tank question

[rich.williams]

hi i have had my tank sent back to me after some tool from a dive club took it by mistake from the dive shop where it was being filled. The shop got the tank back and have sent it to me but its had all the air took out of it, i am going to get it filled asap but i just wanted to know if that was ok? or would it need cleaning?
thanks

[turbanator]

Tough call really, and it depends where it happened ie in water, in a club boat shed with petrol fumes etc.

We are usually advised to leave 10-20 bar in a tank so that if there is a leak, it leaks out, not in.

If it happened in the water, then there is a chance seawater could have entered, when this happened to my buddy dsmb crack bottle, they said just whip the valve off, rinse it out, dry it and then reassemble it.

As it's breathing air, I'd be guided by your LDS, maybe ask them to take the valve off it you don't fancy doing it yourself and have a peep inside.

r
Paul

[rich.williams]

thanks for the info i think i was not to clear on the post, the dive shop emptied the tank so that it could be sent in the post.

[wilbo]

Originally Posted by rich.williams

thanks for the info i think i was not to clear on the post, the dive shop emptied the tank so that it could be sent in the post.

What!? Thats an dumb thing to do - the dive shop should have known better.. Sending it shouldn't have been an option.. They should have contacted you to arrange pickup.. Having said that, those people who take ponies on plane to the red sea are made to empty them before they're carried - to as long as the cylinder is not left for any great length of time - should be Ok.. The problem is that you don't know what has happened to it - (as Turbanator says) whether its been emptied above or below the surface and how long it was open - possible contamination from fumes etc..

Sounds to me that either the shop or the club owe you a fill or two or even a cylinder service....

[rich.williams]

the shop is 3.5 hour drive from me, the story is that i left my tank over night at the shop as i was doing a last shore dive before i went home, but on the morning a bsac club had hired a rib off the shop and they picked up there gear that was at the shop as well. someone in the group picked up my tank, so when i got to the shop it was gone, the rib was going to be out all day and i was not able to wait for them so after alot of talking they agreed to send it. the guy at the shop told me that he got the tank back fine but when he came to sending it HE would have to empty it. so i was empted in the shop

[Colin Marriott]

If you order cylinders by mail-order they come empty! ( and I think, with the valve open)

Any comments on this?

ColinM

[Dave Crampton]

I personally would have a local shop look at it. Get the 3.5 hours away shop to pay for a service. Its their fault it was taken by mistake as you left it with them, on the understanding that they were looking after it. Its their mistake and i would get them to pay for a cylinder service.

Dave C

[Finless]

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much. The cylinder was emptied at the dive shop and not on a boat where water might have got in. Given the recent temperatures there will not have been much pressure variation due to temp changes whilst your cylinder was in transit. Just get 10 or 20 bar put in asap and blast some of it out again. You would probably be able to taste/smell any significant contamination.

Your only problem would be if some contiminant got in whislt the cylinder was in transit ie something dripped on to the cylinder valve.

If you are still concerned then ask your LDS or wherever you get your cylinders tested for their opinion (provided they are not desperate for some business).

As kind of mentioned by Dave in the previous post it would not hurt to phone the dive shop where the mix up happened and to voice your concerns and see what they say.

[Padowan]

Originally Posted by wilbo

...those people who take ponies on plane to the red sea are made to empty them before they're carried ...

A friend of mine wrote a letter to the airline warning them that they were bring diving equipment, including cylinders, and to try and get allowances increased, etc. Well, it was dead funny in the letter, because the person wrote:

"....if you are bringing cylinders, these can me packed with your normal hold luggage, but make sure they are half empty AND have the valves removed...."

LOL!!