Buying a used bcd

[Happyladydiver]

I went for it. Read so many good reviews. Thanks all

 

[Marie13]

@Happyladydiver

I have a regular buddy who dives a different AL BC with the I3. Two things I want to point out.

1. Since it’s non standard gear, you need to let anyone new you dive with know how it works, as well as pointing out to them how it is orally inflated.

2. If you’re on a trip and the lever breaks, there is no guarantee you’re going to be able to get it fixed. I don’t even know if that part is something AL dealers would keep in stock.

 

[Happyladydiver]

@Happyladydiver

I have a regular buddy who dives a different AL BC with the I3. Two things I want to point out.

1. Since it’s non standard gear, you need to let anyone new you dive with know how it works, as well as pointing out to them how it is orally inflated.

2. If you’re on a trip and the lever breaks, there is no guarantee you’re going to be able to get it fixed. I don’t even know if that part is something AL dealers would keep in stock.

Thanks for that. I do not plan anything too wild for a while anyway so just so I can avoid rental gear it should be ok. I will let people know for sure.

 

[Nathan Doty]

Thanks for that. I do not plan anything too wild for a while anyway so just so I can avoid rental gear it should be ok. I will let people know for sure.

Letting your dive buddy know is important. It doesn't matter if a dive goes as planned, it can be an issue if there's an issue. As a f'er instance: If everything is working well I will never touch your gear. But I've had once or twice someone lose a flipper, or have a loose tank, pop a low pressure hose etc and need my help. Working with someone elses body is difficult to start with, when they're starting to float or something else the person helping needs to be able to control your buoyancy pretty quickly, so knowing where to grab is important. If I'm used to grabbing an inflator, I do that by instinct. I'll have to think about where a lever is.

 

[Happyladydiver]

Some manufacturers have plastics longevity issues. The most common failure point is the fitting that the corrugated bcd hose screws on to. So, it can be not so many dives that have been done, but how old the bcd is and probably how it was stored during that period.

You should inflate it fully until the overpressure valve actuates. Do this not with your mouth, but a regset and let it sit overnight. You can also tell if the inflator operates smoothly, which is another common problem with used BCDs. We do that when we test BCDs and have come back the next morning with the fitting fractured due to the plastics issue. You can also see if the bladder itself holds air if the fitting does not fracture.

We had a guy who refused to have his bcd tested before his vacation. On his third giant stride, the bcd failed and according to the diver, he almost drowned. Another guy, same story, but this time on the first giant stride. I had to hold that guy on the surface while another dive dropped his weights.

So do I find a local Aqualung service centre for that or...? What does a service usually cost?

 

[Marie13]

So do I find a local Aqualung service centre for that or...? What does a service usually cost?

Do you have access to a tank? If so, just inflate the BC and let it sit overnight. Otherwise, go on Aqualung’s website and use the dealer locator to find one local to you. All dealers may not service gear, but it will give you a starting point for contacts.

 

[Happyladydiver]

Do you have access to a tank? If so, just inflate the BC and let it sit overnight. Otherwise, go on Aqualung’s website and use the dealer locator to find one local to you. All dealers may not service gear, but it will give you a starting point for contacts.

But the other guy said a regset to inflate it to test?

 

[Marie13]

But the other guy said a regset to inflate it to test?

Yes, reg on a tank to inflate the BC.

 

[Altamira]

Edit: Self deleted. Missed the Op's post about her purchase.

 

[Happyladydiver]

Yes, reg on a tank to inflate the BC.

Where can I access one? Sorry but I don’t know how this works.