AquaLung LPO rebuild?

[bbain]

Local dive shop rummage sale -- picked up a Aqualung LPO octopus regulator for $5 (no hose). Checked it out using a first stage and it does breathe, although not all that easy. Are they hard to rebuild? I like the idea of less bulk, and having a spare that I could put in service if needed seems like one of those "not to bad" ideas. I did open up the purge button/cover it it looks pretty simple in side, but looks can be deceiving....

I looked on line and found the service manual but it speaks to a number of special tools that are required. Any one have any experience with the LPO and servicing it?

[Bryan]

Just be careful taking it apart. On the ones I have serviced the threads in the body for the diaphragm cover degrade and get chalk like and are easy to cross thread. The exhaust valves are very thin and I have seen some of them deform. This could be more of a problem here in Florida with the salt and sun and yours may be in better shape. It's a very basic downstream 2nd stage and it's easy to service with only one seat and 3 standard O-rings if I remember correctly. None that I have worked with were easy breathers. I think this is due to a heavier spring that AL used in many 2nd stages dedicated as safe 2nd stages to cut down on them free flowing easily.

[bbain]

Bryan -

Thanks for the information. I found a service kit for the LPO, and I will be careful opening it up. I will check the exhaust valves, but I may not attempt more than that until we get back from Bonaire in February.