How often do you rebuild your tank valve?

[JEScholz]

I was reading the thread on burst disks and wondered how ofter most divers rebuild their tank valve?

 

[archman]

It shames me that I don't have any idea what you're talking about.:cwmddd:

Can I get a "Tank Valve for Dummies" quick explanation?

 

[do it easy]

It shames me that I don't have any idea what you're talking about.:cwmddd:

Can I get a "Tank Valve for Dummies" quick explanation?

As soon as you give me a "Limnology for Dummies" book!

I think he means to replace the soft parts inside the valve- o-rings, seats, washers, etc.

I rebuild and 02 my valves annually. I replace all the soft parts, including the seat and the burst disk.

The regs are a different story

 

[archman]

Ah, thank you.

I think you're screwed on the Limnology book.

I put "other", as I have never heard of this done as some sort of maintenance. Unless some sneaky stuff happens when my tanks go in for annual VIS or 5-year Hydros, my internal valve parts are all original.

One of my tanks is like 20 years old. Is this a concern?

 

[JEScholz]

Ah, thank you.
One of my tanks is like 20 years old. Is this a concern?

:11epending on how deep you dive and how quickly you can surface, that is your call to make.

Unless someone did a rebuild with out you knowing it, you are diving with 20 year old o rings and a 20 year old blow out disk.

 

[archman]

Are you sure about this? This seems like something that um... a dive shop would make its customers aware of when you bring tanks in for inspections.

Did I not get the correct "scuba tank instruction guide"? Crap, what else am I supposed to know about these things?

I have a 1960's vintage steel 72 that was so old that the valve had to be replaced about five years ago. It hasn't had squat replaced since then except for the regular o-ring every year.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I will only change the valve seat when it becomes difficult to shut off the valve. I will replace the valve stem o ring only when the valve starts leaking. Every 6-12 years? These seem like much smaller issues than the burst disk, but to be honest I don't normally depend on a burst disk either; I always have a plan "B". I don't often mess with burst disks either,

 

[JEScholz]

After taking the TDI VIP class, I started replacing the o rings and burst disk every 5 years when I hydro the tank. Just a personal preference.

 

[captain]

I rebuild them when I feel they need it. Other than a burst disk failing there isn't much that could go wrong that would be cause for concern. I generally take them apart, clean them, change O rings if they have any, many older valves do not. I usually do it when they become hard to operate. I have valves on tanks that have all original parts that are over 40 years old. Valves are next to bullet proof.

 

[Luis H]

I agree with Captain.

I may replace the burst disk every 5 or 10 years.

Most of my Sherwood valves don't have a stem O'ring anymore. The latest rebuild kits does away with them and only uses two hard Teflon washers. No real "soft parts" to fail, but even if a stem seal O'ring started leaking you would not loose any significant amount of air. The stem seal is a face seal and the air pressure makes it tighter.

I also have 40 year valves with original parts. I have opened them to check them and cleaned them, but they are fine.