[kkcheo]

Hi all

Does anyone know where can I get (prefer mail order) spare plastic counterlung buckles that ISC uses (the ones used to fasten top and bottom of the lung)? I would like to buy a few spares. I ordered the 1" ones from Diverite express and they are different

If you anyone here has customized the way you attach the counterlungs to the harness, I would appreciate if you'll share it as well (instead of using the ISC convention of buckle top and bottom with velcro to the harness).

Thanks all.

Cheers
-Keng the Meg newbie

[trob09]

Seattle Fabrics sells them - Side Release Buckles, Hardware for Sewing
scroll down to streamline side release buckles.

[Benthic]

Heather and I (and some of our other friends too--I think) are using SS boltsnaps. We have two attached to the top of the back plate, next to the shoulder straps and two on a short length of bungee cord. We removed the plastic buckles on the counterlungs and replaced them with SS d-rings. The d-rings snap into the boltsnaps up top. On the bottom we clip one snap to the CL on one side, then pass the bungee through the loop at the top of the harness crotch strap, and clip to the bottom ring on the other CL.

Hope that makes sense. I can send pictures if you like.

Brian

[kkcheo]

Thanks for the response guys.

Brian, if you can post pics here for the benefit of the members as well, that would be great!

Thanks
-Keng

[trob09]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Benthic)

Heather and I (and some of our other friends too--I think) are using SS boltsnaps. We have two attached to the top of the back plate, next to the shoulder straps and two on a short length of bungee cord. We removed the plastic buckles on the counterlungs and replaced them with SS d-rings. The d-rings snap into the boltsnaps up top. On the bottom we clip one snap to the CL on one side, then pass the bungee through the loop at the top of the harness crotch strap, and clip to the bottom ring on the other CL.

Hope that makes sense. I can send pictures if you like.

Brian

I know a couple of people who use this method too. It seems like a great solution. Personally I've never had a problem with the plastic buckles ( in diving or in 15+ years of mountaineering) but I respect the reasons some choose not to use them.

T

[womble]

Quote: (Originally Posted by trob09)

I know a couple of people who use this method too. It seems like a great solution. Personally I've never had a problem with the plastic buckles ( in diving or in 15+ years of mountaineering) but I respect the reasons some choose not to use them.

T

I've cut off the plastic buckles off the bottom of the CLs and off the bit of webbing on the crotch strap and kept these as spares. I've left the top ones as they are, and I am now using some bungee looped around the top of the crotch strap with 2 snaphooks which I attach onto the D rings on the underneat of the CLs.

I've had 2 plastic buckles break in 5y of diving, but in both cases something heavy has dropped onto the buckles (like twin 15's!) Its just very annoying if you have to sit out a dive because you cannot secure your CLs because your buckle has broken. At some point I will probably change the upper plastic buckles for boltsnaps or something similar.

[trob09]

Quote: (Originally Posted by womble)

I've cut off the plastic buckles off the bottom of the CLs and off the bit of webbing on the crotch strap and kept these as spares. I've left the top ones as they are, and I am now using some bungee looped around the top of the crotch strap with 2 snaphooks which I attach onto the D rings on the underneat of the CLs.

I've had 2 plastic buckles break in 5y of diving, but in both cases something heavy has dropped onto the buckles (like twin 15's!) Its just very annoying if you have to sit out a dive because you cannot secure your CLs because your buckle has broken. At some point I will probably change the upper plastic buckles for boltsnaps or something similar.

As I say, I respect the reasons others choose to do away with the buckles. I've never had an issue and am quite certain I could cobble together something with a spare clip or two and some cave line if I needed a field repair.

The velcro tabs on the other hand...work of the devil.

[Sulac]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Benthic)

Heather and I (and some of our other friends too--I think) are using SS boltsnaps. We have two attached to the top of the back plate, next to the shoulder straps and two on a short length of bungee cord. We removed the plastic buckles on the counterlungs and replaced them with SS d-rings. The d-rings snap into the boltsnaps up top. On the bottom we clip one snap to the CL on one side, then pass the bungee through the loop at the top of the harness crotch strap, and clip to the bottom ring on the other CL.

Hope that makes sense. I can send pictures if you like.

Brian

do U have some pictures?

[Benthic]

All,

Here are the promised photos. The first is of the clips at the top of the plate and counterlungs. The second is of the bungee @ the bottom of the lungs. What you see is the bottom end of each lung, and the clips & bungee passed through the loop in the top of the crotch strap. I left out the waist strap for clarity.

Brian

[Gilles]

I am doing something similiar to Benthic, but based on a description a la Cedric (see Rebreather World library).

I attach the base of the CL's to the base of my backplate. This puts more CL under my arms, rather than under my belly. More streamlined and it installs the CL's before putting the rig on (i.e. less things to snap together before jumping in the water).

You will find it very comfortable, and it gets the OPV out of the way (under arm, rather than near your left nipple .


The buckles you are looking for are called ("Fastex clips").

G