Replacing stethoscope tubing

[MilkmanAl]

As I recently discovered, my stethoscope tubing is really short. I want to replace the current 18" tubing with 27" tubing, but I'm sort of clueless how to do it. Do I need to contact the manufacturer or distributor? Can I just pull thing pieces off and put them in the new tubing on my own? Do I need to send it to someone to have them switch the tubing?

I own a WA Harvey DLX, if that makes any difference. I admittedly haven't probed terribly deeply into this issue (made any calls or whatnot), but the WA website wasn't terribly helpful outside of showing me which part I needed to order. I was just curious if anyone knew what to do before I started cold-calling.

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[MossPoh]

18 inches? That is ridiculously short. I think you order it through the company and send it in. It doesn't seem very difficult to replace tubing if they sell it, but there could be some random hidden step somewhere.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Yeah, it's the random hidden step I worry about. I'd rather not ruin an expensive steth if I don't have to. 😛

 

[Speculatrix]

Yeah, it's the random hidden step I worry about. I'd rather not ruin an expensive steth if I don't have to. 😛

I think you should call the company and send it to them. I have sent 2 stethoscopes back to Littmann for service, and they have done an excellent job. I am sure WA would do the same. Don't do this yourself.

 

[deleted87716]

As I recently discovered, my stethoscope tubing is really short. I want to replace the current 18" tubing with 27" tubing, but I'm sort of clueless how to do it. Do I need to contact the manufacturer or distributor? Can I just pull thing pieces off and put them in the new tubing on my own? Do I need to send it to someone to have them switch the tubing?

I own a WA Harvey DLX, if that makes any difference. I admittedly haven't probed terribly deeply into this issue (made any calls or whatnot), but the WA website wasn't terribly helpful outside of showing me which part I needed to order. I was just curious if anyone knew what to do before I started cold-calling.

Welch-Allyn stethoscopes have a ten-year warranty. Call WA customer service and tell them your tubing cracked. They'll ask for the serial number on the 'scope, which allows them to know when it was manufactured. If it was within the last ten years, they'll send you new tubing for free.

The binaurals are part of the tubing, so all you have to do to replace it is pull the stethoscope head off the old tubing and push it onto the new tubing. It's a cinch.

 

[Guile]

Welch-Allyn stethoscopes have a ten-year warranty. Call WA customer service and tell them your tubing cracked. They'll ask for the serial number on the 'scope, which allows them to know when it was manufactured. If it was within the last ten years, they'll send you new tubing for free.

The binaurals are part of the tubing, so all you have to do to replace it is pull the stethoscope head off the old tubing and push it onto the new tubing. It's a cinch.

But his tubing isn't cracked. He just wants a newer, longer tube. This is a bit shady, IMO.

I would call Welch-Allyn. They are a good company that stands behind their products. I've had a oto/ophthalmoscope handle replaced when it just stopped working. All I did was call them and tell them it didn't work anymore, and they gave me an RMA number on the spot. I shipped it in, and they overnighted me a new one. Call them and ask them what would be the best way to get longer tubing.

 

[deleted87716]

But his tubing isn't cracked.

It might be. Maybe he just hasn't realized it yet. The leaf spring is a common failure point.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I finally got around to calling WA today, and they're just sending me the 28" tubing for free. Thanks for the help, everyone. 🙂 👍

 

[Guile]

I finally got around to calling WA today, and they're just sending me the 28" tubing for free. Thanks for the help, everyone. 🙂 👍

Good to hear. 👍 WA is a good company. I've only had good interactions with them.

 

[MossPoh]

It might be. Maybe he just hasn't realized it yet. The leaf spring is a common failure point.

I like the way you think.

 

[MilkmanAl]

The dude I talked to actually volunteered to give me a part under the warranty. No deception necessary, believe it or not.

 

[Laryngophed]

It might be. Maybe he just hasn't realized it yet. The leaf spring is a common failure point.

 

[Guile]

Really? Digging up a 6+ month old thread to troll a mod with a LMGTFY link. Weak sauce, man.

 

[MilkmanAl]

He's right, though. My college GPA does, in fact, prevent me from successfully performing many common tasks. Even feeding myself can be a problem. I usually get along just fine, but every now and then I remember one of the C's I got and sink quickly into catatonia. If only I'd pulled that 4.0, I'd be able to live like a normal human.

edit: Oh, and in case anyone cares, my steth is still alive and kickin' with it's shiny new(ish) tubing. In other words, I managed to not totally botch the tubing exchange. It's nice to not have to get all up in patients' faces to do an exam.