Self servicing gear

[Carribeandiver]

Do any of the agencies teach a course in servicing your own dive gear? Can one buy th necessary rebuild kits to service his/her own regulator? Do any manufacturers teach gear servicing courses to the end user?
What normal type gear needs annual servicing besides regulators and BCDs?

 

[DivingCRNA]

There are several other threads on this topic. Including the one I started when I was shopping for new regs.

The short answer is: Yes, you CAN service your own regs.

The long answer: It looks like a lot of initial expense and learning to do it right. i.e.: There are tools to be bought and things to learn. If you are into it and have the time, it looks like a great idea. For me, with 2 small kids, I barely have time to dive, much less service much gear.

JMHO

 

[SDAnderson]

Do any of the agencies teach a course in servicing your own dive gear?

PADI offers an Equipment Specialist class that provides an overview of gear maintenance but in no way will train you to fully service your own gear. Done properly, you will leave the class with a good layman's knowledge of how to take care of your equipment.​

Can one buy th necessary rebuild kits to service his/her own regulator?

It's easier to do than it used to be but its still a black market transaction - caveat emptor and all that stuff.​

Do any manufacturers teach gear servicing courses to the end user?

No. They actively discourage end users from performing anything more than basic cleaning and would rather you leave the service to trained technicians. Servicing your own equipment will void the warranty, in most cases.​

What normal type gear needs annual servicing besides regulators and BCDs?

Cylinders and valves need to be opened up, inspected and possibly cleaned. Everything needs a good anuual cleaning. PSI and TDI offer cylinder inspection courses, PSI offers a valve servicing course, TDI and ANDI offer cylinder cleaning courses, for all three you will still need to spend a fair amount of time and money to get started.​

Like many things, it's easy to service your own gear badly, harder to do it properly. There are a lot of expensive and highly specialized tools you will need to have, some experience working with semi-complex mechanical devices and the willingness to devote the time to learning how to do it yourself. For most folks, the rational decision is to have someone else work on their gear.

 

[redacted]

There are a lot of expensive and highly specialized tools you will need to have, some experience working with semi-complex mechanical devices and the willingness to devote the time to learning how to do it yourself. For most folks, the rational decision is to have someone else work on their gear.

I don't think I spent more than $40 at scubatools or any other source of special tools; and half of that was for a tube of christolube. The professional may need these tools to do the job often and efficiently but the DIYer can work around or fabricate most of them. Don't let the tools scare you. Knowledge and parts are the nuts you have to crack for DIY.

 

[SDAnderson]

The professional may need these tools to do the job often and efficiently but the DIYer can work around or fabricate most of them.

Fair point - but what often gets glossed over in discussions like this is that words like "work around" and "fabricate" are synonymous with time or money - or both. For those of us that like working on our own gear, the cost may be worth it - but it can be considerable. For those looking for a cheaper, better solution, DIY is usually not the answer.

 

[lynny_lynny]

I even learned how to service my wn gear....so anyone can. You don't need a course, just get your self some toold and spare parts, and don't be afraid to open things up and look into them to see how they work. If you can take it apart, you can put it back together again. the mechanics are pretty simple, so get in there.

 

[andydiver06]

Regs are life sustaining equipment UW. So be careful.

Regs like Scubapro MK2/R190 are very simple and reliable and can be eaqsily serviced personally but if you have something like Scuba pro MK25/S600 forget about servicing at home, too much effort is required and too many parts.

Training is required either at a school or from a mentor who knows the job properly. ASSET course provides servicing training.
Special Tools like wrench spanners are required to open the first stage.
You can clean the springs, filters and other metallic parts in 50% white vinegar but Ultrasound cleaning is more efficient.
O rings need to be changed and easy to find in the market if you show them samples. Damaged parts like 2nd stage diaphrams etc are not avialable in the market and OEM will not sell them to you.





Regs like ScubaproMK2/R190 - are pretty simple and reliable and easy to maintain.

 

[LittleBug]

Quote: PADI offers an Equipment Specialist class that provides an overview of gear maintenance but in no way will train you to fully service your own gear. Done properly, you will leave the class with a good layman's knowledge of how to take care of your equipment."

My husband looked into this, and we called PADI on it a few months ago. They do not offer it anymore and said that all the info is in the Encyclopedia of Diving that they sell with the DM Crew Pack.
​

 

[redacted]

Fair point - but what often gets glossed over in discussions like this is that words like "work around" and "fabricate" are synonymous with time or money - or both. For those of us that like working on our own gear, the cost may be worth it - but it can be considerable. For those looking for a cheaper, better solution, DIY is usually not the answer.

Yes. I spent a couple hours cutting on a 1 inch socket with a dremel tool to make a yoke nut socket. I also made a pin spanner from aluminum angle rod to disassemble the Scubapro piston 1sts. An automotive compression gauge with a scuba adapter makes a good IP gauge.

Most trouble I ever had was with a SP R190. They may be simple with low parts count but corrosion between the demand valve body and the housing can make disassembly a bear. Newest version of the housing seems less vulnerable to damage if you decide to go with force rather than patience.

 

[SDAnderson]

My husband looked into this, and we called PADI on it a few months ago. They do not offer it anymore and said that all the info is in the Encyclopedia of Diving that they sell with the DM Crew Pack.
​

I don't know who you folks spoke with at PADI but you were given some bad information. Here's a link to the course description posted on the PADI website: http://www.padi.com/padi/en/kd/equipspecialistcoursedetail.aspx

The course is still offered and it very definitely includes information not included in the Encylopedia of Diving - I've taught it twice in the past couple of months and successfully certified a bunch of students.