Cleaning Scubapro BCD

[vel525]

Hello All,

I have a scubapro Knighthawk BCD with Air2. I was rinsing out the bladder tonight and thought there must be an easier way to get water in the bladder to rinse it out. I noticed on the shoulder where the Air2 attaches to the BCD there's a little "lever" that vents (I think that's what it does). Anyway, I was wondering if there's an easy way to take off the Air2 to get water into the bladder. Thanks for your help and making BCD maintenance easier.

Victor

 

[LadyScuba]

How are you cleaning it now that is difficult?

I have the SP LadyHawk with Air2 and there are several ways to clean it that are not difficult at all. I have found the simplest and safest is to hold down the dump button while holding the hose to the mouthpiece to allow the water to flow into the bladder. I then manually inflate the bladder, swish the water around, then drain. This can be repeated if needed.

Another option is to remove the dump valve located on the right shoulder by unscrewing it. This allows the water to enter and drain easily but you risk not seating the valve correctly when you put it back on.

The lever at the point where the corrugated inflator hose connects to the bladder is a quick release valve to be used by an instructor or buddy. I do not recommend filling through this area.

Please keep in mind that you must put the cover on the male QD port for the low pressure hose. This is to protect the regulator in the Air2.

 

[Hoosier]

I have found the simplest and safest is to hold down the dump button while holding the hose to the mouthpiece to allow the water to flow into the bladder. I then manually inflate the bladder, swish the water around, then drain. This can be repeated if needed.

Please keep in mind that you must put the cover on the male QD port for the low pressure hose. This is to protect the regulator in the Air2.

Bingo. That's the way..... Don't worry too much about Air 2. It is a little bit different with the ordinary regulator. It is fine with the water, even in a submerged condition.

 

[redacted]

Bingo. That's the way..... Don't worry too much about Air 2. It is a little bit different with the ordinary regulator. It is fine with the water, even in a submerged condition.

As long as it is not connected to a 1st stage, any 2nd stage can be soaked without a problem.

 

[Wayward Son]

I remove the rear dump & fill it that way on my wife's Ladyhawk.

 

[vel525]

The way I have been doing it is the way lady scuba described without a hose. I just hold the dump button and let water flow in from the bathtub faucet. I just figured there must be a quicker way to get water in the bladder.

Wayward Son, does the rear dump just unscrew? I'm not too familiary with taking apart dive gear yet.

 

[Wayward Son]

Yeah, it just screws off. Plastic, so be carefull to not cross thread it putting it back on.

I don't remove the left shoulder dump, as there is a cable inside there to the Air2 or power inflator so you can just pull on that to open them dump. The right shoulder would be a better choice to remove.

Just be sure to flush fresh water out all the dumps, both shoulders, rear & the Air2/inflator. Salt buildup in them doesn't help.