Old BCD Repair

[James]

A friend of mine has a BCD she has not used in a long time. We checked to see if it holds air and it does not. After some fiddling with things we determined that the leak was from the dump valve at the end of the inflator tube where it connects to the BC. Can you purchase just that tube and are they pretty much universal or will we have to find one with a specific size to match her BC?
This is NOT the LP hose from the first stage, but the tube that connects over the left shoulder and has the inflator vales on it.

[Theepdinker]

Probably needs nothing more than a basic service.
Call ScubaToys & see if they service the make & model.
Mail it to them if they do.
Or check with your LDS.

Theep

[Recovery Guy]

I had the same problem with a Beachat BCD. apparently over time the threads on the BCD itself became stripped out by people constantly pulling to hard on the dump/hose. I would look very close at the threads on the BCD before buying any repair kit for it. I gluded the hose and BCD connection with BCD repair glue and used it a few more times then I trashed the BCD because I never felt that patching a Very Important peice of Life Support Equipment was worth it.

Recovery Guy

[datamunk]

well, you can replace those rubber tubes, so long as like the previous guy said it doesnt have stripped threads, just maybe dryrotted. easiest way to locate the exact problem is fill with air and submerge, and rotate it in water to see where bubbles are coming from.

if it IS coming from that tube, id take it to a LDS to ahve THEM fix it, unless its simply a matter of replacing that tube.

maybe its also time to get a nicer used and newer model bcd? i know "if it aint broken dont fix it" even tho this kinda is, but, when i was working in my dive shop i was unsure why people would still rely, and deal with, the lack of comfort and old gear theyd bring in for service :P

[awap]

Originally Posted by Recovery Guy

I never felt that patching a Very Important peice of Life Support Equipment was worth it.

Recovery Guy

I suspect that the importance of a BCD as life support equipment is grossly overrated for a properly weighted recreational diver. After all, scuba diving went on for many years before the BCD came along to make it a little easier.

[datamunk]

yea, i wouldnt venture to say a BC is a life support equipment... its for comfort and to make divin easy

atleast, thats in my opinion. mine is more a tool to allow me to attach all my gizmos and gadgets to myself

[scubamate]

A BCD is life support IMHO. Think about being neutral at the surface wearing a 7mm farmer john and no BC. At 30' how negative are you and how tired will you be when you get back to the surface?

[datamunk]

but that isnt life supporting. its a tool, basically, IMO. diving can be done without it, granted it is a little tougher, but, life support is anything you are bound to perish without, such as airtanks (with air in them of course!) and regulators... atlelast, thats my definition ;P

[mm2002]

From what I gathered during training, the BCD is very much a life saving device, especially when so many folks are over weighted in the first place. I guess it depends a lot on your experience level though.

[mitsuguy]

if you can't swim to the surface without air in your BC, then you have way too much weight on you...