JamesBon92007
Contributor
- Messages
- 3,209
- Reaction score
- 1,305
- # of dives
- 2500 - 4999
I discovered this regulator on ebay while searching for some old gear that included a computer. Nobody else bid on it probably because of the way it was listed. The good news is that it came with a Beuchat Aladin Pro and Suunto Solution, both of which just needed a new battery and cleaning of the contacts on the Suunto. They are air only but that suits me just fine. The SPG needed the usual new O-rings and there is also a good compass. The regulator is a Sherwood Maximus. I could not find a serial number but the second stage orifice is bronze and not plastic so I don't think it's one of the recalled regs, or possibly it was upgraded. It has a small leak where the hose attaches to the swivel on the second stage so I might need a new swivel. I actually managed to get the piston clean enough that it bubbles, albeit very slowly, so in order to make it usable a new piston would be in order.
The second stage had quite a bit of verdigris which cleaned up easily enough. Some new O-rings and it works quite well. The first stage (and the whole set) looks as though someone left off the dust cap, removed the port plugs, threw it in the ocean for a few months, and then took it out and let it dry without rinsing. Even the bottom of the piston was green. My first reaction was, of course, that there was no way this regulator would ever work again. After about an hour of cleaning and replacing the O-rings etc it works. The IP was pre-set (adjustable first stage) at about 142 psi. It may end up being my air-tool regulator but I think it's a tribute to the durability of Sherwood regulators.
I took a chance that the computers would work mainly because in the picture on ebay it looked like the previous owner did not do any maintenance. I guessed that when the Suunto battery went dead the owner bought the Aladin Pro and put it on the hose instead of replacing the battery on the Suunto.
Someone once told me that I was missing out on bottom time by not using a computer, which may be true for multi-level dives, but the NDL for 100' with the Suunto is 17 minutes and only 16 on the Aladin Pro. I never pushed the US Navy Dive Tables but have done 20 minutes and never heard of a safety stop until 2011
The second stage had quite a bit of verdigris which cleaned up easily enough. Some new O-rings and it works quite well. The first stage (and the whole set) looks as though someone left off the dust cap, removed the port plugs, threw it in the ocean for a few months, and then took it out and let it dry without rinsing. Even the bottom of the piston was green. My first reaction was, of course, that there was no way this regulator would ever work again. After about an hour of cleaning and replacing the O-rings etc it works. The IP was pre-set (adjustable first stage) at about 142 psi. It may end up being my air-tool regulator but I think it's a tribute to the durability of Sherwood regulators.
I took a chance that the computers would work mainly because in the picture on ebay it looked like the previous owner did not do any maintenance. I guessed that when the Suunto battery went dead the owner bought the Aladin Pro and put it on the hose instead of replacing the battery on the Suunto.
Someone once told me that I was missing out on bottom time by not using a computer, which may be true for multi-level dives, but the NDL for 100' with the Suunto is 17 minutes and only 16 on the Aladin Pro. I never pushed the US Navy Dive Tables but have done 20 minutes and never heard of a safety stop until 2011
