I am the original owner of the reg. The dive shop that is closest to me is an authorized Oceanic dealer. Does anyone know if it must be serviced at the shop that it was purchased from for this agreement to be good.
It's up to each shop if they'll honor the Alliance Service Agreement for equipment sold by another dealer. The Oceanic dealers I've talked to all honor the agreement. They still get the parts paid for by Oceanic.
Give your LDS a call and ask them if they'll honor it. I'm sure they'll be happy to have a new customer.
Give your LDS a call and ask them if they'll honor it. I'm sure they'll be happy to have a new customer.
Mr Carcharodon
Contributor
Such as?
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
My LDS tried to tell me that my Scubapro regs absolutely had to be serviced once a year wether I used them or not.
I told them that I guess I need to find a better brand of regulator that will go at least two or three years then.
I told them that I guess I need to find a better brand of regulator that will go at least two or three years then.
I'm not sure if you are asking what they are, or implying that there aren't any... you already mentioned the shelf life of o-rings so you're obviously already aware that some things deteriorate over time regardless of use
LeadTurn_SD
Contributor
There are regulator components that need to be replaced based on wear. This includes, well, all of the components typically replaced during annual service.... But in many cases the o-rings and seats and diaphragms are not anyway near the end of their service lives after 1 or 2 years, but the service manual calls for replacement of all parts contained in the service kit, no matter what.
This is not bad mechanical practice, considering the regulator has been completely taken apart and the replacement parts are so inexpensive.... But just because most of the internal "soft parts" are changed during service does not mean that replacment was actually necessary at the 1 or 2-year mark.
Many of us have serviced regs that are 20 - 30 years old, and found o-rings that were still soft and supple.... they were not at the end of their service life. And on the other end of a the spectrum, I had to replace a HP seat with less than 2 years use on it.
So the time period (every year, every other year) is arbitrary, but is the only way the regulator companies have to ensure that their regulators see somewhat "regular" service. Most divers have not learned to correctly inspect and test their equipment, and so the annual service builds in a "safety margin" to help catch problems that the diver does not know how to recognize on their own...
I do think we divers should be taught more about our equipment.... removing some of the mystery will not stifle sales, but will improve safety.... sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now
Best wishes.
This is not bad mechanical practice, considering the regulator has been completely taken apart and the replacement parts are so inexpensive.... But just because most of the internal "soft parts" are changed during service does not mean that replacment was actually necessary at the 1 or 2-year mark.
Many of us have serviced regs that are 20 - 30 years old, and found o-rings that were still soft and supple.... they were not at the end of their service life. And on the other end of a the spectrum, I had to replace a HP seat with less than 2 years use on it.
So the time period (every year, every other year) is arbitrary, but is the only way the regulator companies have to ensure that their regulators see somewhat "regular" service. Most divers have not learned to correctly inspect and test their equipment, and so the annual service builds in a "safety margin" to help catch problems that the diver does not know how to recognize on their own...
I do think we divers should be taught more about our equipment.... removing some of the mystery will not stifle sales, but will improve safety.... sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now
Best wishes.
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