Leaking inflator

[AbyssalPlains]

I have two DSS wings, the LCD 30 and the LCD50. I'm very happy with both and love diving them.

However, on both wings, air bubbles out of the inflator when I push the inflator button under water. It's hard to tell, but it looks like it's coming out from behind the inflator button when it is depressed. When I release the button, the bubbles stop.

Is this supposed to be this way? If not, where can I get replacement o-rings? I do have the tool.

Thanks!

 

[Randy43068]

Replace two O rings if it's the same as a "standard" or typical inflator.

You can get a rebuild kit from Northeast Scuba for less than two bucks.

Backplate and Wings - Wings/BC Parts - Power Inflators - Parts - Northeast Scuba Supply

I can't recall what the manual says but I use a slight amount of tribolube on the plunger when I work on them, too. Just a very slight film of lube.

 

[Randy43068]

or, as you can see, a new one is 25 bucks.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

Thank you, Randy, for the tip. There is no way I'm buying two new inflators, as both wings are only three years old, and I already had to replace the inflator hose on one of them, which was also leaking.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

Btw, what is the difference between tribolube and cristolube? I would much prefer to use regular silicone grease, just because it's so much cheaper. Would that be a bad idea? I'm not using any high O2-mixes in my back gas, so I can't see why.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

O-rings wear out over time. They should be replaced as needed. If there's any corrosion on the metal parts inside the power inflater, it should be cleaned off with a vinegar:water solution. A simple overhaul of the DSS power inflater should only take a few minutes.

Tobin has posted a very nice video which walks you through the steps of overhauling a DSS power inflater.

In the video, he lists the specs of the o-rings required for overhaul:
QD nipple: -011
Cartridge valve body: -112 and -012
Oral inflate hex: -110
Valve spool: two -006

You can order replacement o-rings from your preferred o-ring supplier. They cost a few cents apiece. I typically use EPDM o-rings with a 70A durometer. I've also used o-rings composed of different materials (Buna-N, Viton) and harder durometer (75-90 durometer).

Some people either don't bother to change out the o-rings or discover some damage to metal/plastic parts of the power inflater. If this is the case with your power inflater, you can purchase a brand new replacement power inflater from Scubatoys.com for $20. As of last week, they had one distributed by Trident in stock. It's identical to the one found on DSS wings.

Hope this helps...

 

[Randy43068]

Tribolube is a superior O2 safe lube.

Christo-Lube dries out over time which is why I don't like it. Fact is the Tribolube people used to work at Christo-Lube. They had a difference of opinion so a few of the folks broke away and created Tribolube.



They are similar products with the above exception.

Btw, what is the difference between tribolube and cristolube? I would much prefer to use regular silicone grease, just because it's so much cheaper. Would that be a bad idea? I'm not using any high O2-mixes in my back gas, so I can't see why.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Thank you, Randy, for the tip. There is no way I'm buying two new inflators, as both wings are only three years old,

Inflators are really a type of regulator, and few would expect regulators to perform indefinitely without service. The inflator is a simple device, and easy to service. We posted the inflator service video to allow our customers the option of performing this service themselves at very low cost.

I routinely flush my inflators with fresh water, and typically service the cartridge valves annually, but I dive ~ 2 or 3 times a week in salt water.

I prefer silicone grease as it is a better lubricant and there is zero need for a power inflator to be prepped for O2 service.

Tobin

 

[Randy43068]

As usual Tobin is absolutely correct.

I didn't mean to imply that the inflator had to be O2 clean at all. Mistakenly I mentioned Tribolube simply because that's what I have on hand at the moment because I'm rebuilding some regulators. That's the first lube that came to mind.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

O-rings wear out over time. They should be replaced as needed. If there's any corrosion on the metal parts inside the power inflater, it should be cleaned off with a vinegar:water solution. A simple overhaul of the DSS power inflater should only take a few minutes.

Tobin has posted a very nice video which walks you through the steps of overhauling a DSS power inflater.

In the video, he lists the specs of the o-rings required for overhaul:
QD nipple: -011
Cartridge valve body: -112 and -012
Oral inflate hex: -110
Valve spool: two -006

You can order replacement o-rings from your preferred o-ring supplier. They cost a few cents apiece. I typically use EPDM o-rings with a 70A durometer. I've also used o-rings composed of different materials (Buna-N, Viton) and harder durometer (75-90 durometer).

Some people either don't bother to change out the o-rings or discover some damage to metal/plastic parts of the power inflater. If this is the case with your power inflater, you can purchase a brand new replacement power inflater from Scubatoys.com for $20. As of last week, they had one distributed by Trident in stock. It's identical to the one found on DSS wings.

Hope this helps...

Wow. This not only helps, this is a fantastic reference for the future. I'll print out your response and file it in my "Equipment and maintenance" folder. Thanks so much!