Cuff dump blues...

Hey all:

On 2 concurrent dives now (a week apart) i've been unable to dump at depth unless i suck/tap on my cuff dump. on the second dive i even double checked it was venting at the surface but at depth it wouldn't cooperate until tapped on.

i'm diving an apex dump on a dui but this has also happened to a friend of mine with his diving concepts cuff dump.

perhaps some cuff dump divers with more experience (hint hint AG) can weigh in on what's going on?

i'd hate to have to deal with this ascending from a tech 1 dive and not being able to fix it.

many thanks

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Steding on January 17, 2009 at 6:26pm

Is this the big, adjustable valve? If so, I think it isn't the location of the dump, it is the valve-Apeks tend to get a bit clogged up.

Lynne had a good solution, I think it involved back-rinsing the valve with an ivory soap solution, I'd just take it apart and clean it, sounds gummed up.

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Permalink Reply by Ari Shofet on January 17, 2009 at 6:34pm

this is the small, non-adjustable one. it's pretty new, prolly about 10 dives on it so i doubt its gummed up. i use the hose on it after every dive and spray some uv-tech on it as well.

also the DC cuff dump is not apeks i believe and still same problem.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Seckendorf on January 17, 2009 at 8:15pm

Hey Ari, I had this problem on and off for months with the little cuff dump, and went round and round with Apex and DUI. I think I was with you the first time it happened. Anyway, DUI finally sent me up a new valve and I replaced the old diaphragm with the new one (I didn't change the valve body, just the small diaphragm). I have about 20 dives on the new one and have had no problems. I asked Andrew about it a long time ago. He said he'd heard of this happening, but he hadn't experienced it. I'm going to buy a few of the small diaphragms in the next week or so, I'll get a couple for you. But in the mean time, call DUI. Marcella will remember me talking to her about it. Other than that (Mrs. Lincoln), I love the little cuff valve.

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Permalink Reply by Ari Shofet on January 17, 2009 at 8:23pm

thx jeff, just the answer i was looking for. i'll drop u a line tomorrow about the procedure for swapping out the diaphragm.

when it's working i love my cuff dump too.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Seckendorf on January 17, 2009 at 8:30pm

I don't know if they'll be in at DUI on Monday, but I'm feeling like we should stock about a dozen of the little buggers. It's just a little too frightening to watch your sleeve blow up like a balloon. I'm with you when it's working, though. Sorry I missed you on the dive this morning...spent hours in front of my laptop.

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Permalink Reply by James Mott on January 17, 2009 at 9:58pm

Are you sure the issue is not with your undergarment? Especially if you're wearing wet gloves and you start seepin water in at the wrist, it seems that when the nylon of many undergarments gets wet it seems to trap air more. The dump valve is pretty simple especially the DC cuff dump, if it is working at the surface before the dive, working at the surface after the dive, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the valve is working fine during the dive.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Seckendorf on January 17, 2009 at 10:06pm

Hey James,

I thought that through, changed the undergarments to a very tight fleece, same problem, and always with dry gloves. Since the new diaphragm fixed it, I'm pretty sure that was the problem. It vents better overall with the new piece.

The couple of times this happened to me, a quick hit with a fist would clear it out, then it was fine for a couple of dives. Same problem Ari had.

What are you doing awake?

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Permalink Reply by Ari Shofet on January 18, 2009 at 8:57am

yeah i was looking forward to getting in the water with you too. maybe mid-week? my schedule is a little loosey-goosey right now. but i really wanna fix this dump issue so i don't have any more of those "oh ****" moments.

it's gotta be the diaphragm. makes total sense.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Seckendorf on January 19, 2009 at 3:51pm

Hey Ari, still waiting to hear back from DUI. I'll let you know when they call.

Jeff

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Permalink Reply by Ari Shofet on January 19, 2009 at 11:38pm

thx jeff

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Permalink Reply by Duane Johnson on January 31, 2009 at 1:23pm

I had my cuff dump clog up a couple times. It was because my Weezle undergarment got in there. I added a couple pieces of duct tape on the sleeve and it works fine. Interesting to hear about the diaphragm. I assume it should be something that gets replaced every so often. Where can I buy these?

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Seckendorf on January 31, 2009 at 5:39pm

Marcella at DUI said they can't get the diaphragms as separate parts...I'm going to see if I can make any progress with Apex this week. I'd like to stock a few of them. It made a huge difference when I swapped mine out.

Jeff