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Scuba Forum / General / October 2003recurring BC inflator problem ?
I'm experiencing a recurring bc inflator problem, the volume of air going into bc slowly decreases to the point where it is barely filling bc. I replaced the hose and it seemed better for a while but now, same problem. I may be wrong but it seems like the fitting on the inflator is not depressing the valve inside the hose far enough to let enough air through. I've never had that flex hose apart to see what the actual tube looks like inside, is that flex hose what actually carries the inflate air ? With the hose disconnected i can depress the inflate button and blow air into bc so i dont think it's a restriction. Anyway, I've been told they have different valve stems that go inside the inflator hose that might help ? What about the actual fitting that depresses the stem, could this fitting be worn or too short ? Thanks for any comments or suggestions. Kevin Falconer Fort Myers, FL > I'm experiencing a recurring bc inflator problem, the volume of air > going into bc slowly decreases to the point where it is barely filling bc. I > replaced the hose and it seemed better for a while but now, same problem. I may > be wrong but it seems like the fitting on the inflator is not depressing the > valve inside the hose far enough to let enough air through. The valve is inside the plastic inflator, not the hose. > I've never had that flex hose apart to see what the actual tube looks like inside, is that flex > hose what actually carries the inflate air ? Yes, but it's a simple tube with a wire to the quick release. > With the hose disconnected i can depress the inflate button and blow air into bc so i dont think it's a > restriction. Anyway, I've been told they have different valve stems that go inside > the inflator hose that might help ? What about the actual fitting that > depresses the stem, could this fitting be worn or too short ? No, but you're probably on the right track. Whoever told you that you needed a different kind of valve stem should be avoided. Either they are incompetent or they are dishonest. Your best bet is to find a technician you can trust and ask them to take a look at the inflator mechanism. If my suspicions are right, it's about a 1 minute job that a shop you visit often will probably do for free. In no event should it be more than a few bucks. The top of the inflator buttom is normally surrounded by a ring that can be unscrewed by hand. That button simply presses against a pin valve, very much like the ones in a bicycle or car tire. The biggest different is that the pin is exposed so that the buttom can press against it. As I recall, the valve itself screws into the housing and is held vertical by a nut on the shaft. Sometimes the valve turns just a bit, making it impossible for the button to depress it completely. Straightening it up and snugging the retaining nut should cure the problem. If it doesn't, the valve is easy to replace. Lee >> I'm experiencing a recurring bc inflator problem, the volume of air >> going into bc slowly decreases to the point where it is barely filling bc. [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > >Lee Lee, I think he's referring to the schrader valve inside the inflator hose being too restrictive for some reason. Have you seen this problem before? Alan > €No, but you're probably on the right track. Whoever told you that you > €needed a different kind of valve stem should be avoided. Either they are > €incompetent or they are dishonest. > Lee, I think he's referring to the schrader valve inside the inflator > hose being too restrictive for some reason. Have you seen this problem > before? I have. The post (that screws into the inflator mechanism) which depresses the shrader valve in the lp hose is manufactured as a unit with the hose fitting and they are NOT universally interchangable. Both the reach and diameter of the post vary. Most folks never notice because it has been the practice to sell BCs with an lp hose attached. But in the after market (and those of us who have a closet full of BCs and regs that we mix and match) the post on the BC and the hose fitting on the lp hose may or may not match. Dumb dumb dumb. The post is easily removed from the inflator with a wrench (11mm or 7/16) and you should have it with you when you buy a lp hose. If the reach is too short it will not fully depress the sharader valve. If too long, it will not couple. If the diameter is incorrect, it will not couple. >If too > long, it will not couple. If the diameter is incorrect, it will not couple. sounds like an old girl friend of mine !!! > Lee, I think he's referring to the schrader valve inside the inflator > hose being too restrictive for some reason. Have you seen this problem > before? I think that's where the problem lies too, but I'm not sure that's what he was referring to. I had the problem with an Oceanic inflator. The schrader valve pin is just under the inflator button. It's about as simple an device as you can find. If everything is working right, the button directly contacts the valve pin. The pin has to be at a right angle to the button to be fully depressed and work right. Mine had turned slightly and, as a result, it did not depress or open properly. Once it turns, it has a tendency to turn progressivly further, making the problem progressively worse. It was quite easy to turn the valve into the right position and snug down the nut with a pair of needle nose pliers. Lee It may be as simple as cleaning the beast. The inflator asembly can get mighty gunked up and, if you shore dive, it doesn't take much sand to screw things up.  SignatureBriggs Christie Oahu Dive Center Kailua, Hawaii 1-866-933-DIVE www.oahudivecenter.com > > > Lee, I think he's referring to the schrader valve inside the inflator [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Lee "Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote I think that's where the problem lies too, but I'm not sure that's what he was referring to. Lee, I will check the valve you mentioned but I am more suspicious of the post matching with the hose as has been mentioned, the reason being, when this first happened I unhooked my buddies bc hose while her air was still on and for some unknown reason it worked better with her hose, at the time I knew nothing of the valve arrangement and thought maybe the hose was bad but it did seem to point toward the hose, i still plan on checking the valve behind the button though, thanks. Kevin > Lee, I think he's referring to the schrader valve inside the inflator > hose being too restrictive for some reason. Have you seen this problem > before? The Halcyon I borrowed for a couple of dives before buying one had that problem. If I remember correctly, shoving the connnection together (with two hands) would give me a rapid fill, otherwise it took a loooong time. Didn't keep me from buying the Halcyon and I still love it :-) -Sven (a stroke in a Halcyon) "Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message news The valve is inside the plastic inflator, not the hose. Lee, if you look inside your inflator hose you will see a schraeder valve inside the hose, this is what prevents air flow when the hose is disconnected with your air still on, it's very much a crucial mechanism in getting the air to the inflate button and on to the bc. Kevin > "Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message news > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > with your air still on, it's very much a crucial mechanism in getting the air > to the inflate button and on to the bc. There's a simple shut off valve there, but I'm pretty sure it's not a schraeder valve. I've only seen those valves go bad in a couple of ways: 1. Leak when disconnected. 2. Fail to lock in place when connected. Both are normally a result of salt or similar foreign material buildup. Lee > There's a simple shut off valve there, but I'm pretty sure it's not a > schraeder valve. Lee, inside my hose is a removable shraeder valve but upon removing my post from my inflator than connecting my lp hose to the post only, then turning my air on there seemed to be plenty of air coming through the little post thingy. I took apart the stuff behind the button that you were mentioning and i do believe I have a problem there. My configuration is different than your oceanic (no 90 degree connections) but the schraeder valve when fully seated does not depress far enough with the button, when I raise the schraeder valve i get better response from the button but then it bleeds air through in the off position. My schraeder does not have a lock nut as you have mentioned so i believe all the way seated is correct position, I'm gonna get a new schraeder and talk to someone at dacor and get a little insight from them. Thanks for your comments, I'll post when I get to the bottom of it. Kevin I'm having a hard time picturing what you're describing. If you get a chance, I'd like a picture or a link to one. Don't send it to the group and don't make it too large, please. Lee > > There's a simple shut off valve there, but I'm pretty sure it's not a > > schraeder valve. [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Kevin I agree with Lee. We were in Hawaii and my daughters Oceanic BC inflator started to give her problems and finally quit working. We took it to Jacks Dive Locker they popped off the button underneath was the valve that Lee mentioned. It had rotated and the button was no longer depressing the valve. It had been serviced just before we left and the technician left the nut slightly loose so that the valve began to rotate. The first sign was slow inflation. They charged me 20 dollars even though I bought 2 masks also. Which I thought was a rip-off, gouge the tourist kind of thing. But the inflator worked fine for the rest of the trip. B > I'm experiencing a recurring bc inflator problem, the volume of air > going [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Kevin Falconer Fort Myers, FL
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