Vytec transmitter. Does it wiggle?

[bertschb]

Sorry for the subject line. I couldn't think of anything else.

I made the mistake of loading my tank in the back of my Suburban with the reg attached (long story). When getting ready to unload it for a dive I noticed another tank sitting against the Vytec transmitter. Thinking the tank might have smashed the transmitter I grabbed the transmitter and tried to see if it was still firmly attached to the 1st stage. Instead, I was able to slightly wiggle it. It feels like it's mounted in rubber and moves just a bit side to side. I never paid attention to it when it was new but assumed it was FIRMLY attached to the reg.

Can anybody else wiggle their transmitter a little bit? Please say yes ;-0

 

[d33ps1x]

Not in the least.

It should be firmly set in the first stage port. I would be VERY concered if you are able to "wiggle" yours.

HP port blowout at depth is nothing short of disasterous. Takes no time at all to draina tank.

Sorry about the answer but your life is worth checking into that.

 

[bertschb]

So yours doesn't move even a little bit? None at all???

 

[Scubaroo]

Sorry, my Vytec transmitter is rock solid. It sounds like the plastic housing may be compromised, in which case maybe not all is lost, but it sounds like if you took it diving it's a candidate for fried wet electronics.

That's assuming that the wiggling you're feeling is just the plastic housing moving on the o-ring, and not damaged threads in the port. I would take it to a shop that deals with Suunto gear, and get them to open it up and see if the screws holding the casing onto the base have stripped the threads in their holes. It might be as simple as a new o-ring, or may require a new casing.

Either way, don't dive it - you're risking either a HP blowout if there's internal damage, or a fried transmitter if there's watertight integrity issues.

Hopefully it's not too expensive a lesson in gear transport

 

[d33ps1x]

No not at all. It's a threaded transmitter that should thread fully into the hp port on your first stage and seal with an o ring in the port's shoulder. That's it. They say 4 foot pounds of torque but a decent torque using a wrench is fine and in my mind preferable.

It doesn't move at all. Have you hooked yours up to a tank?

I wouldn't yet.

 

[Scubaroo]

d33ps1x once bubbled...
They say 4 foot pounds of torque but a decent torque using a wrench is fine and in my mind preferable.

Actually I just hand-tighten mine - pretty hard to strip brass threads by hand, but *very* easy when using a wrench. Use a wrench to remove it if you can't get it back off. 60+ dives with it hand-tight, and not a problem. It's easy to give it enough of a nudge by hand to feel the o-ring compress, and the transmitter to seal solidly against the first stage body.

Doing it by hand limits the amount of leverage you can get on the transmitter, and limits the potential for damage!

Hoses naturally are a different story - use a wrench.

 

[d33ps1x]

My wrist has a built in torque measurement device. ;-)

 

[bertschb]

False alarm

I think I was overly paranoid. I took my reg with transmitter to my LDS. He checked it and didn't think it moved too much. We then attached a new transmitter and it "wiggled" the same as mine. The problem is my definition of how much it moves. It's difficult to detect but the transmitter (even the new one) does move ever so slightly. You really have to attach the regulator to a tank to see what I mean.

Anyway, after seeing that a new one moves the same as mine I'm comfortable again. I never did know if the tank bumped into the transmitter but I definitely learned my lesson. I'll never transport a tank (even 300 yards) with the reg attached again.

I'm a newbie so what do you expect? Every time I go out I learn something new.

Thanks folks!

 

[d33ps1x]

I still say it shouldn't wiggle at all.

You're talking to 2 vytec owners who's units don't wiggle.

 

[bertschb]

Well, I think the problem is my using the word wiggle. That was unfortunate. My point is it isn't rock solid like a bolt through steel. If you attach your regulator to a tank (and pressurize it) and then grab the end of the transmitter and gently try to move it you will see it (at least we did with a new unit as well as mine) move just a little back and forth. Just a little. Very, very slightly. My point is it moves.

I apologize for my post because it was misleading. What's weird is I thought for sure it moved more right after I realized it may have come into contact with the tank. Then I posted my message. After I posted the message I went back and checked it again and was surprised it didn't move hardly at all. You can't tell it moves unless you hook the reg up to a tank. Not enough leverage otherwise.