Advice needed Rearming Kit & Gas cylinder for Life Jackets

[Sibfisher]

Advice needed
I have 2 Seago 155 N classic life vests.
One looks fine with the Rearming Kit bottom is Green and looks new.
The other the Rearming Kit bottom is red showing both Rearming Kit & gas needs changing.

The questions are they both have the same date on the Rearming Kits date below.
Do I have to change the Rearming Kit and gas on the one that has the green at the bottom looks in good condition and have been told never been used.

The one that need changing it recommends a 38g Co2 cylinder, can I put a 33g cylinder instead and would this inflate the vest as the one I have found here in Spain is the same size as the one that it replaces.

Photos Below and Thanks

Photo 1 is vest with Rearming Kit and gas cylinder in good condition as new condition
Photo 2 Date on Reaming kits
photo 3 Label attached
Photo 4 Rearming Kit and gas that needs changing
Photo 5 Rearming Kit and gas on as new vest

[PeterM]

Replace both bottles and firing caps with new.

If you want a life jacket to save your life itav really not worth scrimping.

Equally inflate them and leave them for 24 hours to make sure they don't leak .

[Sibfisher]

Inflate the jackets manually, ensure they hold their pressure for at least 24hrs.
Inspect them thoroughly for any degradation, if they have issues at all, then replace the whole life jacket.
If they inflate ok, if they are free of damage then replace the firing cap and gas bottle as instructed. The bottle size isn’t an advisory, it’s a warning that 38g MUST be used.
Keep a record of all replacement parts and inspection dates on the service label and inspect periodically, at least annually.
The jackets can only look after you if you look after them

Martin

[Froglet]

If you're struggling to find genuine Seago rearming kits in Spain you should be able to use any United Moulders Mk5 38g kits. Several lifejacket manufacturers use the same UML auto firing devices in their products.

In the UK they tend to sell for around £18 or £19 for each kit including the gas cylinder, firing capsule and the green warning clips. Might even be cheaper on the continent seeing as everything seems more expensive here. If your gas cylinder isn't pierced you can just replace the firing capsule for under a tenner.

My capsules expired this February. I serviced the jackets by unpacking them, removing the firing mechanisms, washing the jackets in fresh water to remove any salt then manually inflating and leaving to dry thoroughly and check they held air. Then deflate and repack with new capsules.

I'm happy to stick to budget options for all sorts of things, but lifesaving kit like lifejackets or motorcycle helmets I buy the best I can afford and look after them.

[Sibfisher]

Thanks for all the advice I have taken in what has been said and believe safety first.

Done the inflation test first with the vest that the gas bottle had been blown after blowing it up went down in minutes when putting it in water there was a little pin hole just below the reaming tube. I dont know but can you repair life vests.

The other that looked new and the reaming kit was still in tact after 24 hours still inflated so that one good,
The reaming kit is out of date so I will replace that like you said Froglet if the gas bottle has not been pierced can you still use that or better to replace,
It has not been activated so is it good that I leave the green trigger and cord like they are and just replace reaming & gas.
Froglet because I cant get reaming kit for Seago I have put 2 links to sites below of a reaming kit and a 38gr cylinder if you can confirm they are good to go.

Again thanks from someone who knows nothing about inflatable vests

https://www.decathlon.es/es/p/kit-rearm ... /R-p-12393

https://www.tradeinn.com/waveinn/es/lal ... lsrc=aw.ds

[Sibfisher]

Your unused gas bottle will have a weight on it, If the gas bottle weighs in the same as advised and has no corrosion, yes you can still use it with the new firing mech.
If there’s any sign of corrosion or the weight is under the advised, dispose of the canister/bottle.

Martin

[Sibfisher]

Back again
Both Co2 cylinder have not been activated and both weigh over the min weight so looks fine there.
Can a puncture on a life vest be repaired or is no good and to be thrown away, put a photo of the pin prick puncture below please advice.

[Martin]

Some may try and repair, but the cost of repairing, Re-arming etc - if it was mine I’d be cutting it up and throwing it away.
I say cut it up, so nobody else gets hold of it and uses it.

Life jackets are the most important thing in my opinion, really not worth risking anything with them.
Bin it and buy new
Martin

[Sibfisher]

Some may try and repair, but the cost of repairing, Re-arming etc - if it was mine I’d be cutting it up and throwing it away.
I say cut it up, so nobody else gets hold of it and uses it.

Life jackets are the most important thing in my opinion, really not worth risking anything with them.
Bin it and buy new
Martin

Thanks for your advice and your right I will be binning it.
Funny the life vest has been used the reaming kit shows red but the co2 cylinder was just lightly screwed in and not pierced said min weight 171.5 grs when weighing it is 173 grs so think looks like it can be used again, I have 2 Co2 cylinders now this week will be buying the reaming kit that I listed above.