Upgrading reg?

[captain]

Well, I am going to have to kind of agree with you mostly because my experience with some of the newer inflators is terrible. I have tried several inflators, but happen to own several Sherwood BC inflators (mounted on several different BC’s) and for a company that makes highly reliable regulators, tank valves, and plenty of other industrial gas valves, their BC inflators are really bad. I have serviced them and IMHO there are definitely some design flaws.

I still have a couple of old (mid 1970’s) Scubapro inflators that have never being serviced and always worked great. If it wasn’t because they use a non standard quick disconnect coupling, I would still be using them…without bothering to service them.

Luis, If you look around you may be able to fine the QC adapter for the old Scuba Pro inflators that screws on to a regulator LP hose.

 

[Hallmac]

Anyone suggesting you service your BCD is just looking to pad their wallet...make sure you rinse it every time you use it in chlorine or salt water...do a visual inspection on straps, buckles, inflater etc and you should be golden. -J.-

I completely disagree with the first part of this statement. Everyday I find inflater's that have issues, I find bladders that are growing bacteria or are full of mud. All the owners will tell you they rinsed it every time. Done correctly and with the proper attention it is possible to go many years without service, if you don't dive much. There is wear and tear that occurs every time you use it. Moving parts, o-rings, valves, to think servicing is nothing more than a scam does not add up to me.

 

[Luis H]

Luis, If you look around you may be able to fine the QC adapter for the old Scuba Pro inflators that screws on to a regulator LP hose.

Thanks Captain

I do have a couple of the old style (2nd generation) Scubapro QD hoses, but I want to use all standard QD hoses, since I dive several different regulators and sometimes I use tank mounted BC and other times I may use a horse collar. It also makes it interchangeable with the dry suit inflator.


I probably should (will) post this issue up at in the Sherwood area. I just notice we have good representation from the company. I need to take some good picture showing the main problem that I see.

 

[Colliam7]

Is there a similar service schedule for octos and BCDs?

The octos should be serviced with the regulators. As for BCDs, there isn't a recommended schedule. You can visually inspect the unit yourself for the most part for wear and tear and that should suffice. The two posts about the inflators are crucial. Even if you rinse your BCD after every dive, there is a reasonable possibility of corrosion build-up around the inflator valve, that is not detectable by visual inspection. It is easy to learn to service it yourself. But, if that is not your choice, have the valve inspected and cleaned every couple of years. Takes about 15 minutes to do.

 

[tfsails]

Hey guys 'n gals--on just about every BC inflator out there the inflator valve is nothing more than a plain old Schraeder valve just like what's on your car tires. Those valves corrode if exposed to salt water. Ya think BCs ever get salt water in them?

Some safe seconds use other types of inflator valves, but some use Schraeder valves, too. I once rebuilt an inflator, purposely overinflated the BC to activate the pressure relief valve (worked as advertized) and it kept leaking. I opened it up and found a handful of crystallized salt rocks that looked like driveway gravel.

GET YOUR BC SERVICED PERIODICALLY!!