problems with drysuit dump valve

Hi everyone, I have an annoying kit problem.

Sometimes the apeks cuff dump on my drysuit just refuses to work, even though the sleeve is clearly full of air.

The problem seems to go away at 15-20 m, but by then I have had to do all my buoyancy control for my ascent using the wrist/neck seals - not ideal (I use my suit for all my buoyancy control).

To start with I just thought it must be a narcosis problem as it goes away when I'm shallow, but when it eventually works there's a big rush of air, indicating (to me at least) that something was blocking it.

I've taken it apart and it looks fine.

Any ideas? Is it the valve, or is it more likely to be my undersuit blocking the dump? Why would this problem have developed now (after nearly 200 dives), and how can I stop it from happening?

Any good tips for "encouraging" an uncooperative dump valve?

Thanks in advance for your ideas,
Dave

Things I've tried and things I've seen tried -

- A fluffy undersuit bearing a silky or canvas patch in the area of the dump valve.

- A super-pliable silky undersuit bearing a canvas patch likewise.

- Avoid bunching the undersuit close to the cuff - a good idea that also avoids interfering with the seal.

- Applying talc to the dump valve before every dive.

- Dimsantling, washing and refitting the dump valve, every dive.

- Backing-off the dump valve a quarter turn (now that one is getting really desperate)

- Using the minimum safe weight for the dive and so minimising the buoyancy demands on the suit.

- Using really slow ascent rates

- Tapping the valve when it doesn't open - to break "stiction"

I'm sure there are more, and that we shall see them here -together with outraged denial of the utility of any/all of these!

BTW, are you sure it's the cuff dump, and not a weeping inlet valve? Now there's a topic to exercise us awhile.

Good luck in finding what works for you,

Mike

Any ideas? Is it the valve, or is it more likely to be my undersuit blocking the dump? Why would this problem have developed now (after nearly 200 dives), and how can I stop it from happening?

I had a few problems with my Apeks valves on my previous suit too, my Si-tech (spelling?) valves on my new suit are working a lot better, so maybe try changing the valve? DiversWhoreHouse stock them and will do mail order no problem.
HTH
Steve

You could try applying some decent duct tape or something round your undersuit forearm around the area under the dump.

Dave

Hi everyone, I have an annoying kit problem.

Sometimes the apeks cuff dump on my drysuit just refuses to work, even though the sleeve is clearly full of air.

The problem seems to go away at 15-20 m, but by then I have had to do all my buoyancy control for my ascent using the wrist/neck seals - not ideal (I use my suit for all my buoyancy control).

To start with I just thought it must be a narcosis problem as it goes away when I'm shallow, but when it eventually works there's a big rush of air, indicating (to me at least) that something was blocking it.

I've taken it apart and it looks fine.

Any ideas? Is it the valve, or is it more likely to be my undersuit blocking the dump? Why would this problem have developed now (after nearly 200 dives), and how can I stop it from happening?

Any good tips for "encouraging" an uncooperative dump valve?

Thanks in advance for your ideas,
Dave

You could always try some duck tape round your arm to see if that clears the problem. If it does, then then you can do something more permenant to keep your undersuit from clogging up the dump.

Hi Dave,
It sounds like your undersuit is sealing off the valve opening. Air could be trapped inside your undersuit as well. To eliminate the problem punch/cut a 15mm dia hole in the sleeve of your undersuit, just where the cuff dump rubs, and insert a plastic ground sheet gromett in hole you have cut. This should do the trick by allowing the air to flow out.
Phil

Hi everyone, I have an annoying kit problem.

Sometimes the apeks cuff dump on my drysuit just refuses to work, even though the sleeve is clearly full of air.

The problem seems to go away at 15-20 m, but by then I have had to do all my buoyancy control for my ascent using the wrist/neck seals - not ideal (I use my suit for all my buoyancy control).

To start with I just thought it must be a narcosis problem as it goes away when I'm shallow, but when it eventually works there's a big rush of air, indicating (to me at least) that something was blocking it.

I've taken it apart and it looks fine.

Any ideas? Is it the valve, or is it more likely to be my undersuit blocking the dump? Why would this problem have developed now (after nearly 200 dives), and how can I stop it from happening?

Any good tips for "encouraging" an uncooperative dump valve?

Thanks in advance for your ideas,
Dave

Thanks very much for all the advice, will get cutting and taping my undersuit right away!

Diving tonight, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Dave

I had a few problems with my Apeks valves on my previous suit too, my Si-tech (spelling?) valves on my new suit are working a lot better, so maybe try changing the valve? DiversWhoreHouse stock them and will do mail order no problem.

I thought the know problem with Apeks dump valves only applied to auto dumps?

Thanks very much for all the advice, will get cutting and taping my undersuit right away!

Diving tonight, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Dave

Perhaps this is too late (since you were diving last night)

Before you go cutting and stiching why not try putting some pnoy cylinder netting over your sleeve in the area of the cuff dump.

If this works you could sew it into place for a more permanent solution.

All you need to do it prevent the openings in the dump valve getting blocked with undersuit material and restricting the flow of air.

The semi-stiffness and pattern of the netting stops this from happening.

Just a thought


John

Good canyon dive last night, great vis, scenery, bat rays and octopus!

I taped down the undersuit suit, and made a vent hole, but the cuff valve still refused to dump as I started my ascent.

Some tapping the valve with my fingers later, I unscrewed the valve a little (but chickened out - 40m+ and with deco to do I really didn't want to play around).

In the end I tapped it with my torch, and out the air came!

I will be diving again tomorow night and will see how it goes, but I guess I need a new valve.

Thanks very much to all for the useful advice.
Dave