BC dump valve popped off --- can I just pop it back on?

[tie]

Help! On my last dive, the rear dump valve at the bottom of my DSS wing popped off, so there is a hole into the bladder. I held on to the part (the whole dump valve assembly, all screwed together). Now how do I fix the BC?

The hole in the BC going in to the bladder has a piece of rubber going around it, which I can wrap around the dump valve. This then holds together, but not strongly enough for me to use the dump valve. (Pulling the string pops the valve off again.)

There is a sort of plastic washer inside the bladder that looks like it should connect to the dump valve, but I don't see how. Does this have to be glued to the dump valve to hold everything securely together?

Thanks for any help.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Yes, just screw back on.

 

[redacted]

The "plastic washer" inside the BCD is known as a T-nut. It is more likely that it broke than unscrewed so look at the face of the face of the "washer" and see if there are rough edges that line up with similar rough edges in the outside piece. If so, you will need a new T-nut. Don't lose the rubber washer.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Help! On my last dive, the rear dump valve at the bottom of my DSS wing popped off, so there is a hole into the bladder. I held on to the part (the whole dump valve assembly, all screwed together). Now how do I fix the BC?

The hole in the BC going in to the bladder has a piece of rubber going around it, which I can wrap around the dump valve. This then holds together, but not strongly enough for me to use the dump valve. (Pulling the string pops the valve off again.)

There is a sort of plastic washer inside the bladder that looks like it should connect to the dump valve, but I don't see how. Does this have to be glued to the dump valve to hold everything securely together?

Thanks for any help.

Sorry to hear you had a problem. I strongly recommend you have your BC inspected before using it again. Contact us Monday and I'm sure we can get you back in the water quickly.

Tobin

 

[Jax]

If it looks like this, you need a new T-nut.

See if your dump valve has a center piece you can screw out . . . . that is the broken leg of the "T".

 

[cool_hardware52]

If it looks like this, you need a new T-nut.

See if your dump valve has a center piece you can screw out . . . . that is the broken leg of the "T".

Unfortunately that's not all you need. You also need the proper tools (BC wrench set) and you need some way to disassemble the OPV. The OPV in the picture has the outer wing fitting nut stuck inside it. After inserting the new T nut into the bladder, *and* getting the sealing grommet properly positioned the outer nut, by it's self, separate from the OPV "cage", is screwed down on the male threads of the T nut and tightened in place with the BC wrenches. Then the out portion of the OPV is screwed onto the large male threads on the outer nut. There also are some dimensional differences in terms of thread length on T nuts that otherwise appear to be interchangeable.

Tobin

 

[Jax]

Well, yeah, and a perfectly awesome firm like DSS to send it to!

Sent from my PC31600 using awfulcorrect.

 

[tie]

Thanks everyone for the help. It is the washer inside that broke off; I've attached a pic. I rented a replacement BCD for my dives, and will go ahead and get this fixed.