Halcyon SS Inflator...

[MXGratefulDiver]

Just curious Bob, how exactly do you clean off your gear? I'm not accusing you of anything, I am just curious!

I have a plastic tub that I use to transport my gear. When I get home, I fill it with fresh water and use it as a rinse tank. Everything gets dunked, then gets hung up to dry.

I understand the argument that they should perform without leaking air into the BC. However, I don't think that we should expect them to last forever. They are pieces of metal used in a marine environment.

True ... however, they should not corrode with proper care in three months or less either.

Also, if you have Halcyon equipment there's a good chance you paid some serious $ for it. Why NOT take really good care of it? I look at the inflator issue just like a regulator--you use to stay alive underwater. It occasionally requires service to stay in top notch condition..why not spend an hour or two every 50-100 dives to take it apart, replace the o-rings, clean it out, and lube it?

I would expect it to require the same maintenance I provide my other wings from Oxycheq and DSS. If additional maintenance is required, I would expect the manufacturer to inform me of such when I purchase the product. I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.

I also do completely understand Bob's point about not instructing in Halcyon equipment. No instructor should EVER be forced to choose between the runaway student and the group still on the bottom of the pool. At that point they have NO control and that's an accident (and possibly a lawsuit) waiting to happen.

Thank you ... to my concern this IS a safety issue. Others are perfectly entitled to view it from a different perspective. I only ask that we stay focused on the issue, and not get into name-calling or assigning imagined motives.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[SparticleBrane]

I would expect it to require the same maintenance I provide my other wings from Oxycheq and DSS. If additional maintenance is required, I would expect the manufacturer to inform me of such when I purchase the product. I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.

Point taken.

While I understand that Halcyon should have notified users that this product does require maintenance, I'm not entirely convinced that every single inflator has the problem. Obviously, yours and Perrone's had the problem--mind didn't. I don't believe any of the inflators at NCSU have the issue, either. Neither do any of the TAs (to my knowledge, anyway) I work with who use Halcyon wings.

It would also make sense to me that people who post about it online are much more vocal than those who don't. If I ever have an issue with mine, you can be assured that I'll post about it, take it apart, and if it's corroded I'll take some pics.

edit: about rinsing my gear--
I rinse all of my gear after every dive trip, salt or fresh water.
If I have access to a tub or shower, I take my Eclipse and rinse the outer shell with hot water, both sides. Then I open the oral inflator and put a decent amount of hot water into the bladder. Then I orally inflate the rest of the bladder as much as possible and use the water inside it to slosh the water around. I then use a combination of the rear dump valve and the oral inflator to drain as much of the water out as possible--this sometimes requires orally inflating the bladder several times to use the pressure to help get the water out. Usually during the process of putting water into the bladder the inflator gets a good rinsing with the hot water as well.

 

[Xizang]

I think this is also the case of a product different from the norm. people are just used to and happy with the non-serviceable plastic inflators that all other BC's come with and a SS inflator that needs to be "regularly" service without a really strong performance advantage over the plastic inflators just doesn't make sense.

I opened mine up last night (6 months old about 20-30 dives) and it had a bit of rust already on the buttons and housing. I tried my best to clean out the rust and repack it with silicone grease. I have gotten rid of the clamp and replaced it with two black tie-wraps.

In my opinion there is no way for those metal parts inside to not get rusty unless you open it rinse it and dry it every after dive in marine water especially if you dive on weekends only.

 

[jonnythan]

I think there's a very good, credible case to make for the statement that all Halcyon SS inflators are potential hazards. People I trust have reported failures and malfunctions in post-recall inflators. I personally think Halcyon has mishandled this issue from the beginning, and I agree with Bob's rhetorical question as to whether or not Halcyon is "Doing it right" in this regard. When a company advertises as holding itself to a higher standard, this is disturbing. Actions speak louder than words.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that Bob raises some good points and questions.

 

[smb1014]

I talked to a Halcyon rep (Ken) at a Halcyon demo day and he said to use Dow Corning 111 lubricant.

Copied from my post on TDS....

After all this talk about the SS inflators I got up the courage this evening to take my apart. So far I have just over 30 open water dives on it--7 ocean and the rest quarry. I also have ~10 pool dives on it but obviously I don't put those in the logbook. Note that I'm almost OCD about rinsing my gear after any dive, fresh or salt (or chlorine). I use HOT water when rinsing off the inflator.

I was actually expecting a good deal of rust after seeing Bob's pictures but I only had the smallest bit of surface rust. All of my o-rings were in perfect condition and were still lubed up; no need for replacement.

When I get the chance I'm going to go get some silicone lube (any suggestions on what to use?) and make sure that all stainless parts are swimming in it. It also says I'm supposed to use some kind of RTV sealant where the corrugated hose connects to the inflator. Any suggestions on what I should use for that, too?
I put it back together, connected it all up--no runaway inflation. If it's this clean I'm just going to keep using it until it dies. I don't see any reason to replace it right now. However, I'll still probably buy at least one or perhaps two extra plastic inflators just to keep in my save-a-dive kit...

 

[smb1014]

I guess I'd be able to get the sealant from a local pet store, but I'm not sure about the Dow Corning 111. We had a huge tube of the stuff at the LDS where I used to work but I couldn't remember what the stuff was called . Any idea where to get it? Hardware store, perhaps? Hobby store?
Thanks for the quick reply!
edit: I have been told you can get it from Professional Scuba Inspectors--PSI.

I talked to the guys at www.wreckdiversupply.com and they said that they use LOCTITE 59330 Superflex RTV Black Silicone Adhesive/Sealant.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Thanks!

 

[Erik Il Rosso]

Quick update, my new Omersub power inflator is going to cost me 65 Euro (50 USD) !!!

What makes a plastic power inflator so expensive ???

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

 

[Erik Il Rosso]

Quick update, my new Omersub power inflator is going to cost me 65 Euro (50 USD) !!!

What makes a plastic power inflator so expensive ???

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

 

[Xizang]

because its made in europe?