P-valve disassembly when not using it

[jpetri]

Just received my TLS 350 Cave-Cut complete with balanced Halcyon P-valve and have a question which doesn't seem to be addressed in the archives:

As a lot of my dives are short (20 mins or so) I would like to remove hose and check-valves unless i'm going on a longer dive.

Can I just unscrew the whole hose/check-valve assembly from the balance chamber and leave the external brass nut screwed in?

Is hand-tight ok for the brass nut, or should i crank it down a bit with a wrench?

thanks,

Jack

 

[mgdive]

Just received my TLS 350 Cave-Cut complete with balanced Halcyon P-valve and have a question which doesn't seem to be addressed in the archives:

As a lot of my dives are short (20 mins or so) I would like to remove hose and check-valves unless i'm going on a longer dive.

Can I just unscrew the whole hose/check-valve assembly from the balance chamber and leave the external brass nut screwed in?

Is hand-tight ok for the brass nut, or should i crank it down a bit with a wrench?

thanks,

Jack

The halcyon valve I have has a brass adapter that screws into the delrin base and has a barb on the other end to accept one of the hoses. Thus, if you were to do any unscrewing, it would be at the delrin base.

Delrin is pretty tough stuff, and seeing as how there is minimal pressure involved, I wouldn't think unscrewing it there every once in awhile would be a problem. Keep in mind that from the factory, this brass hose barb is screwed in with silicone sealant applied to the threads. There is no o-ring and the seal is dependent on the NPT threads and possibly that sealant to some extent. As far as torquing that barb, I wouldn't go more than a quarter turn past hand-tight with a wrench.

At least, if anything does go wrong, you've got that p-through bolt handy, right?