How to tighten tank strap

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

New tank straps are a bit stiff and so hard to work. Here are a few steps to try:
- first make sure the straps are wet
- as you did, take it out of the third slot in the cam buckle
- when you pull the strap make sure you pull along the tank not out from it (put your pulling hand resting on the other part of the strap instead of pull out from the tank. You may wish to be standing on the plate side to do this.). If not then you will create a gap where the buckle is near the tank when you pull out.
- while you have the strap tight push the cam buckle partially close and then as you pull tightly on the strap lower the buckle back into the open position (not closing it). When you do this you should see that the strap will tighten up some more. You may need to do this a couple of time.
- then as mentioned above, with the strap pulled tight, push the cam buckle partially closed so it holds the strap and thread the strap through the third slot and finally lock it down.
 
Yes I do, at 0:28 or so in the video, but my hand obstructs it from view.

I can definitely feel the "pop" when doing it, but when the strap is properly tight, the "pop" has enough resistance that it is actually difficult to close.


No, you are not understanding. You did the final pass through of the belt and THEN pushed the buckle. You do NOT do the final pass through of belt until AFTER the pop, that is the problem.

Actually, the last pass through of the belt does nothing to make the band tight, the only function of the last pass through is to assist in keeping the buckle closed or accidentally getting a fishing line under the buckle and having it pop open.

At first try, just totally skipping the last pass through of the final slot.. you will see instantly.
 
No, you are not understanding. You did the final pass through of the belt and THEN pushed the buckle. You do NOT do the final pass through of belt until AFTER the pop, that is the problem.

Actually, the last pass through of the belt does nothing to make the band tight, the only function of the last pass through is to assist in keeping the buckle closed or accidentally getting a fishing line under the buckle and having it pop open.

At first try, just totally skipping the last pass through of the final slot.. you will see instantly.
Agreed. That last slot does nothing to tighten the strap; its purpose (when the strap is velcro'ed down) is to keep the buckle from getting accidentally knocked open.
 
I can't tell if you have these are not. Some bands are slicker than others and these help if they loosen a bit.

OMS Friction Pad | Dive Gear Express®

Jay
 
My original jacket BC was bought used in 2005 so new straps weren't a problem. It is still my only BC today. I got fed up with tightening the strap (BCs with 2 straps seem to be better) and bought the Apollo Bio Tank Lock for about $100 CAD in about 2007. Never had a tank slip at all, nor have to wet the strap. I had to review a bit on threading straps and actually how to cinch them real tight before I assisted with the first class of the season.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

Back
Top Bottom