drcolyn
Contributor
Some 10 years ago I had the idea of cutting down on the annual servicing cost of my Apeks T20 regulator. Since the second stage leaked air for a couple of dives after each service I naively thought I can procure service kits directly from Apeks and do a better job myself. Needless to say Apeks did not agree and told me to take my regulators to a qualified service technician since I did not have all the expensive testing equipment required for the job. Since I have worked at a shop that repaired truck air brakes I know the value of a test bench but if scuba regulator service is such an exact science, then why was mine leaking air?
3 Years ago I sold the Apeks and bought new (cheaper to service) Scubapro first stage MK17 and R395 second stage with R295 octo. Last month I had the set serviced for the first time (just as a precaution) and the first two dives were terrible. The air from the R395 was so wet (like when you breathe air from a humidifier) that it made me cough for two hour long dives. I took it back to the shop that serviced it but they could not find a problem with the mouthpiece or the exhaust valve or a crack in the housing. The technician reckon it could be that I flooded the dv during the entry. I am not bothered by a little water in a DV I mean I dont even use the purge button to clear my dv after took a drink of fresh water during a dive.
The R295 octo was breathing dry although I must mention I had that connected to my bail out cylinder so I am not sure if my main cylinders had water in them that could been the source of the moisture. They were filled by a testing station that did the visual inspection so I find it hard to believe that they would fill with wet air knowing what damage it causes (although this testing station does have a reputation for doing chemical cleaning at the slightest sign of rust)
Some weeks ago I bought a second hand 1st generation MK25 first stage and had that serviced by the same shop. When I did a dry test the 1st stage was making a strange shrieking sound. I spoke to the technician today (having read this may be due to a high pressure piston O-ring not being lubed properly) and he said it may be a misaligned O-ring during the assembly process and that I must take it for a test dive but not a deep dive and if the shrieking sound continue I can bring it in for a free checkup.
Now I would love to hear from some qualified technicians if I am being overly harsh or do I have the right to question why these problems were not picked up on the test bench.
3 Years ago I sold the Apeks and bought new (cheaper to service) Scubapro first stage MK17 and R395 second stage with R295 octo. Last month I had the set serviced for the first time (just as a precaution) and the first two dives were terrible. The air from the R395 was so wet (like when you breathe air from a humidifier) that it made me cough for two hour long dives. I took it back to the shop that serviced it but they could not find a problem with the mouthpiece or the exhaust valve or a crack in the housing. The technician reckon it could be that I flooded the dv during the entry. I am not bothered by a little water in a DV I mean I dont even use the purge button to clear my dv after took a drink of fresh water during a dive.
The R295 octo was breathing dry although I must mention I had that connected to my bail out cylinder so I am not sure if my main cylinders had water in them that could been the source of the moisture. They were filled by a testing station that did the visual inspection so I find it hard to believe that they would fill with wet air knowing what damage it causes (although this testing station does have a reputation for doing chemical cleaning at the slightest sign of rust)
Some weeks ago I bought a second hand 1st generation MK25 first stage and had that serviced by the same shop. When I did a dry test the 1st stage was making a strange shrieking sound. I spoke to the technician today (having read this may be due to a high pressure piston O-ring not being lubed properly) and he said it may be a misaligned O-ring during the assembly process and that I must take it for a test dive but not a deep dive and if the shrieking sound continue I can bring it in for a free checkup.
Now I would love to hear from some qualified technicians if I am being overly harsh or do I have the right to question why these problems were not picked up on the test bench.