Dive Bottle Test - Short & Curly's?

[Trumpetier]

Pretty sure the last bottle I had tested, I didn't have to sign anything when I handed it over.

[Spray1Mark]

I would just buy another bottle and tell them to scrap it! not worth the mental anguish and at £100 thats more than half of the cost of a new one, plus I would be surprised if they used a Midland Jubilee valve which is designed for airgun use, not those horrible other valves which I see from time to time.

You could also buy your own Midland valve and just ask them to fit that, then you would only pay the test fee and that may really annoy them if all they are trying to do is sell you a valve that you dont need!

Truth is you will probably never know!

[Aimstraight]

BTW the NO GO Turns on my certificate state <1 for the valve threads and cylinder (as you stated 2 Max).

Also the certificate states valve destroyed Y/N, so they might have destroyed your valve already!

Suppose this highlights the potential risks with buying used equipment (even though yours was not used).

[RobF]

The cylinder tests are not there for fill reasons they're there for transportation reasons. You cannot transport an out of test cylinder unless under certain conditions, which you're not able to meet.

I had a cylinder fail after it's 2nd test, same reason, thread go-no-go test failed.

I believe this might be a new addition to the test, so I might guess that some bottles were made not within tolerance for the new test... or the last test centre over stretched my thread. My cylinder, like yours was a 3L (although long not stumpy) and only used for decanting so rarely went below 180 bar and not above 320 so wouldn't experience the more extreme pressure range of a dive cylinder used for such. It also had a rust spot despite only ever having had breathing air put in it...

My other 12L that failed (got stung on a camoflauged 2 year still in test mate...) wasn't allowed to be taken back either.

Different dive shop.

£61 obviously isn't the best news but it's better than scrap. And the likelyhood is another go-no-go gauge will fail it anyway.

[rabbitslayer]

£61 obviously isn't the best news but it's better than scrap. And the likelyhood is another go-no-go gauge will fail it anyway.

Although I hate to admit it, I can't see any other alternative that won't end up costing me more and for no overall gain.

I suppose as long as this thread makes others aware of what to possibly expect when taking a bottle in for a test, then it hasn't been time to wasted.

Thanks lads.

[acmsarh]

On the cylinder test the cylinder threads are checked and the mating valve threads ie m25x2 or 3/4bsp etc not any other threads that do not make up the valve to cylinder seal < The 5/8bsp din fitting should not be touched and as far as i am aware is not required under the relevant standards.
If the valve was a special with some unusual thread on the filling/outlet port ie unf/unc as long as the actual valve to cylinder thread gauges up then it has passed but they cannot fill to test the cylinder/valve seal then both the cylinder and the valve should be returned to you unfitted as the hydro test only applies to the cylinder.
I tested many thousands of cylinders working for MDE and that was the set procedure then.

If you can do it take the valve out of the cylinder and just give them the cylinder to test.

[Aimstraight]

On the cylinder test the cylinder threads are checked and the mating valve threads ie m25x2 or 3/4bsp etc not any other threads that do not make up the valve to cylinder seal < The 5/8bsp din fitting should not be touched and as far as i am aware is not required under the relevant standards.
If the valve was a special with some unusual thread on the filling/outlet port ie unf/unc as long as the actual valve to cylinder thread gauges up then it has passed but they cannot fill to test the cylinder/valve seal then both the cylinder and the valve should be returned to you unfitted as the hydro test only applies to the cylinder.
I tested many thousands of cylinders working for MDE and that was the set procedure then.

If you can do it take the valve out of the cylinder and just give them the cylinder to test.

That's a good point. The recent certificate that I have refers to ''Valve Threads' and 'Cylinder Threads', it does not distinguish, highlight or spell out that the DIN outlet is checked. Could it be that the test centre have added this check out of 'goodwill' to ensure the user has safe valve outlet?

[acmsarh]

What you have to be aware of as well is how they remove and refit the valve , all of the valves have a different profile ( you imagine a socket that has to fit over a valve to remove it) now at MDE we used to make them to fit any valve profile but a lot of places did not want to pay the £100+ for the real deal so a big spanner used to make do and with the 5/8 din valves an 5/8 thread was machined onto a bar and the valve was taken out using that plus a hammer and refitted the same way and not using a torque wrench to refit , The over zealous use of the hammer could result in the din threads distorting sideways.