SiTek Drysuit Inflation Valve Removal

Jon987 · May 25th, 2008, 11:00 PM

Hi All,

Want to reposition my SiTek drysuit inflation valve, so the inlet valve points straight down at the six o'clock position.

Is it a straightforward job by simply unscrewing the retaining plate on the inside of the drysuit, repositioning the valve, followed by reapplying some aquasure?

Any hints/tips appreciated.

Cheers Jon

Igor Beades · May 25th, 2008, 11:17 PM

Hi Jon,

I would suggest not to use Aquasure. Only unscrew the valve, reposition and screw again

ssimps · May 25th, 2008, 11:39 PM

Do you have an older non-swivel valve? I took mine to the LDS thinking it was going to be difficult and need glues etc, all it took was unscrewing the plate on the inside and rotate the front and it just unscrews then repositioned it and screwed it back down, just a thought wouldn't a 4 o'clock postion make for neater hose routing?

Jon987 · May 26th, 2008, 11:19 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by ssimps)

Do you have an older non-swivel valve? I took mine to the LDS thinking it was going to be difficult and need glues etc, all it took was unscrewing the plate on the inside and rotate the front and it just unscrews then repositioned it and screwed it back down, just a thought wouldn't a 4 o'clock postion make for neater hose routing?

Given the TLS is 6 months old, I'm assuming its SiTek's latest version of their non-swivel valve. Preference for 6 o'clock version given I wear suit inflation on the waist and it provides good routing, plus its slightly easier to hunt down and reconnect.

Cheers Jon

daviddem · May 26th, 2008, 12:08 PM

I have the same issue. DUI positioned the non swivel SITech pointing towards my right. I unscrewed the inside plate, but it appears to me that the rest of the assembly is glued to the suit. So not a straightforward job...

Jon987 · May 26th, 2008, 12:44 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by daviddem)

I have the same issue. DUI positioned the non swivel SITech pointing towards my right. I unscrewed the inside plate, but it appears to me that the rest of the assembly is glued to the suit. So not a straightforward job...

Hi, DUI did the same to my suit, despite instructions to the contray on the order, so does looks as if the SiTek valve is aquasured on the outside with the retaining plate and rubber flange that can simply be unscrewed on the inside. Looks like a job for Cotol ,to remove any old aquasure, before reapplying and affixing the valve in the new position. Reckon it should be a straight forward job, so long as I don't overtighten and muller the threads on the valve.

Cheers Jon

LauNar · May 26th, 2008, 01:08 PM

Gluing the valves to the suit is one of the major WTFs about DUI suits that can only be explained by prolonged exposure to Aquasure fumes while waterproofing all the seams.

daviddem · May 26th, 2008, 02:23 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by LauNar)

Gluing the valves to the suit is one of the major WTFs about DUI suits that can only be explained by prolonged exposure to Aquasure fumes while waterproofing all the seams.

Do you mean that in theory these valves should not be glued??

daviddem · May 26th, 2008, 02:35 PM

I found this thread where people had the same problem.

LauNar · May 26th, 2008, 02:39 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by daviddem)

Do you mean that in theory these valves should not be glued??

DUI is the only manufacturer that I know that glues the valves. All the others I've seen are just screwed on, with a sealing surface on the suit.

A glued-on valve would be a PITA to service or change, but maybe DUI considers the lifetime of the TLS suit shorter than the service interval of the valve...

I don't even bother to glue my P-valves, I just cut a "washer" from inner tube and tighten the valve over that. The sealing surfaces only see pressure differences of fractions of a bar anyway, so they don't need to be as robust as in a can light.

May 25th, 2008, 11:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jon987(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 10	SiTek Drysuit Inflation Valve Removal Hi All, Want to reposition my SiTek drysuit inflation valve, so the inlet valve points straight down at the six o'clock position. Is it a straightforward job by simply unscrewing the retaining plate on the inside of the drysuit, repositioning the valve, followed by reapplying some aquasure? Any hints/tips appreciated. Cheers Jon

May 25th, 2008, 11:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Igor Beades(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Crazy Spain Posts: 119	Hi Jon, I would suggest not to use Aquasure. Only unscrew the valve, reposition and screw again __________________ "Everything was going okay until we got into the water"

May 25th, 2008, 11:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
ssimps(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Newcastle Posts: 41	My Si-Tech valve... Do you have an older non-swivel valve? I took mine to the LDS thinking it was going to be difficult and need glues etc, all it took was unscrewing the plate on the inside and rotate the front and it just unscrews then repositioned it and screwed it back down, just a thought wouldn't a 4 o'clock postion make for neater hose routing? __________________ Stu Don't let it end with a bend!

May 26th, 2008, 12:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
daviddem(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 111	I have the same issue. DUI positioned the non swivel SITech pointing towards my right. I unscrewed the inside plate, but it appears to me that the rest of the assembly is glued to the suit. So not a straightforward job... __________________ I'm not being confrontational. Confrontational is when I pull my gun. Argumentative is when I pull the trigger.

May 26th, 2008, 01:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
LauNar (Online) ... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 128	Gluing the valves to the suit is one of the major WTFs about DUI suits that can only be explained by prolonged exposure to Aquasure fumes while waterproofing all the seams. __________________ //LN -- My UW photos

May 26th, 2008, 11:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jon987(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 10	Quote: (Originally Posted by ssimps) Do you have an older non-swivel valve? I took mine to the LDS thinking it was going to be difficult and need glues etc, all it took was unscrewing the plate on the inside and rotate the front and it just unscrews then repositioned it and screwed it back down, just a thought wouldn't a 4 o'clock postion make for neater hose routing? Given the TLS is 6 months old, I'm assuming its SiTek's latest version of their non-swivel valve. Preference for 6 o'clock version given I wear suit inflation on the waist and it provides good routing, plus its slightly easier to hunt down and reconnect. Cheers Jon

May 26th, 2008, 12:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jon987(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 10	Quote: (Originally Posted by daviddem) I have the same issue. DUI positioned the non swivel SITech pointing towards my right. I unscrewed the inside plate, but it appears to me that the rest of the assembly is glued to the suit. So not a straightforward job... Hi, DUI did the same to my suit, despite instructions to the contray on the order, so does looks as if the SiTek valve is aquasured on the outside with the retaining plate and rubber flange that can simply be unscrewed on the inside. Looks like a job for Cotol ,to remove any old aquasure, before reapplying and affixing the valve in the new position. Reckon it should be a straight forward job, so long as I don't overtighten and muller the threads on the valve. Cheers Jon

May 26th, 2008, 02:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
daviddem(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 111	Quote: (Originally Posted by LauNar) Gluing the valves to the suit is one of the major WTFs about DUI suits that can only be explained by prolonged exposure to Aquasure fumes while waterproofing all the seams. Do you mean that in theory these valves should not be glued?? __________________ I'm not being confrontational. Confrontational is when I pull my gun. Argumentative is when I pull the trigger.

May 26th, 2008, 02:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
daviddem(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 111	I found this thread where people had the same problem. __________________ I'm not being confrontational. Confrontational is when I pull my gun. Argumentative is when I pull the trigger.

May 26th, 2008, 02:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
LauNar (Online) ... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 128	Quote: (Originally Posted by daviddem) Do you mean that in theory these valves should not be glued?? DUI is the only manufacturer that I know that glues the valves. All the others I've seen are just screwed on, with a sealing surface on the suit. A glued-on valve would be a PITA to service or change, but maybe DUI considers the lifetime of the TLS suit shorter than the service interval of the valve... I don't even bother to glue my P-valves, I just cut a "washer" from inner tube and tighten the valve over that. The sealing surfaces only see pressure differences of fractions of a bar anyway, so they don't need to be as robust as in a can light. __________________ //LN -- My UW photos