Low-pressure hose rotates at nut - is this normal?

Trakker · May 29, 2009

My wife and I have an identical set of AL Legend regs, but whilst washing down recently I noticed something odd when pulling back the rubber boots over the octopus hoses where they are screwed into the first stages:

Whilst my hose is rigidly attached to the nut that screws in to the first stage (which appears normal), my wife's otherwise identical hose actually rotates in the nut. Is this okay, or should I be concerned about the potential for a leak??

I always thought that standard high- and low-pressure hoses were intended to be rigidly attached to the nuts at the end where they screw in to the first stage.

Maybe it's okay, but I'd be grateful for any thoughts on this, just for peace of mind.

dave4868 · May 29, 2009

A swage fitting should be tight on the hose (between the numbers of 3 and 4 on the scale). The hose you describe is not tight at the swage area and the rubber casing is more prone to wearing and eventually leaking or blowing out of the fitting.

It's time for replacement of that entire hose assembly.

I'd suggest marking or destroying the old hose to prevent it being returned to underwater service.

Dave C

Diver0001 · May 29, 2009

It's not normal. Replace that hose before you dive again. If it's loose there's a chance that it will pop right off of the fitting and.... well.... you get the picture.

R..

Trakker · May 29, 2009

dave4868:
A swage fitting should be tight on the hose (between the numbers of 3 and 4 on the scale).

Dave C

Guys, many thanks for the swift replies. It's not the rubber hose that's rotating within the swage fitting (i.e. at the point shown between the numbers of 3 and 4 on the scale in Dave's diagram) -- the swage fitting at that point is tight on the hose, so no worries there.

Rather, it's the swage fitting itself (together with the hose that's rigidly attached to it) that is rotating where it meets the nut (i.e. at 1.5 on the scale in Dave's diagram).

Should I still worry or is the swage-to-nut connection not intended to be a 'hard' joint?

Thanks again for your thoughts.

herman · May 29, 2009

Bottom line is nothing at that end of the hose should rotate, much less easily. If you really had to twist it hard to get it to rotate, then it's probably OK but if it rotates easily the crimp in the swage is not as tight as it should be. It might work well for years but if it were mine it would be replaced.

Diver0001 · May 29, 2009

Trakker:
Should I still worry or is the swage-to-nut connection not intended to be a 'hard' joint?

It's not normal for it to be able to move once it's been crimped tight. I would still recommend replacing it. You just can't be anal enough about these things.

Best case nothing happens but worst case and it separates during a dive which would give your wife an unbelievable smack in the the back of the head and/or neck from hose coming off and cause a uncontrolable free flow, none of which falls under my definition of "diving is fun".

R..

Trakker · May 29, 2009

Thanks again all, point taken. I wasn't sure how the hose ends are assembled onto the nut, but I since found this thread (and revealing photo), which would appear to indicate without much doubt that if there's any rotational movement at all at this joint then there may well also be a possibility that the hose and swage might at some stage pull right off the 'barbed' side of the nut.

I will indeed take your advice and replace this hose. Pah - it's a brand new reg too.

Thanks everybody once again for your good advice.

Diver0001 · May 29, 2009

Then you're in luck. If it's a brand new reg it will be under warranty and the repair will cost you nothing.

R..

Trakker · May 29, 2009

Diver0001:
Then you're in luck. If it's a brand new reg it will be under warranty and the repair will cost you nothing.

R..

Absolutely. I must admit, at first I thought I might be worrying about nothing, but not so. I'll definitely have my LDC check this out before this is used again.

Low-pressure hose rotates at nut - is this normal?

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