How often do tank valves need to be rebuilt

[chrpai]

That's kind of like waiting to do an oil-change on your car until warning lights come on.

Sounds good, but consider this:

If you drive a car for 2 years without changing the oil you will likely blow the engine costing you $5000 to replace it. $250 in oil changes will likely prevent this.

If you dive a tank for 10 years you will probably have no problems with your valve. But if you do, you can service it for $20 or replace it for $40. $200 in valve rebuilds would have likely prevented this or if the tech is incompetent caused this.

It's a no brainer to me. One final strategy for those with DIN/Pro Valve's would be to sell the valve after 5 years on eBay and buy a brand new one for a few bucks more. There is always a market for people going from Yoke to DIN.

 

[Diver0001]

Sounds good, but consider this:

...blablabla...

I understand your point of view. But for the couple of $$$ it costs to avoid problems I don't see the issue.

Y'all probably spend 10x as much money at Mcdonalds in a year, buying food that will shorten your life-span, than you do avoiding potentially life-threatening issues in scuba diving.

To me the cost is irrelevant. It's a few dollars every 5 years is too much then....... you need to consider your priorities!

R..

 

[Superlyte27]

I understand your point of view. But for the couple of $$$ it costs to avoid problems I don't see the issue.

Y'all probably spend 10x as much money at Mcdonalds in a year, buying food that will shorten your life-span, than you do avoiding potentially life-threatening issues in scuba diving.

To me the cost is irrelevant. It's a few dollars every 5 years is too much then....... you need to consider your priorities!

R..

How often do you rebuild your inflator on your BCD? I've got a Wing that is more than 16 years old, and it's never had an issue. Am I still supposed to rebuild my inflator every 5 years because it might have an issue? I have more than 10 tanks that are over 15 years old, and 4 tanks that are over 40 years old. Should I fix what ain't broke because someday it might be broke? I've never heard anyone overhaul a working inflator at regular intervals, and while it could be a life threatening issue (I guess), thank God training teaches us how to cope with it.

Also, have you ever replaced an alternator or wheel bearing on a car only to find out 5 hours later that what you replaced it with is also bad? If it ain't broke don't break it, and if it ain't broke... don't fix it.

But, that's just my stance on 17+ Years of diving. It works for me. YMMV

 

[jwalko]

Fantastic information...thank you.

Regarding the quote about changing oil...I had to laugh...because I've been working on cars and motorcycles since I was old enough to walk into a garage. Yet, I once had a girlfriend who would wait til the oil light came on to check/change her oil (she once ground completely through a front brake rotor on her car. I asked "Didn't you hear anything...such as a severe grinding noise"...Her answer "Nope". Anyway...I digress

I'm not opposed to having the valves rebuilt. I'm a big fan of preventative maintenance. However...what rubbed me the wrong way was how this was presented by the dive shop...that it was REQUIRED as part of a hydro. Don't bullsh*t me (directed at the shop...not anyone here). If you want to recommend it...fine...I'll consider it. Just don't tell me its required when there really is no such requirement.

I've rebuilt engines from the ground up...rebuild carburetors...appliances...and am fairly mechanically inclined. I'm actually talking to this same shop about getting certified to repair regulators (and working for them). We'll see how this goes.

Thanks again

John

That's kind of like waiting to do an oil-change on your car until warning lights come on.

Maybe it will help the OP to know what's involved in servicing a tank valve. It's a matter of emptying the tank and removing the valve (obviously), unscrewing the retaining nut that holds the handle on, using a tool to remove the moving parts from the inside of the handle mechanism, ultra-sounding them, replacing a couple of o-rings and lubricating/cleaning. depending on whether or not the valve needs to be O2 clean there are variations in what needs to be done, and then to reassemble it all and put it back on the tank with a new tank O-ring.

The whole operation can be done in 5-10 minutes, which should give you some idea of the price they should be charging your for it.

Here is a picture of the innards of a K-valve so the OP can get some visual idea of what we're talking about.

R..

View attachment 149597

 

[chrpai]

I'm not opposed to having the valves rebuilt. I'm a big fan of preventative maintenance. However...what rubbed me the wrong way was how this was presented by the dive shop...that it was REQUIRED as part of a hydro. Don't bullsh*t me (directed at the shop...not anyone here). If you want to recommend it...fine...I'll consider it. Just don't tell me its required when there really is no such requirement.

I've rebuilt engines from the ground up...rebuild carburetors...appliances...and am fairly mechanically inclined. I'm actually talking to this same shop about getting certified to repair regulators (and working for them). We'll see how this goes.

And many auto repair facilities aren't known for the hard sells? I don't doubt your mechanical skills, you should go far. I would be concerned that the shop will teach a lot of wrong information and continue the disservice to the customer.

---------- Post added March 8th, 2013 at 09:19 AM ----------

I understand your point of view. ...blablabla...

I don't like to waste money and that includes McDonalds. I understand you, you understand me. Sounds good to me.

 

[Peter_C]

How often does a seat fail? A seat did fail on one of my bank bottles, which is the same thing as a scuba tank, but it had been opened and closed hundreds of times. I have had o-rings go bad on my scuba tank valve, but they can be serviced in a couple of minutes with the tank full.

Service kits for Thermo valves are $16.
Cylinder Valves by Thermo - Dive Gear Express

 

[NAM001]

routurner has a point.
not nowing who is the valve tech, i tend to not fix what is not broke. as long as teh valve was initially god for nitrox I tend to leave it alone. An O@ deco bottle might be a different arena though. Especially if the deco tank is used a lot, and filled from questionable o2 banks/systems.

great pic Diver0001, educational at the very least . If parts 2,3 and 20/21 are good then all should be well nthe universe.

 

[Diver0001]

if it ain't broke... don't fix it.

Not my attitude, but I understand the point of view you're trying to express.

What we can agree upon is that the OP should not have been told that it was required.

But, that's just my stance on 17+ Years of diving. It works for me. YMMV

That green, eh?

R..

 

[Kharon]

A valve is a valve is a valve. Your LDS is tryig to bleed you.

 

[redacted]

I understand your point of view. But for the couple of $$$ it costs to avoid problems I don't see the issue.

Y'all probably spend 10x as much money at Mcdonalds in a year, buying food that will shorten your life-span, than you do avoiding potentially life-threatening issues in scuba diving.

To me the cost is irrelevant. It's a few dollars every 5 years is too much then....... you need to consider your priorities!

R..

For what potential life threatening failure are you going to reduce the failure rate by servicing a completely serviceable valve? I suspect it is quite likely that you could actually increase the failure rate through service errors and the introduction of defective parts.