tank o-ring

[Soggy]

I just rented two tanks for this weekend for some very cold water diving. When I did my equipment check tonight and hooked up my regulator, the tank did not seal against my first stage unless I tightened the yoke on pretty tight...that is, air was leaking unless it was on tight.

Is this safe? Should I not use that tank, even though I can get it to seal just fine?

This may not even be an issue, since I'll probably only do one dive, but still...

 

[Hallmac]

Just change the o-ring. If you don't have a spare in your save a dive kit look under the dust cap of your first stage. The one there may fit. 50/50 chance

You can use it as is but after the dive you may not be able to seperate them without five monkeys and a pipe wrench

Hallmac

 

[JT2]

If it were me I would change the O-ring because if you use it the way it is now you will probably find it difficult to get the first stage off. Even if you don't have an extra O-ring, surely someone in your group will. HTH

 

[ScubaJorgen]

Normally, there really is no need to tighten the yoke very hard. It should be just sufficient to keep the O ring in place. The O-ring will do the rest.

I would not get nervous about a bit of air escaping, as long as it stays with a few small bubbles.

However, it indicates the O-ring is damaged. I would not compromise that. I've recently seen an O ring blow in the swimming pool. The guy lost 70 bar in 10 seconds. You definitely do not want that to happen at 100 feet down....

 

[nickjb]

Carry spare o-rings and if you have any doubts change it.

"If it don't feel right then it aint right" definitely applies.

I think most of us have taken unnecessary risks at some stage in diving career but this one sounds like an easy fix.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Also...

Sometimes the valve gets bumped and knocked out of round. The result is the regulator doesn't get pulled against the o-ring unless the yoke is very tight. I see this fairly often with rental tanks.

 

[pops]

just dig the old one out and put the new one in? no grease or anything?
i noticed that after closing the valve, the pressure on my spg drops about 750 psi per hour. that's ok for a dive but the o ring was scarred - may as well change it.
BTW I checked my Cressi dust cover and there it was - a brand new o ring. This essential information was NOT covered in my PADI course.

 

[chrispete]

...and if I were you I'd polietly ask your LDS for an extra to replace the one that you used up from your dustcap fixing the problem - they should be more than willing and may give you a couple of extras for future use.

 

[ABQdiver]

pops once bubbled...
i noticed that after closing the valve, the pressure on my spg drops about 750 psi per hour....../B]

I think that is a boo-boo, but I'd like to know what kind of SPF you have. Any tachometer included?:tease: