Leaky Sherwood manifold

[spoolin01]

I've gotten a lot of good information on these boards over the years, but this is my first post. I'm trying to set up a first set of doubles, using a Sherwood single K-valve manifold that I got on eBay. Both seats where the center section mates to the tank posts leak slightly. You can't hear any hissing at 1000 psi but they bubble pretty steadily under water. This is the kind with female seats on the tank posts and a center section with the male seats. No slip joints. The seats look OK to me, a little roughness on one of the male seats up at the shoulder where the rounding at the face begins, but otherwise they don't look scarred. I don't know the first thing about these valves - is there an o-ring needed? I don't see where it would seat. Should I try polishing the male round ends and the female cup? Everything looks square to the naked eye.

The tanks are steel 2250 psi, around 6.5" OD by 25" overall length. (Can anyone tell me what cu ft these are? 72?) I don't recall if the bands were those that I got with the tanks, but they seem to provide the right spacing for the manifold.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. I'm not a technical diver, I just want to use these to extend bottom time for shallow diving: photos and spearfishing.

Mike

 

[fire_diver]

Guidance? toss the lot. It sounds like you bought a load of gear only usable in a museum display. Hope you didnt pay too much for it.

FD

 

[captndale]

It sounds like what you have is a pair of old 72's with an old-style manifold. The tanks rated at 2250 psi. At a 10% overfill (2475 psi) they each hold 71.2 CF. If the tanks pass hydro and vip they are good. The manifold, however is probably shot. These manifolds do not assemble with O-rings between the components. The seal is metal-to-metal. Once they start leaking you are probably not going to be able to repair it. My advice would be to replace the old manifold with a modern one.

 

[spoolin01]

The tanks passed hydro and VIP. I reassembled the manifold laying the tanks on the ground and they held 2500 psi for 3 days before I dove the rig. Sweet! First time setting up doubles, I guess it took a couple tries to get it right. But not the thing for diving out of my little inflatable...

FD- you're a cynic I see! The buyer was fair in the description and gave some advice month's later when I wrote for help. I've had almost w/o exception excellent experience buying off eBay. Understanding that you take some risk, I still think it's the best thing in commerce.

Mike