Life Jacket question

Erin · 13 April 2005, 20:24

Left my Hammar life jacket in my console over the winter and found it today fully opened out but not actually inflated. Now as far as I know these things aren't meant to go off unless they're actually submersed so a bit of winter dampness shouldn't have set it off. The little indicator still shows green. So has it gone off? or has it somehow opened itself up. What should I do? How can I test it without pulling the cord?

Daniel TD5 · 13 April 2005, 20:32

get a new service kit for it thaey are about £15 quid well worth being safe than sorry

dan

Erin · 13 April 2005, 20:45

Found out what must have happened. The manual pull cord must have got tugged somehow, enough to fire it but not enough to pull the cord right out. I found the crewsaver CD which came with the jacket which explains how to get the hammar head off and withdraw the gas cylinder. It's definitely been fired so I will get the re-arming kit as you suggest.

Cheers

Richard B · 13 April 2005, 20:55

If it's only been fired manually, then you won't need a new Hammar mechanism, but check the expiry date before deciding on this.

Once you take it apart, you should be able to see that the CO2 cylinder has been pierced at the end.

Strange thing, though - I thought that if the manual pull had been activated then the Hammar indicator would go red?

Erin · 13 April 2005, 20:58

Apparently if the jacket has been set off manually then the green indicator stays green. The only way you know is that the cord will have been pulled out. Are you sure I don't need a new Hammar unit - how do I get the pull cord back in and fed round the spindle?

Richard B · 13 April 2005, 21:05

Ah... sounds like I'm wrong then! Sounds like you do need a new Hammar unit.

Mike C · 13 April 2005, 21:41

Don't know how the automatic bit works but if you're just bothered if the CO2 has been fired then weigh it. The gross weight will be stamped on the bottle. If its lighter than that then throw it...

As I say, I don't have an auto jacket so if I am talking though my pull cord for your jacket system then apologies...

I weigh my CO2 cartriges each year!

Mike C

Swifty · 14 April 2005, 09:44

Whilst your looked at it, Its definately worth the bother of blowing it up manually and checking for leaks.

Tim'mers.

Tim M · 14 April 2005, 19:16

Quote:

I weigh my CO2 cartriges each year!

Surrly it's easier to just check that the cylinder doesn't have a hole in the end where it's been let off??

Erin · 14 April 2005, 20:50

Yep... the cylinder has a hole in the end. I've also found out that the plastic bits come apart so that I can wind the pull cord back round, so I think all I need after all is the cylinder. Thanks Richard, you were right all along.

Keith

CJL · 14 April 2005, 21:06

A word of warning the lifejackets we use at work (crewsavers) is that the cylinders come unscrewed in the boot of cars due to vibrations.

Also there is a recall/notice on the mk 3 firing heads as they are allowing gas to escape when they discharge. You can get a little rubber gromet to solve the problem.

Chris

Richard B · 15 April 2005, 07:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJL

there is a recall/notice on the mk 3 firing heads

Just for clarity, it's not a recall but a customer-fit modification. Have a look here: http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/mk3/mk3%2...ing%20head.pdf
- and if your lifejacket is affected then have a look here: http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/mk3/index.htm

In summary, it looks like salt-tablet type automatic lifejackets with a pale blue operating head are affected.

CJL · 15 April 2005, 10:05

Mr B you spot on!

I tried to find the link but no joy!

We have just done the mods at work and despite some being quite new a lot did need the mk3 modification.

Chris