Do you have your BC serviced yearly?

[terrillja]

I was wondering if you have your BC serviced every year or not. Some people I know say that they only have it serviced when it fails, or starts to leak.

I have mine serviced every year, because I have the Oceanic Alliance parts agreement, so if I have it serviced every year, I get free parts, but if it isn't serviced, the agreement is voided, and I lose my free parts for life.

Edit: Also why you choose either option.

[awap]

There is just not much that can go wrong with a BCD to justify pay much for annual service ($25 ??) just to maitain a parts for life agreement. For that price you could replace an inflator or all the dump valve seals.

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by awap

There is just not much that can go wrong with a BCD to justify pay much for annual service ($25 ??) just to maitain a parts for life agreement. For that price you could replace an inflator or all the dump valve seals.

My LDS charges $15, but they aren't happy that I have the alliance agreement, since they don't make any $$ off parts they use for me.

[ReefHound]

What parts? I "service" my BC myself regularly. Keep it clean, rinse well after diving, work the valves, check the straps, etc. The only critical part in my opinion is the power inflator, if it sticks you need to disconnect quickly and dump to prevent a runaway ascent. I am never so overweighted that I couldn't ascend without any air in the bladder.

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

What parts? I "service" my BC myself regularly. Keep it clean, rinse well after diving, work the valves, check the straps, etc. The only critical part in my opinion is the power inflator, if it sticks you need to disconnect quickly and dump to prevent a runaway ascent. I am never so overweighted that I couldn't ascend without any air in the bladder.

All the O-rings, and anything else that needs to be replaced periodically, such as dump vales, etc is covered, my LDS almost refused to service my gear because I bought my package of gear from a shop other than his. When I went to buy a package for my dad, who just got certified, that shop was quickly off the list, so they lost a $1200 sale, all over maybe $10 in parts..

[WV Diver]

It's true that there are not alot of problems with the BCD that you can't fix yourself.

I never send my personal BC in for service, but I send all 4 of our work BC's in along with all our other annual service equipment. I don't even think they charge us extra for looking at the BC, just the cost of parts if they need anything.

They are all very old and abused as far as the type of water we dive in, although they are well maintained. We had a right shoulder dump valve come unthreaded and loose a part that we had to replace and one of the rubber tubes covering the dump valve wire that extends from the LP inflator to the left shoulder dump valve was old a starting to show some signs of dry rot so we replaced it. That's been it.

Good BC's with last forever if you take care of them. I wouldn't spend the bucks on getting one serviced yearly. The cost of the parts you might need aren't very high anyway and the need for them will probably be years down the road if you take care of it.

[wxboy911]

I guess the only thing I would want checked every year is the back up reg/power inflator. I have seen some people using the built in octopus and it does cut down on one hose. I think if you had one of those it would be worth a check every year.

[finflippers]

I do not send in my BC for servicing unless there is a problem that I can not fix myself.

[MEL-DC Diver]

Check out this thread. I had a chat with Larry about this when I was thinking of getting a parts kit.

Servicing a Brigade

[Splitlip]

What is there really to service? Inspect maybe?
I can't see it unless maybe you have an Alternate inflator. In that case it needs to serviced as often as required for the regulator.