US Divers 3-piece manifold, misunderstanding?

[MikeAlan]

I know I tend to go on and on, but this time I'll do better...
Anybody else ever put a pair of 72s together in a harness with stainless bands, and when you tighten the manifold joints together, it pulls the tops of the tanks together and separates the bottoms? By about 1/2"? While the bands were still loose?
It makes me not want to tighten the bands at all...?

[captain]

1-Lay assembly on the floor, 2- loosen the manifold nuts, 3- tighten the bands, 4- tighten both manifold nuts using 2 wrenches at the same time ( you will push on one wrench and pull on the other) while sitting on the tanks, 5- go diving.

[MikeAlan]

1-Lay assembly on the floor, 2- loosen the manifold nuts, 3- tighten the bands, 4- tighten both manifold nuts using 2 wrenches at the same time ( you will push on one wrench and pull on the other) while sitting on the tanks, 5- go diving.

Thank you, Captain. I'll do exactly that.
I couldn't seem to find a definitive procedure, but that is one. I think I had it backwards in my mind. I was thinking to tighten manifold first, then the bands, with the idea that I'd want to be sure there were no leaks, then worry about any possible alignment problems.
I appreciate the straight ahead answer.

Mike

[swimjim]

5 fills tanks... 6 go diving. 5 is pretty important.

[MikeAlan]

5 fills tanks... 6 go diving. 5 is pretty important.

Yes...I'll make a note of the revision to item #5...