Preventative Maintenance
The STT Lift systems are built out of the same high quality materials and type of components as much of your dive gear, and should be cared for in essentially the same way. It should be inspected, tested and lubricated properly before diving, and it should be properly rinsed, de-salinated and dried thoroughly before returning to storage. This section gives a breakdown of the individual points of performance for the proper pre and post-dive maintenance required for consistent, reliable operation.
ATAC Post-Dive Checklist
Step 1: Remove CO2 Cartridges
The CO2 cartridges are made of cadmium coated steel, and prone to corrosion and rusting if stored improperly. It is imperative to rinse, clean and lubricate the ATAC actuator after every use, and NEVER leave the CO2 cartridges in the system. Especially spent ones.
The inside of the cartridges isn’t coated in any way, and once water gets into them from the puncture hole, they will just bleed rust into the actuator bores and cause problems during storage.
Remove the cartridges by unscrewing them. Also remove the shuttle, and soak all components in fresh water to expel salt and debris.
Step 2: Ensure cartridge bores are clean
Rinse and drain all of the components multiple times and shake dry. Ensure the bores are cleared of sand or debris, and blow the bores and lines dry with compressed air, if available.
Step 3: Inspect and grease o-rings
Now is a great time to inspect and grease the o-rings. This step is also included in the pre-dive PMS checks, but is preferred to conduct post-dive to make sure you don’t have any surprises with beat up o-rings or challenges.