used equip questions

[ofl0926]

hey whats up everyone... i recently came across a bunch of gear for sale at a cheap price... Seaquest Balance BCD with SureLock, Aqualung Legend ACD Regulator, Scubapro Twin Jet fins, a set of uwatec 3 gauges, booties, xsscuba bag on wheels... my question is, what should i do with the equipment first. should i get it checked out or go ahead and use it... the person i pruchased from said it had been sitting in their room for about a year and had only used it twice. all input welcome
oscar

[navyhmc]

The fins: Take to the pool and give them a work out.
The Reg, guages: Get them serviced-your life literally depends on them.
The BC: Fill it up and let it sit for 12-24 hours and see if it leaks. Then take it to the pool and put it thourght it's paces. Use the inflator, all the deflators, check it again for leaks. Give it a good and throurgh cleaning.
The bag: Clean it up and use it.

Sounds like a good set-up have fun!

[IndyDiver]

I wouldn't dive a regulator I just bought used unless I had it serviced first. It's only $49 at ST, which is pretty cheap when the alternative could mean the sudden inability to breath under water.

The only other thing that might be worth having a pro look at is the BC. I would probably just fill it and let it sit for a while to see if held air. Then I would cycle it though a few fills and dumps to make sure the inflator and pull dumps wern't sticky. Finally, I would take it on a couple of easy, shallow quarry dives before I got it out on a serious dive. Of course, if I had the BC serviced, I would take it on a couple of easy, shallow quarry dives before I got it out on a serious dive - so what's the point of the service. But that's just my opinion. You need to do what you think is best, since your life may depend on your decisions.

[CompuDude]

Any regs and gauges should be professionally serviced and inspected before use, especially if it's been a year since they were used, which means they're due for service. Factor that cost into whatever you pay for the setup.

Whether the fins work should be obvious. Up to you if you want to have the BC formally serviced or just check it over carefully and do a shallow, easy dive (pool, perhaps) before trusting your life to it.

[tc_rain]

I agree with what everyone else said but for the BC, I would just fill it up and put it in the bath tub to check for leaks.

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by tc_rain

I agree with what everyone else said but for the BC, I would just fill it up and put it in the bath tub to check for leaks.

True, but what about the working parts? You may not know of a problem until it's underwater and in use? I have a wing I bought that was used extensively in salt water. The first time I used it, it had a small leak around the inflator button. Not a big deal, by the time I got finished with a short 15 minute sahllow dive, the salt crystals had dissolved and it was good as new-still had it checked and cleaned-it didn't do that when I did a tub check.

[Diving Jayhawk]

Ditto with Navy. Side note-I dive/teach in the Balance BC, and it is the best back inflate I've ever tried!! You'll love it!

[awap]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

The Reg, guages: Get them serviced-your life literally depends on them.

How do you figure "your life literally depends on them"?

[acamato]

Clean and check the inside of the bladder of the BC for salt crystals. The crystals are very sharp and can damage the bladder very quickly.

[obrules15]

Originally Posted by awap

How do you figure "your life literally depends on them"?

Hmm, if we can't breathe underwater, we die! -- I'm just saying!