Question on changing mouthpiece

[davidbaraff]

[It is amazing how even the smallest things engender silly questions when you're new.]

With that in mind: I just bought a Seacure mouthpiece. Looking at my current mouthpiece, I see a cable tie wrapped around it.

1. (Ask twice, cut once) I assume I'm supposed to cut the cable tie to take of the current mouthpiece?

2. Anything special about the cable ties used to secure the mouthpiece on a regulator? (The Seacure comes with a cable tie I think, but if I needed replacements?)

3. Anything special I need to know when putting it back on? (E.g. "pull as hard as humanly possible to make sure it's tight." Or, "Don't worry about pulling super-hard, air pressure is your friend once your task is on", etc.)

 

[dlndavid]

We've all been there, no worries.
Cut the tie-wrap off, keep the old mouthpiece as a spare.
Put the new Seacure mouthpiece on with new tie-wrap. Pull it good and tight, slight tug with pliers works fine.
The tie-wraps are standard, you can pick them up at you LHS (Local Hardware Store )
They are very useful for diving, so pick up a size variety pack.
Check your Seacure mouthpiece for inward fit.
If it goes to the back of your mouth too far trim a little at a time until comfortable.
Soak the mouthpiece in hot water (more than just warm, but not scawlding hot) for several minutes.
Put it in your mouth and position your upper and lower jaw in a comfortable position to form it.
Don't bite down hard or all the way, leave a good gap.
This way you can always reform later.
Good luck, I love mine!

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Then take a lighter or something hot and very carefully melt the little piece of cable tie where you snipped it, to make it rounded and with no sharp points. Not necessary, but I can be a klutz and yes, I have cut myself on silly things like zip ties before, so why not melt it a tad? Just be careful to not have a huge flame and melt the mouthpiece or hose or reg or anything...

 

[Kevfin]

Daves got it covered...

Just one more suggestion, file down the the little bit of twist tie that is sticking out from the end.

I always seem to scratch and poke myself when I don't file them down or cut them flush with a blade.

Oh yeah, look at how the twist tie is placed on the original mouth piece or another regulator and try and do the same with the new twist tie... I like the end of my twist ties on the lower left corner of the mouth piece with the locking part on top...

Luckily the twist ties are cheap, so even if you don't like your handy work, you can do it over and over and over...

*** Ooops, JahJah beat me to the cable tie end suggestion --melting works too

 

[knotical]

Black cable ties stand up to UV better than white ones.
Use the right width (matching the groove in the mouthpiece).

For most mouthpieces, tighten enough for some of the material to extrude into the groove in the second stage (pretty snug). For the Seacure, at least the older ones, the material that mates with the second stage is harder than other mouthpieces and didn’t deform as easily. I even had one come off underwater. After that, I heated the base in boiling water and tightened a cable tie until I had some extrusion.

 

[do it easy]

I think the Scubapro regulators have a reusable ziptie that closes with a latch- if you have a SP- don't cut this! OK, I guess you could and then just replace it with a regular ziptie.

As far as tightening it down, tighter is better and loose is bad. You should be able to tug firmly on the mouthpiece and feel confident it won't slip off. It doesn't have to be tug-o'-war tight, but just a tad past snug (that's a technical specification!). I have a ziptie tightening tool in my toolbox that makes it easier to attach mouthpieces, although it certainly isn't necessary.

Also make sure you have the right size Seacure, since there are a few different sizes for various regs.

 

[dlndavid]

Great added input!

Now let's see if he wants to know how to punch holes in his hood to let the air out and not look like a conehead

 

[dlndavid]

Maybe even the trick of using baby powder to help get into your wetsuit.

 

[surfsidedav]

We've all been there, no worries.
Cut the tie-wrap off, keep the old mouthpiece as a spare.
Put the new Seacure mouthpiece on with new tie-wrap. Pull it good and tight, slight tug with pliers works fine.
The tie-wraps are standard, you can pick them up at you LHS (Local Hardware Store )
They are very useful for diving, so pick up a size variety pack.
Check your Seacure mouthpiece for inward fit.
If it goes to the back of your mouth too far trim a little at a time until comfortable.
Soak the mouthpiece in hot water (more than just warm, but not scawlding hot) for several minutes.
Put it in your mouth and position your upper and lower jaw in a comfortable position to form it.
Don't bite down hard or all the way, leave a good gap.
This way you can always reform later.
Good luck, I love mine!

hmmm...I've always formed mine before I put it on the reg for fear of the steam somehow damaging the diaphragm. I also put the mask on when I'm forming it, so it's formed in the same manner it which it will be used. Quite a sight running from the kitchen to the bathroom mirror with a mask on and mouthpiece hanging out.

 

[616fun]

I think the Scubapro regulators have a reusable ziptie that closes with a latch- if you have a SP- don't cut this! OK, I guess you could and then just replace it with a regular ziptie.

Aqualung has the reusable mouthpiece clamp as well.