Sports Chalet SCUBA Tank Valves-Beware

I got an aluminum 80 tank from Sports Chalet for Christmas, horay! That’s the good news. The bad news is that Sports Chalet has gone to what must be a cheaper valve. It comes with an “as cast” finnish that bears the name Genesis. This valve can be used as a K valve , or it can be converted to the DIN configuration by changing an insert with an allen wrench. The problem is that my AF clamp is not designed to work with a DIN type valve, (probably because of the higher pressure that tanks with DIN valves are pressurized to, 4450 psi). The new valve has different dimensions that prevent the AF clamp from sitting low enough to align properly. The inserts that are used also have a small protrusion that might interfere with the seating of the AF clamp. Buyer beware!

The people at my Sports Chalet changed out my Genesis valve for an older K valve from a tank that had a 2006 production date on it. That was very nice of them to do that for me. It was the only old style tank/valve combination that they still had in stock. The older valve bears the name “Sherwood SCUBA 5000”.

Not too long ago, I posted that Sports Chalet reduces prices on SCUBA tanks in June as part of their “SCUBA Month” promotion. You should probably take your AF clamp with you when you purchase a tank so as to be certain that the two are compatable. By June they may not have any old style valves in stock.