SPG Repair?

Mal Bridgeman · June 23rd, 2007, 10:11 PM

On a recent liveaboard trip , the crew were slightly rougher with my kit than I would have liked and eventually they smashed the glass on the front of my AGIR SPG.

Apart from the broken glass the gauge seems ok.

Is it possible to replace the glass and, if so, is it a "send away" job or can it be done yourself?

TIA
Mal

***ericfine50*** · June 23rd, 2007, 10:46 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman)

On a recent liveaboard trip , the crew were slightly rougher with my kit than I would have liked and eventually they smashed the glass on the front of my AGIR SPG.

Apart from the broken glass the gauge seems ok.

Is it possible to replace the glass and, if so, is it a "send away" job or can it be done yourself?

TIA
Mal

I don't think there is a fix. You may need to replace it.

Jussi · June 24th, 2007, 02:22 AM

I had a similar accident, spg hardened glass has crack on it
and had to replace it, reason being that parts inside will
rust and you really can trust the readings anymore.
Obviously had to go get new one.

Michael-Fisch · June 24th, 2007, 10:34 AM

I've replaced the glass on 2 Uwatec Master Diver SPGs. Since the crown is screwed on it's an easy fix.

I talked my optician into making me 5 glass blanks of the right size, thickness, and material - boron silicate, and then heat treating them. It ended up costing around $40, and I have spares for the next few years.

In a cheap SPG it's not worth the trouble, but I'm convinced that the Uwatec Master Diver SPGs are the best ever made, and unfortunately they are no longer made - so I'll do almost anything to avoid having to shitcan one.

Michael

If you replace the glass, also replace the O-Ring!

jluttichau · June 24th, 2007, 07:35 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Michael-Fisch)

I've replaced the glass on 2 Uwatec Master Diver SPGs. Since the crown is screwed on it's an easy fix.

Have you considered switching to plastic gauges or add a kind of rubber coating??

cheers
jonas

Michael-Fisch · June 24th, 2007, 09:39 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by jluttichau)

Have you considered switching to plastic gauges or add a kind of rubber coating??

cheers
jonas

Actually it's not that bad, I have over 20 Uwatec Master Divers in use, and have broken/repaired 2 in the last 5 years. Putting a protective sleeve over the SPG is currently not considered the DIR way, you'll never notice a slowly failing O-Ring on the swivel until it is too late.

Plastic SPGs have a horrible reputation for sticking at depth, inaccuracy at any pressure, and quickly becoming so scratched when used on stage bottles as to be unreadable - been there, done that. They also break too.

Michael

GLOC · June 24th, 2007, 09:43 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Michael-Fisch)

Putting a protective sleeve over the SPG is currently not considered the DIR way, you'll never notice a slowly failing O-Ring on the swivel until it is too late.

I think there was a little humour in Jonas' post

david_1 · June 24th, 2007, 10:49 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC)

I think there was a little humour in Jonas' post

oh no he was not......

no I think he was trying to start a fight :-)

he's behind you :-)

never ever ever go to the theater

David

fraser · June 25th, 2007, 09:34 AM

Bummer Mal. I had exactly the same happen to me (were you on Hurricane??)

Can't say I even considered swapping the glass, just binned it.

Frase.

***Fiona*** · June 25th, 2007, 09:42 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by fraser)

Bummer Mal. (were you on Hurricane??)

Frase.

they were a little on the rough side

Mal seemed quite attached to it though

June 23rd, 2007, 10:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mal Bridgeman(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 662	SPG Repair? On a recent liveaboard trip , the crew were slightly rougher with my kit than I would have liked and eventually they smashed the glass on the front of my AGIR SPG. Apart from the broken glass the gauge seems ok. Is it possible to replace the glass and, if so, is it a "send away" job or can it be done yourself? TIA Mal __________________ Opinions and beliefs are correct at the time of posting but are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the author.

June 24th, 2007, 09:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
GLOC (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 1,953	Quote: (Originally Posted by Michael-Fisch) Putting a protective sleeve over the SPG is currently not considered the DIR way, you'll never notice a slowly failing O-Ring on the swivel until it is too late. I think there was a little humour in Jonas' post __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

June 25th, 2007, 09:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
fraser(Offline) "I'm only late on your timescale" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 463	Bummer Mal. I had exactly the same happen to me (were you on Hurricane??) Can't say I even considered swapping the glass, just binned it. Frase. __________________ Damn it feels good to be a gangsta

June 25th, 2007, 09:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
*Fiona*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 1,203	Quote: (Originally Posted by fraser) Bummer Mal. (were you on Hurricane??) Frase. they were a little on the rough side Mal seemed quite attached to it though __________________ Fiona Resistance was Futile Move Along YD GUE Member

June 23rd, 2007, 10:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
*ericfine50*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MA Posts: 622	Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman) On a recent liveaboard trip , the crew were slightly rougher with my kit than I would have liked and eventually they smashed the glass on the front of my AGIR SPG. Apart from the broken glass the gauge seems ok. Is it possible to replace the glass and, if so, is it a "send away" job or can it be done yourself? TIA Mal I don't think there is a fix. You may need to replace it.

June 24th, 2007, 02:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jussi(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Posts: 43	I had a similar accident, spg hardened glass has crack on it and had to replace it, reason being that parts inside will rust and you really can trust the readings anymore. Obviously had to go get new one.

June 24th, 2007, 10:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Michael-Fisch(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 263	I've replaced the glass on 2 Uwatec Master Diver SPGs. Since the crown is screwed on it's an easy fix. I talked my optician into making me 5 glass blanks of the right size, thickness, and material - boron silicate, and then heat treating them. It ended up costing around $40, and I have spares for the next few years. In a cheap SPG it's not worth the trouble, but I'm convinced that the Uwatec Master Diver SPGs are the best ever made, and unfortunately they are no longer made - so I'll do almost anything to avoid having to shitcan one. Michael If you replace the glass, also replace the O-Ring!

June 24th, 2007, 07:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
jluttichau(Offline) Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 437	Quote: (Originally Posted by Michael-Fisch) I've replaced the glass on 2 Uwatec Master Diver SPGs. Since the crown is screwed on it's an easy fix. Have you considered switching to plastic gauges or add a kind of rubber coating?? cheers jonas

June 24th, 2007, 09:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Michael-Fisch(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 263	Quote: (Originally Posted by jluttichau) Have you considered switching to plastic gauges or add a kind of rubber coating?? cheers jonas Actually it's not that bad, I have over 20 Uwatec Master Divers in use, and have broken/repaired 2 in the last 5 years. Putting a protective sleeve over the SPG is currently not considered the DIR way, you'll never notice a slowly failing O-Ring on the swivel until it is too late. Plastic SPGs have a horrible reputation for sticking at depth, inaccuracy at any pressure, and quickly becoming so scratched when used on stage bottles as to be unreadable - been there, done that. They also break too. Michael

June 24th, 2007, 10:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
david_1(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: sussex Posts: 295	Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC) I think there was a little humour in Jonas' post oh no he was not...... no I think he was trying to start a fight :-) he's behind you :-) never ever ever go to the theater David