Green indicators missing on life jacket firing mechanisms

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captainhaddock

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Having just checked all my life jackets, a number of them had the green indicators on the firing mechanisms either missing or else they fell off during manual inflation. I am 100% sure that these jackets (all 3 years old) have never been manually fired. Does the lack of this green indicator mean that the firing mechanism is inoperable? Can I somehow reset them, or should I take them to a service centre?
 
If they are a 'manual inflate' should be ok. The clips on mine keep breaking and I use those ties for plastic bags to replace. Always though, take the 'gas' bottle out inspect the end to make sure that it has not been set off and weigh to make sure that the gross weight matches or exceeds that stamped on the the bottle. If the bottle has a hole in the end you will need to replace the firing mechanism as well. And finally, if not sure take to a dealer for inspection. Ideally you should inspect the LJ's each year (IMHO).
 
If they are autoinflate jackets the green falling off means the mechanism needs replacing. Did all mine last year. Kit costs about £10 each. Don't compromise and if in doubt get one checked over by a decent outfit that knows what there are doing.
 
The green clips are just there to lessen the chance of accidental firing. The critical thing is to unscrew the gas bottles to inspect the end and to weigh them. Each bottle has a gross weight stamped on it - usually around 38g. Check that they do weigh the correct amount. A bottle which has fired or leaked through corrosion will not register the stamped weight.

Ed
 
Depending on the age of your lifejacket, you can buy the little green clips from The Marine Warehouse .

Like this

V85006.jpg


or this
halkey-roberts-bobbin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
If they are autoinflate jackets the green falling off means the mechanism needs replacing.

[/ QUOTE ]

What makes you say that? Which bit of the mechanism do you mean? If the gas cylinder has not fired (i.e. it is the correct weight) there is no need to replace it, and I cannot see how the green disc can tell you anything about the auto-inflate mechanism, except that it probably hasn't activated.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If they are autoinflate jackets the green falling off means the mechanism needs replacing.

[/ QUOTE ]

What makes you say that? Which bit of the mechanism do you mean? If the gas cylinder has not fired (i.e. it is the correct weight) there is no need to replace it, and I cannot see how the green disc can tell you anything about the auto-inflate mechanism, except that it probably hasn't activated.

[/ QUOTE ]

A year ago I was asked to check the life jackets for the branch of the Maritime Volunteer Service, of which I was member.

I found that, when I was checking the Life jackets, that although they had never been fired, when I removed the green tabs, to check the operation of the firing mechanism (without the CO2 bottle connected) they tended to break so that it was impossible to reuse them.

Thus I needed replacement green tabs.

Howeve the important bit is, check that there is no hole on the CO2 cylinder and that it is of the correct weight. The green tab is just a 'first glance' visual reassurance.
 
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