Fixing BCD inflators

[K-Padge]

Hi folks,

Just testing some club kit tonight, I found that a couple of our jackets have sticky inflator valves. A few press in with force but are difficult to de-press and one is completely stuck down. Does anyone know the best way to fix this? I have heard that soaking them in coca-cola can work - has anyone tried this?

Also, there are a few jackets that have broken shoulder clips. We have spares to replace them but they are sewn into the jacket. I was wondering if anyone had tried fixing it themselves or is it best to take them to a specialist?

TIA!

Kelsey

[BTS]

For the inflators just buy new ones... they are cheap enough. You can get service kits but they are about 65% of the price of a new unit. I had a couple stick open and any fix you do tends to be temporary and the inside of the chamber wears over time... New ones are the only assured answer and you don't want a trainee taking a flyer. The dive rite ones have a better internal mechanism thant he beaver ones and are worth the extra couple of quid.

Dive Rite Power Inflator - - Scubadivingstore.co.uk

For the clips all you need is a heavy duty sewing machine.. or check the newsagents window for someone who offers a sewing service. We have a shop locally that does alterations, I have had her do a few bits with webbing, usually charges me a tenner an the results are always good.

[Digger]

What brand are the jackets? The standard plastic inflators are often just gunked up, and cleaning with coke will work (but you'd be better off with something like Biox to really get the gunk off. If you force them when gunked up, that is when damage happens. To strip them down the tool you need is one of these:

https://www.divelife.co.uk/scuba-manufacturers/Deep-Sea-Supply-DSS/4439/Deep-Sea-Supply-Inflator-Service-Tool

If they are not standard plastic inflators, let us know what you are using and we should be able to help.

Also note that if you don't know what you are doing, get someone to show you the first time. Largely because somebody else is using the equipment, and you don't want 20 fast ascents from trainees coming back to haunt you individually.

I've always found cobblers to be good for the stitching required for webbing. They tend to completely overdo the stitching required, which is good. Alternatively if you smash the broken clips off, you can often reattach using cable ties instead of stitching them. Depends how urgently you need the jackets.

Digs.

[N Bailey]

If you are looking to replace inflators it can be best to stay with the jackets make. As for sewing I have used a local saddler who has the machine and skill to do the job.

[Elvis]

Fixing BCD inflators

If you are looking to replace inflators it can be best to stay with the jackets make.

Erm why are some makes plastic bags different to others?

[BTS]

If you are looking to replace inflators it can be best to stay with the jackets make.

Not really, other than Apeks most use a choice of two both of which are the same size...

[Woz]

For plastic inflators, the DSS tool makes life a bit easier to unscrew the button. I chuck them in Biox or citric acid in the ultrasonic then reassemble with a good splodge of silicone grease.

BS006 are the O rings you need, by the way, for the spindle.

[BTS]

All the above is good but you may find that they just keep jamming, this is due to internal wear on the plastic body....

[Tel]

All comes down to the make of jacket as all the advice above is spot on or poo depending which one it is.

Some inflators are easy to service with cheap parts, others better off buying a new one. Doesn't have to
be the same brand, but hose diameters are different on some, so think that was what was meant.

If you don't know what you are doing though, it's seriously dodgy to be playing with club kit.

As for webbing, again it depends on the BC and clip. Some it's a case of cutting the flap and re-sewing.
If you go slow and use a new needle almost any domestic machine will go through 2 layers of webbing. If
you use a lighter to melt/clean up the end tab first, then do an overlocker type zig-zag stich over the
double end, no way will that come off. Use a man-made line though or better still get a spool from a
sailmaker.

With some though like the shoulder strap, the looped tab is hidden and sewn to the main and the only way
is to cut the webbing. Same with the lower part that has got weak, creased and smooth due to use. One
of the reasons buddy BC's are so popular with clubs is that the bladder can come out and these tabs
completely renewed/sewn.

Again though, if you don't know what you are doing, it's seriously dodgy to be playing with club kit.

My advice would be to get it all done professionally or buy new, until at least someone can show
you exactly how to do it yourself.

[doggy's doodah]

What everyone else says is valid.

I had this problem recently (Mares) and took it all to bits. I use extra strong vinegar for domestic cleaning use, yes, really - our local supermarket sells it! This removes corrosion. Check and replace if needed the O rings. BUT the clincher for me was the actual valve. Lots of cash from Mares or a trip to your local tyre center for a handful - free! They even gave me one of the valve covers that screw them in or out!

Jobs a good 'un!

[Timw]

I'm with BTS on this - just replace it. They're cheap enough and I now treat them as a consumable and keep a spare in my save-a-dive box.
I know a couple of people who have had uncontrolled ascents due to stuck jacket inflators, including one from 60m, missing all his stops...

[Tel]

I'm with BTS on this - just replace it. They're cheap enough and I now treat them as a consumable and keep a spare in my save-a-dive box.
I know a couple of people who have had uncontrolled ascents due to stuck jacket inflators, including one from 60m, missing all his stops...

Depends, if it's your own kit then it's cheap enough to swap so change for new is the best option
especially if doing 60m type diving.

Soon as that becomes club kit (as in this case), which in 99% of cases isn't usually used for anything
past 30/35m odd, volume has to be factored in. Most clubs don't have the luxury/budget of new and
have to run a service schedule instead.

To give an example if we replaced just 25% of our BC inflators per annum instead of repair/servicing
we'd have an annual bill of +£300 and that's using the cheapo one mentioned above.

[edward]

My CD one stuck on at the start of a 22min 6m stop, resulting in me briefly surfacing before I could dump gas and disconnect the hose. At the time I thought it was me catching the edge of the button while pulling the inflator to dump. When it stuck on while testing it on the boat before a dive a few weeks later, I realised it might not have been me. Cleaned and serviced it but it still did the same. Didn't trust it after that so bunged a new one on. Much better :-)

[Neil Brock]

The advice is reasonably sound, but with one or two exceptions.

All are not equall !

The various brands (that are different) have inflators that have various gas flow volumes that an inflator is capable (if say, jamed open) of putting into a jacket or wing. This is then matched to an over pressure dump that is tested to be able to cope with the potential input volume.

Some stuff from what appears to be different brands, is actually the same as brand x, but is simply badge engineered, so is comparable in a mix and match scenario, but bear in mind that in the event of an incident, Scubapro would look at one of their jackets fitted with a Mares inflator and say, it never left us like that, and visa versa Mares would say the same. Guese who just took on the role of jacket manufacturer ??

I seem to recall an incident many years ago, one of them, look "who been the deepest" type of things where a Custard Diver wing, which is a great bit of kit, had been fitted with a high flow Sartek power inflator.
Everything went well until the Sartek inflator jammed on, putting more gas into the wing that the standard dump was capable of venting. I forget the exact figures, but the guy wearing it came out of the water upto his waist, missed a shed full of decomposing, promptly burst the bladder of the wing, (and probably his own bladder) and started to sink.
Luckily he had the presence of mind to grab the shot line and sort his sh*t out, but I seem to recollect him saying he felt that the gas was coming out of his eye's !!!

Cause of problem ? Inflator capable of flow x, over pressure valve capable of flow y

If you are desperate to do it yourself, drop me a p.m. I might be able to help.

[BTS]

volume has to be factored in.

And liability? No offence to the OP but I don't think they really know how to fix an inflator, hence the thread, if it is you own kit you are welcome to damage yourself, if it is club kit for novices then it is a whole different ball game.