Replacing vs Rebuilding Tank Valves

[Gone for diving]

You're missing the point. None of us said it was hard. It is just not worth the time and effort compared to the cost of just replacing them.

I do understand you to a point.
I hope you are an employer or selfempoyed like me.

What lots of people forget is,
The money you bought it with, has income tax on it, for me sales tax of 13%, your time to order, shipping,
And am sure there is more,

So it will cost you more than you initially think,

The best solution is to and a few extras valves on hand to swap out,
Or if it's me I have a good oring selection, and I only rebuild when it leaks, or it's a used tank to me and have no history.

 

[Johnoly]

.... and I only rebuild when it leaks,....

Yes it's two different view points and operating procedures.

Some diver's replace components when they break or fail. Others replace components on a timed/interval rate. For me certain components have burned me in the past out at sea far away from a repair facility/parts. So I replace them prior to failure. Examples that I replace are fin straps, mask straps, gloves, lobster loopers(6/yr !!). But to your point I also replace my power inflator every 2yrs, {keep a spare in my drybag} but I do personally rebuilt it since it's stainless steel.
I can't have a failure at 120ft deep with just minutes from deco and the tax man pissed off trying to steal my dinner.
I do understand and respect others that dive equipment to failure/worn out/leaks.

 

[Gone for diving]

Yes it's two different view points and operating procedures.

Some diver's replace components when they break or fail. Others replace components on a timed/interval rate. For me certain components have burned me in the past out at sea far away from a repair facility/parts. So I replace them prior to failure. Examples that I replace are fin straps, mask straps, gloves, lobster loopers(6/yr !!). But to your point I also replace my power inflator every 2yrs, {keep a spare in my drybag} but I do personally rebuilt it since it's stainless steel.
I can't have a failure at 120ft deep with just minutes from deco and the tax man pissed off trying to steal my dinner.
I do understand and respect others that dive equipment to failure/worn out/leaks.

Personally I find LP quick connects and tank yoke orings to be the most leak prone,

I mainly do fresh water diving, I can see it being different in continuous salt water, and naturally we probably will have different problem points,

Also unless something is loose and backed off, orings almost always fail with some kind of slow leak,

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I do understand you to a point.
I hope you are an employer or selfempoyed like me.

What lots of people forget is,
The money you bought it with, has income tax on it, for me sales tax of 13%, your time to order, shipping,
And am sure there is more,

So it will cost you more than you initially think,

The best solution is to and a few extras valves on hand to swap out,
Or if it's me I have a good oring selection, and I only rebuild when it leaks, or it's a used tank to me and have no history.

Yea, I fully understand the total cost of both approaches. I've made the right value-based decision for me. Everyone is different. You do you, I'll do me.

 

[MrChen]

Yes it's two different view points and operating procedures.

Some diver's replace components when they break or fail. Others replace components on a timed/interval rate. For me certain components have burned me in the past out at sea far away from a repair facility/parts. So I replace them prior to failure. Examples that I replace are fin straps, mask straps, gloves, lobster loopers(6/yr !!). But to your point I also replace my power inflator every 2yrs, {keep a spare in my drybag} but I do personally rebuilt it since it's stainless steel.
I can't have a failure at 120ft deep with just minutes from deco and the tax man pissed off trying to steal my dinner.
I do understand and respect others that dive equipment to failure/worn out/leaks.

How often do you replace your fin straps? and lobster loopers too?!?!

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

You don't do it to be cheap.....

You do it because you enjoy doing it...

Between what I've spent on equipment servicing training (and will soon spend on training) and what I've spent on tools and facilities just to work on my own stuff, I will probably be underwater costwise for the rest of my life. What I thought was starting out (partially at least) as a desire to be able to accompany a girl (admittedly way out of my league smokin') on a couple of trips a year and do a couple of dives, turned into an expensive hobby that consumes way more of my time and energy than I ever anticipated.

BUT - I greatly enjoy understanding the intricacies of the equipment, how it works, and have the ability to evaluate and fix it myself. Better than Jojo the tank plumber down at Bric's Bait and Gas and Divin' Shack. And If I spend $70 on a used bottle and $20 on a valve kit, and $25 on a new hydro, and four hours cleaning and polishing a bottle to make it pretty and then inspect it, I've spent $115 for four hours entertainment. AND A FREE BOTTLE OUT OF IT! Less cost than going to see my favorite team beat the Dallas Cowboys (that would be ANY team that plays the Cowboys), or play a round of golf, or spend half a day Dizzykneeworld. That's how I ended up with way more bottles next to the kitchen table than anyone would ever use.

I get it - some - most - folks just want the turnkey and the primary activity associated with it. That's OK too.

 

[Johnoly]

How often do you replace your fin straps? and lobster loopers too?!?!

Fin straps are every year, needed or not. Since I'm a harvester, April is my slowest month since everything is no-take. All equipment changes, updates, repairs, etc are done then. I don't usually dive in April

Lobster loopers(@$50 each!!} are a different reason. The loop itself is made out of "7-1' SS cable. That's 7 strands of thinner wire spiral wrapped around 1 thicker STIFF inner core wire. That inner core wire breaks from repeated catchings and then the loop will no longer hold it's "crucial curved" shape. Yes, the looper still works, but it can take double or triple the amount of time to work the lobster out of the hole. I can't spend 3 minutes on a bug, it needs to be 30 seconds and off to search for the next hole. People who dive with me know I catch ALOT of bugs >>>>But I total suck at U/W photography, I just can't take a good picture. That's why I admire your's and others U/W pictures.

 

[BoltSnap]

Lobster looper

Is this the same as "lobster snare"?

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Even worse than that is.....
I throw out almost the whole lobster and only keep the tail !!

Well.. up here we keep the claws. Ours fight back you know!

If you was from Louisiana, you'd suck the good stuff out of the head before tossing it.

I love a good boil.. about as much as I love MD crabs. It costs me about 1/2 to order live crawfish from Lousiana and do a boil as it does for a bushel of crabs.. go figure. And yes.. always suck the head out!



Dammit, now I'm hungry!

 

[Johnoly]

Is this the same as "lobster snare"?

In Florida, having a snare on the boat WITH lobsters is an illegal hunting device. The difference in FLA is a looper has a 4 inch long wire cover that prevents it from closing almost fully. A SNARE has no protective wire cover and can close fully and injure a lobster. The regulations are to prevent injury to a short or egg bearing lobster tail that a looper can otherwise release without injury. I've seen a few hunters who cut off the plastic cover and when stopped by law enforcement are ticketed along with a court appearance required for an illegal hunting device. Here is a picture to illustrate better.