Vindicator Valves Disintegrate?

[InWay2Deep]

A few years ago I put Vindicator knobs on all my tanks. Keeping with that trend I put them on my 2L O2 bottles for my CCR. When filling them I noticed they were 'gritty', not unusual, as I crawl around in caves and get silt/stones in there from time to time so I just pull the knob clean and put back in place. This time was different. The inside of the knob fell apart. See image for example,

For now I just threw the old knob back on but is this a common failure? I've got about a dozen and this is the first one that has fallen apart on me. If this is common I'd rather not replace it and just keep the stock ones, not like I can see the knob when the tank is mounted on my backside anyway.

 

[happy-diver]

Mate genuinely that's amazing how you did all that

Sounds like you do some great dives

 

[lexvil]

Haven’t seen this or heard of it but…

 

[Endler's]

Not normal. 'Suspect knob got crushed/whacked by something, without your knowledge.

 

[InWay2Deep]

Not normal. 'Suspect knob got crushed/whacked by something, without your knowledge.

Yea, seems that maybe the case. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Badger7]

My fundies instructor took one look at my vindicator valve knobs and said "you should probably just replace those with normal knobs during your next hydro", he said they're "known" to stick and break. I got a lot of good advice, but kind of ignored that part, as I've never heard of any brand of valve knobs with specific issues until your pic above. The thermo handles are more of a hard rubber than a plastic, so I suppose they might be a little less prone to fracturing around the overmolded metal inside, but I'm pretty sure either style of valve handle needs to take a pretty good whack to get damaged, not from normal wear and tear.

If I were you, I'd just go through my valve knobs, pull them off the shaft, inspect for damage and put them back on. I do bet you get some interested looks from having the vindicator knobs on CCR bottles. I've never even seen them used on stage/deco either, pretty much only on back gas, mostly single bottle rec configuration, occasionally on a set of doubles like mine.

 

[crofrog]

but I'm pretty sure either style of valve handle needs to take a pretty good whack to get damaged, not from normal wear and tear.

they get broken off pretty regularly taking impacts existing Ginnie. Not horrible uncommon to find valve knobs sitting on the ground near tighter areas.

 

[InWay2Deep]

I do bet you get some interested looks from having the vindicator knobs on CCR bottles.

Never really noticed, not that I'd give a **** anyway. I have a transmitter on my O2 bottle as well and if I forget to shut it off (I have an in-line shutoff) it will drain the battery, so being able to glance at it and see it was still on was very useful.

 

[runsongas]

the plastic is the culprit, if it was colored hard rubber it would be no different than regular knobs in durability