Putting a value on used tanks / pony setup

[Byte Me]

I've got an opportunity to pick up two PST steel 100 tanks and a pony w/ reg from a friend and we're having trouble coming up w/ a fair price.

All are in good shape but out of hydro and vis which according to LDS will run $7 each for vis and $30 each for hydro (i could have those backwards). The steel 100's are galvanized w/ boots and sherwood 300bar valves. I'll have to convert my reg to DIN in order to use them.

Pony is either 19cf or 30cf, reg is an older nothing special model that would need to be serviced as well. No guages but does come with a pony mount.

To get everything up to date it's gonna run $111 for the tanks (3 * ($7 +$30)) and probably $60-70 for service on the reg ($50 labor plus service parts). Plus $100 to convert my current reg to DIN and get a din/yoke adapter for travel.

He's looking for $400 for it all, I'm thinking less. My reasoning is that new this would run $350 *2 for the steel tanks, $120 for the pony $50 for the mount and $100 for the reg set - so about $1000, 50% of that is $500 which would be fair used value - take off the $200 I'm spending to get them up to spec and that puts you about $300. What do you all think?

[BSea]

Actually, that doesn't sound too bad. Used steel 100's usually bring abound $150 or so, especially if they are the HP 3442 PSI versions. And a used pony should get close to $100 depending on how old it is. I'd probably offer him something close contingent on the tanks passing hydro. The reg is probably a cheap one, but still should be worth close to $100. So all in all, a pretty fair deal IMO as long as the tanks are less than 10 years old.

BTW, you have the prices correct on the Vis & hydro. Hydros are done every 5 years, and a vis is done annually as a rule.

Edit: Oops, didn't see the tanks, and didn't notice you said PST. Those are 3500 PSI tanks. As long as they hydro OK, they are worth $150 each or more.

[jbres1]

To me the price of $400.00 sounds fair to both partys.
I purchased 2 lp98s and a 19cu ft pony, and Scubapro MK2+/R190 from a friend for $385.00, so very close to your deal.
You should be able to do better getting the hydro done on your own.
I used Reliable Fire Protection for my hydros, and paid $15.00 each.
So find a fire protection shop in your area and have them do the hydros.

Good luck, Jim

[in_cavediver]

This seems somewhat OK. I'd have a contingency on the tanks passing hydro though. I've seen and heard of a few of the older 3500psi tanks failing thier first hydro.

Also, those are true 3500psi tanks not the 3442 and they have the older 7/8" thread valves not the common 3/4" threading used today. Valves and manifolds may be more problematic to find.

[northfrisian]

Can you get parts for the reg? Sounds like this stuff been sitting for a while, first thing I would do is take the valves off and inspect the inside.

[Mycroft]

Looking at the tank, you should be able to get a screw in adapter for each tank to make it a Yoke tank. My two PST 3442 steel 130's came iwth those converters. That would drop all the conversion cost on the existing regs.

[BSea]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

Looking at the tank, you should be able to get a screw in adapter for each tank to make it a Yoke tank. My two PST 3442 steel 130's came iwth those converters. That would drop all the conversion cost on the existing regs.

No, the screw in adapters don't work on 300 bar valves, only 200 bar valves. Plus most yoke regs won't go over that kind of valve, and finally, those valves don't have a dimple on the back for the yoke nut. There is another thread that talks about the valves on those tanks.

re-valve tanks OR convert my reg?!?

[Byte Me]

Originally Posted by northfrisian

Can you get parts for the reg? Sounds like this stuff been sitting for a while, first thing I would do is take the valves off and inspect the inside.

they've been full of air the entire time they've been sitting. And, its a friend so if I did get them hydro'd and vis'd and they didn't pass then they'd go back to him!

[RoyN]

I have two old PST tanks I bought from my friend several months ago and they are still going. Yours should have a good hydro and if extra, maybe tumble it and get it O2 clean. Those valves there, I would just throw them out and get a new valve either 300 bar if you're going to din or 200 bar if you have a yoke.