Scubapro Emergency Inflator Repair

[aalbert]

I have a never used ScubaPro BC that sat for 15+ years. Looking at it now, the emergency inflator attachment valve has come loose (It rotates around / moves freely), and needs repair to hold air properly.

What is the recommended course of action to repair it? ... I was thinking of using some Aquaseal and trying to inject it between the fabric and valve. and the put another supporting piece of fabric on the other side where the valve stem is (cut a small hole in it, and press fit it, with sealant underneath)... I welcome other suggestions (or thoughts on how much a shop might charge to do this properly).

Thanks.

 

[diversteve]

Would this work?

Scuba-Fix – scuba solutions made easy

 

[aalbert]

Would this work?

Scuba-Fix – scuba solutions made easy

Don't think so, and they don't have any other solutions.. If I can use the existing valve a a plug, with adhesive to hold it in place, that would be the cleanest solution.. I have also thought about cutting the valve out, and out putting a larger patch, but the valve base appears to be at least an inch in diameter, and cutting a BC to extract it, just seems "wrong".

BTW that photo is a zoom... The physical size of that valve is a little bigger than a bicycle/car tire valve.

 

[tursiops]

I'm confused. What does that valve do? Is it necessary?
Does it have a Schrader valve in it?
What does "emergency inflator" mean? Is to to inflate the BC? From what source?
Or is it to inflate something else from the BC? What?

 

[aalbert]

It has a schrader valve in it... I assume from its location (pocket area) and that it had a cap on it, that it was for an older style C02 inflator cartridge - I can't think of anything else that would have a threaded assembly like that, and be out of the way.

 

[tursiops]

It has a schrader valve in it... I assume from its location (pocket area) and that it had a cap on it, that it was for an older style C02 inflator cartridge - I can't think of anything else that would have a threaded assembly like that, and be out of the way.

OK, got it.
Take it out or cut it off, seal it up. It is a liability.

 

[Scared Silly]

If it is schrader value, replace the stem and put a cap on it.

 

[tech_diver]

oh wow... Blast from the past!

Yes, that was a connection for an emergency CO2 inflator. In the late neolithic period as they became extinct, I'd seen them capped off with some type of threaded cap. Not sure what a current solution would be...

 

[Couv]

Kids, what you are looking at is an old CO2 firing mechanism stem. Vest used to have a trigger mechanism and small CO2 cartridge like flight attendants demonstrate pre-flight. In an emergency you could pull a cord and it would inflate the vest with CO2. Of course it was made for surface use or very shallow water.

If I'm understanding the issue, the stem has disbonded from the bladder. This is not uncommon for a vest of that age. I've had that problem with a few old vest so I removed the stem and installed a patch on the inside and outside of the bladder. Below is a link to a thread where I explained the process. I believe the best patch combination I came up with was the vinyl from a waterbed kit and the adhesive from a bicycle inner tube repair kit.

BC bladder repair update.

 

[aalbert]

As an update, I used a toothpick and some aqua seal to get behind the fabric, and between the existing inflator base.. I would say at least 6 balls of it, approx 1/4" in diameter each... I swirled the inflator base around, to allow it to get around the full mating surface... I then applied more Aquaseal to the factory cap, and screwed the two together, thereby compressing the repair, and giving some overlap on the saltwater side of the inflator hole... It has held air for 24hrs now, and I am going to continue to keep an eye on it... If it doesn't work, then I will cut it all out - but I would have had to have done that anyway.

Will keep y'all posted.