Maintenance Schedules?

[SoggyFox]

I’m just wondering what everyone else does in terms of maintenance on their units. I’ve just taken mine out of the box and cleaned everything off and checked all the O-rings that I can get to for wear and tear but I know there are some I can’t. The unit hasn’t failed any of the test when I build it up before diving so its not that that worries me.

I’ve a spare set of o-rings that I shipped in from Jetsam and was going to over the next couple of weeks spend a day more likely 2 renewing many of the o-rings. I’ve got 35 hour or so on the unit so far and was wondering if I’m being a bit premature in changing all the o-rings.

My normal maintenance of the unit consists of breaking it down after diving and cleaning everything and then storing it complete, then before I dive again I usually break it down and re-grease those o-rings I can get to before running the normal tests. So I feel the units as best cared for as possible or am I missing something.

What sort of maintenance schedules do you guys keep to, if any?

[finbar.taylor]

Originally Posted by SoggyFox

I’m just wondering what everyone else does in terms of maintenance on their units. I’ve just taken mine out of the box and cleaned everything off and checked all the O-rings that I can get to for wear and tear but I know there are some I can’t. The unit hasn’t failed any of the test when I build it up before diving so its not that that worries me.

I’ve a spare set of o-rings that I shipped in from Jetsam and was going to over the next couple of weeks spend a day more likely 2 renewing many of the o-rings. I’ve got 35 hour or so on the unit so far and was wondering if I’m being a bit premature in changing all the o-rings.

My normal maintenance of the unit consists of breaking it down after diving and cleaning everything and then storing it complete, then before I dive again I usually break it down and re-grease those o-rings I can get to before running the normal tests. So I feel the units as best cared for as possible or am I missing something.

What sort of maintenance schedules do you guys keep to, if any?

I started off very anal about it and completely striped and disinfected it after every dive/dive day. Then it was every change of lime, then every battery change. It's now when ever it fails the predive checks (which i think I'm very thorough over) or when it breaks (this has always been O2 addition sticking so not exactly life threatening)

Fin

[Janos]

Good question and one that I've been thinking about too. A few people will read my answer and think I'm wasting my time doing all this and it may be that I do too much but I don't mind.


For a typical weeks diving.


After each day I disconnect the hoses [1]. I also try and remove the scrubber and cap it if I'm going to be using it the next day. I leave the head to dry.

When reassembling I grease the eight hose o-rings, and the three where the scrubber connects to the head, as well as the drawnut o-rings.

I disconnect the C/L and clean them if I'm not going to be using the unit for a week or so.

Abount once every six months I clean the scrubber cannister with a bit of vinegar to get rid of the lime scum. I also knock the bottom out of the scrubber and check those o-rings.


About once every six months (although not not necessarily at the same time as the above) I take the head off the counterlung case to make sure that it hasn't corroded together. I think it's worth doing more often (monthly?) if you have an aluminium counter lung case. Grease the screws if you put it back together.


Now, 14 months and 120 hours later, I'm thinking about changing the "dynamic" o-rings that I lube each day, and possibley the static ones at the base of the scrubber. They seem to be in good condition, but o-rings are cheap.

I lube the DSV when it starts to stick (every three months or so) and am about to do the MAV.


Janos

[1] - I have the quick connects, and I worry about them becoming distorted over time - I'm not sure how much of a real worry this is)

[SoggyFox]

Originally Posted by Janos

I lube the DSV when it starts to stick (every three months or so) and am about to do the MAV.

similar thinking overall, be interested to hear abut the MAV when you've done it, one thing i look at and wonder if it'll be hell or heaven.

[Dave Crampton]

I would like to do my MAV but the swaglok connectors have PTFE tape and I'm not looking forward to them potentially leaking and me have to put more PTFE tape on to fix it.

[NotDeadYet]

After every lime change:

- leave the head open over night to dry
- grease the cannister o-rings and the dip tube on reassembly

When the bottom screen/tube assembly starts sticking then I clean the inside of the can.

Hoses/lungs get rinsed with water at the end of a trip. After a long dive then I might swill the lung gravy out of the hoses and lungs if I can be bothered. It's been disinfected once in two years, it left an aftertaste so I've never bothered again. It's still cleaner than my fridge is.

Any time I open up something for maintenance (battery change, etc) I grease any o-rings that get exposed. Otherwise I tend to leave it.

Regs get cleaned/relubed once a year, I've never had to change a part in a maintained Apeks reg (my main bailout reg is 15yrs old).

I have a pair of the old style KISS valves that don't need the servicing the newer ones do.

Everything gets a visual check when I'm assembling it and I keep an eye out for naughty behaviour throughout the dive.

Cheers,

Stuart