Attaching HP and LP Hoses

[hermosadive]

I think everyone has it now...finger tight then a wrench to make it snug...check for a few dives to make sure it isn't loosening. Enough repeat info :10:

...It should also be stated that Scubapro uses proprietary connections on their hoses that come from the factory, and a special wrench needs to be used to get the connection free (which I've heard SP will gladly sell to people for $80).

I purchased a Scubapro hose from a local shop to replace the hose on my aux. reg that was longer than I wanted. Nothing strange about it.

 

[rainmaker]

Thanks, everyone!

I had two reasons for asking this; one, it looks like I'll be buying my reg one place and my BC at another, so I'll need to connect inflator hose on the BC myself. Also, I like to be able to perform simple maintenance on my gear, so if a hose loses it in some remote corner of the world, I can swap it out without needing to depend on someone else to do it.

As usual, I learn something just about everyday at ScubaBoard. Today was no exception. Great folks, and a great resource.

(One other thing I learned today is that I won't be paying ScubaPro $80 for any wrenches any time soon.)

 

[StSomewhere]

For those of us that *are* really anal about torque wrenches, etc. exactly what should HP and LP hoses be tightened down to?

Rainmaker, if you are concerned you can always have the shop you buy the reg from install a BC inflator hose, probably for not a lot more jack than the reg itself.

 

[Knight1989]

Due to liability issues, JMHO, personally, I would have a qualified tech do the work.
As with any threaded connection or application, there are certain torque specifications required so as not to exceed the limitations of the materials used.

It may sound like a simple procedure, but how many people actually use a torque wrench when tightening or checking the lug nuts on the wheels of their automobiles?

Dive safe,
Tom

You think your auto mechanic uses a torgue wrench on your wheels? If so hes about the only one in the country.

 

[jonnythan]

You think your auto mechanic uses a torgue wrench on your wheels? If so hes about the only one in the country.

Note that most are talking about "liability," not "having it done right." In other words, most people are more concered with having a direction to assign blame for a poor job than they are with having the job done right in the first place.

 

[kidspot]

Last cheater bar I used was about 3ft - two of us pulling on it (and I'm BIG) it would budge about 1/2 inch - (the ratchet would move 1 click) we'd reset it, start over... 20 minutes later first bolt came off... 4 to go

Aloha, Tim

 

[BabyDuck]

I calibrate them at least once a year to a red hair.

i could say a lot at this juncture, but i won't. you'll have to imagine it. no, keep imagining, you haven't gotten there yet. i'll just say a thick one or a thin one? head or...not?

 

[redacted]

You think your auto mechanic uses a torgue wrench on your wheels? If so hes about the only one in the country.

Mine does, unless it is a roadside emergency. I was stuck once with lug nuts that I could not remove. Ain't gonna happen again.

 

[pete340]

it looks like I'll be buying my reg one place and my BC at another, so I'll need to connect inflator hose on the BC myself.

Not necessarily. I bought my BC, and it came with an inflator hose. I took the hose with me when I bought my regulators and the LDS installed it.

 

[android]

In this case, torque specifications are for ham-fisted mechanics, so they're less likely to break things. Good mechanics have a well-developed sense of touch, and can tighten things without breaking them.

I'm a former aviation mechanic and I disagree. A "Good Mechanic" realizes that there is no such thing as a sense of touch because materials, lubrication and the length of your wrench are all variables. A good mechanic uses a torque wrench on all safety related fasteners be they aviation, automotive or scuba.

Also, if you're going to use a torque wrench to tighten a hose, you have to use a crow's foot extension rather than a socket. That means calculating the offset and an equivalent torque. A plastic correction factor table is sometimes available with the crow's foot set.