BP/W question (yes, another one. . .)

[Hop Devil]

Hammerhead handles are simply grip openings for picking up the bare plate when nothing is attached to it. Some people love it, some don't. That's why they make it with or without. As far as their plate quality, its the best deal out there.
I bought there cold water special and put my own hand grip right on the single tank adaper. I just used a piece of nylon strap and some of the clear plastic tubing you can buy at Home Depot. Total cost about $1.50. The Hammerhead people are nice to deal with I think the owners name is Ed, very nice and helpful also.

 

[Mandy3206]

Was it a simple swap out? Did you just replace the elbow or did you replace the whole inflator/deflator assembly?

Just unscrew the elbow, removed the hose and reinstall with the new dump valve assbly.

The Dive Rite assbly is for a 16" standard length corrugated hose, depending on the length of your current hose, you may need to add the hose too.

I got my stuff from www.diveriteexpress.com.
BC2750 Assbly $28.00
BC2048 16" corrugated hose $17.33
BC2097 22" corrugated hose $21.00

My OMS hose was smooth on the inside and it was harder to pull due to lacking the acordion feature of other hoses, so I ordered the DR hose too.

In my case, I like the longer 22" hose and just replaced the SS cable inside the hose with one of proper length (make sure you use SS cable and ferrules or corrosion will develop in no time. If you can live with the 16" hose, it's just a 2min swap deal, if you buy hose and assbly together from DR express, they come ready to mount and a sealer is used in the hose-assbly connection. Any power inflator should work with any hose of any brand.

 

[xiSkiGuy]

Just unscrew the elbow, removed the hose and reinstall with the new dump valve assbly. . .

Thanks. I think armed with your info on customization and the other feedback I’ve gotten, I'm going to get either a Dive-Rite TransPlate or OMS Comfort Harness and an OMS 45# wing and install a shoulder-pull dump in place of the elbow.

 

[gfisher4792]

Just to throw my opinion into the pool, I bought a Hammerhead plate and STA, and I think it was the best deal out there. I do have the handles, and while I don't really use them for anything, they also don't seem to cause any problems either. As for potential corrosion along increased surface area, well, since my plate get rinsed with the rest of my gear, that takes care of that. And if it does increase corrosion, even with rinsing, so what? That just means my plate will last, oh, 18 years rather than 20. The handles don't pinch anything (me, the wetsuit or the wing), nor does anything get hung up on it.

I tried a Transplate, and I found it, well, alright I guess. I didn't really find it exceptional for adjusting while wearing it, and I felt that if I pulled on the shoulder adjustments, the QR might break! Maybe my imagination or user error, but I just wasn't comfortable with it. Also, the built in shoulder pads also got in the way of putting on my gear (either flipping the shoulder strap around, or bunching up on itself).

In the end, I sold it and switched to the DR deluxe harness (with crotch strap). Cheaper, simpler (ok, maybe not as simple as a continuous harness) and much easier to work with. I find that with it installed correctly, I don't need any shoulder adjustment. Anyway, that's what worked for me.

 

[Mandy3206]

From the picture you may decide if the taco effect is something that you have to worry about, and you can see the DR weight system and shoulder dump valve installed