Do you get your BCD serviced?

[bradshsi]

You can easily do checks with the BCD to confirm that it's ok. I've listed the ones I can think of below:

Check there is no damage or excess wear on the outside of it.

Inflate it and leave it for an hour or two to see if it holds air (you can also weight it and submerge it to look for leaks).

Deflate it but keep the inflator connected to the air supply and leave it for a while to see if the inflator valve leaks (causing the BCD to inflate over time).

Also check the operation of the dump valve(s). Check that the velcro and integrated weight pockets are not worn or sloppy.

If you want to be really sure, have the inflator serviced as well.

BTW as someone else posted you should try to do at least an external visual chaeck and inflator/dump valve operation check before each dive.

 

[deeper thoughts]

I do when i get the regulator serviced, what is the old saying penny wise dollar foolish, my 2cents.

 

[WKenny]

Hi Mandy,

I read your note about servicing a BC yourself. Could you please advise me more specifically how a diver should perform that self maintenance?

Thank You,

Bill Kenny
kennywek@aol.com

 

[cerich]

No. They are just creating business. Just blow it up and see if it holds air overnight, thats probably all they are going to do.

I disagree. The most common equipment malfunction is teh BCD inflator sticking and causing the BCD to auto inflate which can lead to over expansion injuries.

If you must just blow it it and see if it holds air fine, but also hook it up to a tank and cycle the inflator to ensure it functions as designed.

Some units do not require service (like our new Oceanic inflator) and some/most do.

 

[Charlie99]

Yep, I just had my BCD serviced yesterday. After washing it out after a couple dives I heard a funny hissing sound as I orally inflated it. Small split in the corrugated hose on the LPI end. Bought a new hose and replaced it. That hose, and the replacement of the pull dump wire, and periodic cleaning of the velcro pockets are the only things I've needed to do to an 8 year old SeaQuest ProQD with about 400 dives on it.

WKenny -- most of the BCD servicing is a close visual inspection. Look for worn or frayed items. Inpsect the buckles and clips, looking for any cracking.

Inspect your weight pockets. Use a toothbrush to clean any lint, sand, and gunk out of the velcro surfaces.

Then orally inflate it and see if it holds air. If it doesn't, then submerge it in water and find the leak. It may be something as simple as a bit of crud under a dump valve.

Unscrew the dump valves and inspect them. Make sure the dump valve cord isn't too worn. (the cord on the right rear dump valve is getting to the point where I will soon have to replace it).

Check the tightness of the attachment of the corrugaged hose at both ends.

If you have a pull dump, after 4 or 5 years, cut off the tiewraps holding the corrugated hose in place and inspect for corrosion.

Make sure the LPI inflator button works smoothly without any hint of sticking. Just buy a new one and install it if you have have any doubts. The LPI is one item that you might want to have checked by a professional -- so he can replace the schraeder valve or O-rings or whatever is in there.

Once you are done inspecting, put everything back together and do one last round to ensure that the dump valves and inflator hose are properly screwed back on and that the BCD holds air.

Even if one decides to have your BCD serviced once a year, the above checks are a good thing to do in between annual servicing.

Charlie Allen

 

[Thalassamania]

I must have missed something. I've NEVER seen an auto inflator stick and cause the BC to inflate, with the exception of the old USD BC707 that had a Schrader in the inflator mechanism.

 

[cerich]

I must have missed something. I've NEVER seen an auto inflator stick and cause the BC to inflate, with the exception of the old USD BC707 that had a Schrader in the inflator mechanism.

I have many many times. Very common in carib rentals (worked in Cayman 5 years) and folks who dive once a year with their own gear.(bring it in for us to fix)

A company I used to rep for I had lots of complaints.....

You may not have missed it, you may not have been in a high volume enviornment to see it.

 

[Charlie99]

I must have missed something. I've NEVER seen an auto inflator stick and cause the BC to inflate, with the exception of the old USD BC707 that had a Schrader in the inflator mechanism.

Actually there are two common failures. One is simply the button itself getting stuck, due to sand, gunk or who knows what in the mechanism. The other failure is a very slow leak past the valve. While I've never personally had this problem, I've seen 4 or 5 in-water incidents with other divers while out on boats. And many other cases where the problem was obvious on the boat -- usually with rental gear in tropical locations.

 

[Mandy3206]

Yep, I just had my BCD serviced yesterday. After washing it out after a couple dives I heard a funny hissing sound as I orally inflated it. Small split in the corrugated hose on the LPI end. Bought a new hose and replaced it. That hose, and the replacement of the pull dump wire, and periodic cleaning of the velcro pockets are the only things I've needed to do to an 8 year old SeaQuest ProQD with about 400 dives on it.

WKenny -- most of the BCD servicing is a close visual inspection. Look for worn or frayed items. Inpsect the buckles and clips, looking for any cracking.

Inspect your weight pockets. Use a toothbrush to clean any lint, sand, and gunk out of the velcro surfaces.

Then orally inflate it and see if it holds air. If it doesn't, then submerge it in water and find the leak. It may be something as simple as a bit of crud under a dump valve. (the cord on the right rear dump valve is getting to the point where I will soon have to replace it).

Unscrew the dump valves and inspect them. Make sure the dump valve cord isn't too worn.

Check the tightness of the attachment of the corrugaged hose at both ends.

If you have a pull dump, after 4 or 5 years, cut off the tiewraps holding the corrugated hose in place and inspect for corrosion.

Make sure the LPI inflator button works smoothly without any hint of sticking. Just buy a new one and install it if you have have any doubts. The LPI is one item that you might want to have checked by a professional -- so he can replace the schraeder valve or O-rings or whatever is in there.

Once you are done inspecting, put everything back together and do one last round to ensure that the dump valves and inflator hose are properly screwed back on and that the BCD holds air.

Even if one decides to have your BCD serviced once a year, the above checks are a good thing to do in between annual servicing.

Charlie Allen

WKenny:
As Charlie pointed out, that's all there is to it in a BC, if you clean and lube your gear regularly, you shouldn't have any problems for yrs to come, as pointed before, the power inflator is the most technical part of the BC and once you disassemble one, all are more or less the same.

If you break yours trying to fix it, you may get a new one very cheap, I have fixed mine two times and have never replaced one in 10yrs, from my gear or my relatives gear (6 BCs under my custody)

Hope this helps
Mandy

 

[Chaseh]

Mine's in along with my regs for service right now. They go in once a year.

The cost is minimal, and last year there was a recalled part that was replaced for free.

Why wouldn't you get it serviced? Saving a couple of bucks vs. avoiding problems with equip? Sure it might not be life or death, but neither is the dentist.