14,000 Sherwood Maximus regulators may have a serious
problem: the second stage orifice can crack, bend or break, causing
a loss of manual adjustment, free flow and subsequently the
inability to deliver air to the diver. The first incident was reported
early last year by a diver in Japan, who surfaced safely despite the
malfunction. Last autumn a California instructor experienced a
similar problem in a swimming pool. A Sherwood spokesman
told Undercurent that these are the only in-water incidents
reported so far, however retailes have returned five other damaged
Maximus orifices.
The problems occur in regulators manufactured between
January 1998 and November 2000. Model: SRB5600, Serial
Numbers: K600001 through K611834; Model Number:SRB5600D2,
Serial Numbers: DK60000 through DK62000; Model Number:
SRB5600CE, Serial Number Range: EK60001 through EK62000. The
serial number is on the top of the second stage case, next to the
mouthpiece.
Do not use the regulator until a Sherwood dealers will replace
the second stage orifice (at no charge). Further information can
be obtained at 1-800-469-9929 or www.sherwoodscuba.com.