Newbie Tank/Valve Question

[SailingTrevor]

I just purchased a new XS Scuba 130 steel tank. When I opened the box the Thermo Pro valve was off the tank and I didn't know that companies had to ship them like that due to U.S. regulations. I have read around and I’m supposed to use a torque wrench (securing the valve to the tank) to apply about 50-75 pound/foot however, what socket are you guys using to tighten the valve? Are you just using a regular crescent wrench and guesstimating on the amount of torque? I cant see any deep socket being able to access the valve base. I have thought about just taking it up to the shop and having the LDS put the valve on and fill the tank at the same time but that’s about a 40 min trip to have them look at me like i'm and idiot and laugh lol

Also probably the best thing to do is to fill the tank immediately after I secure the valve right?

 

[decompression]

Not too worry, just ensure that everything is clean and lined up, screw the valve in just more than finger tight (and the dip tube is installed), and then a good gentle push. As it is empty now, feel free try this a few times to get the feel. It should take a slight knock with a plastic faced hammer to loosen, then you know it's in tight. That's the guesstimate method. Of course you can always take it to your LDS as it has to be filled anyways.

 

[Scared Silly]

Screw the valve on until it snugs up then give it a gentle thump with the palm of your hand. That is about all you need to do as the o-ring will do the sealing. Which does NOT need to be lubricated - however one can put a very thin layer of O2 compatible lube on the threads to provide a barrier between the cylinder (steel) and the valve (chrome plated brass).

If you want to do it per the specs get a open ended wrench head that can be attached to a torque wrench.

Once you have the valve on, yes get it filled. But given that it is new cylinder and empty the dive shop is probably going to want to perform a VIP on it. Which means they will be taking the valve off.

Warning if the cylinder already has a current VIP sticker on it but empty, the shop is still probably going to want to do VIP on it. To avoid paying for another VIP you need to get positive pressure in the cylinder. As such, find someone with a cylinder with air in it and do a trans fill via a whip. If that is not possible a trick I have done is to place two cylinders with their valves face to face. Hole them together, open the empty cylinder valve, then the full cylinder valve, forcing some air into the empty cylinder, close the empty cylinder valve, then the full cylinder valve. Believe it or not but you will force maybe 10-20 psi into the empty cylinder. Enough to be positive. I only recommend do the above for air cylinders (i.e. not O2 clean).

 

[wrybosome]

If you have a torque wrench already, use a crow foot instead of a socket.

 

[Rogersea]

SailingTrevor.

Putting the valve on is as easy as described above, but It may be just as easy to take it to your LDS to get the valve installed because some places wont fill a completely empty tank without doing a quick Visual Inspection on it.

If you have your own compressor then you can take care of it by yourself.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Roger

 

[SailingTrevor]

Thanks guys, that was the exact information that I wanted to know. Just didn't want to screw on the valve and risk doing something wrong. I think I will just take it up to the LDS already apart since you all are mentioning that they will probably want to do a Visual Insp. on a empty tank(I dont have a compressor at the moment). Good news is I found a shop that will do inspection and fill for $20

Trevor

 

[Shftrdog]

All you need to do is screw on the valve and then give it a wack with the palm of your hand to make it snug. Thats it.

 

[Bhtmec2]

Do what I do when a new set of tanks arrive. You will have a factory sticker on it and a plastic plug in e tank. The sticker is the factory VIP that is good until one year from birth date. Put the dip tube on the valve and go to the shop and say you need a fill for your new tanks. Remove the plug put on the valve and set it I front of the fill station. If they say you need a VIP show them the date and sticker. I have yet to have a shop refuse to fill the new tanks. Just did it yesterday with a new 40cf deco tank. If they argue explain it again and if no deal pick it up and go to another LDS. If they are following the rules they fill it. Of not they are just trying to milk you for a few bucks and I do not do business like that.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

 

[elan]

My shop always asks to see the tank inside if it's new and empty and with a sticker. They charge me nothing though. Vis is done on the re-qualification (hydro) and technically valid but you never know, the LDS is the compressor owner and they set their rules.

To the OP. I would recommend not to hit the valve with your hand or anything else. Apparently 2 of my valves have bend stems because those who inspected them were doing that.

Just use a wrench to tighten it. If you have a regular torque wrench you need a crowfoot extension. Your LDS might have it.

 

[halocline]

I think I will just take it up to the LDS already apart since you all are mentioning that they will probably want to do a Visual Insp. on a empty tank(I dont have a compressor at the moment). Good news is I found a shop that will do inspection and fill for $20

Trevor

I would not say that's particularly good news, considering this is a brand new tank, probably with a vis sticker on it already that's good for a year. The dive shop should just charge you for a fill, not another visual. Hopefully when you show up someone there will realize you have a new tank and not charge for an inspection that is totally unnecessary. Looking inside to make sure there's no surface rust from shipment is one thing, doing an annual visual is another.

If I were in your shoes, I'd put the valve on; definitely put some PTFE grease or silicone grease on the the threads (a little!) and blast a few PSI in there from another tank just like scared silly recommended, or you can connect two regulators via the HP ports and use that as a very slow transfill whip. You need to get a special fitting that will convert the swivel end of the HP hose into another 7/16" male. It works great, I use mine fairly regularly.