which p-valve model?

[undrwater]

I'm having fits with my Light Monkey balanced valve. Some of these were, per @Wibble due to the chimp on the other end.

Not sure why, but even when not connected to the chimp I get leaks. I've deliberately or inadvertently done the following experiments:

1. Valve screwed tight, male QD plugged into female. It leaks
2. Valve screwed tight, male QD not plugged in. Stayed dry.
3. Valve open, male QD plugged in. Leaked.
4. Valve closed, male QD plugged in and connected to chimp. Leaked.
5. Valve open, male QD plugged in and connected to chimp. Chimp did NOT deploy urine. Still leaked. (Or did deploy, and leaked.)

Inititally I thought I had issues with urine going to the wrong place, but now realize it was sea water. (No wonder the undergarment and suit didn't smell bad.....)

Weird part is the wettest spot is right at the valve just above my knee. The wetness then seems to run up along the hose routing. Minimal (or no) wetness at the crotch. (I will reach out and internet smack the first person that says "That's what she said!")

Maybe I just need to tear apart the valve? Any advice appreciated.

There's a duck valve behind the norprene tube on the outlet side. If it was installed incorrectly, it can fall into the body and you're now going to get leaks if the valve is open.

Unscrew the norprene tube from the main body, and you should be able to see the white duck valve. It's got a flange that should sit on a ridge just past the threaded hole. The tube is supposed to hold it in place.

If you lube the duck valve a bit when you reinstall it, it shouldn't distort when tightening down the norprene tube.

Someone at LM walked me through this once, and I have had no issues since.

 

[UniShark]

Having used them for the better part of a decade, I don't think they're as great as often discussed. I end up blocking (and unbalancing) them more often than not. Gamble felt the same way. A port plug in the balancing port and you're set.

Dumb question here, did you use the oring with the port plug? I tried mine today with the oring. By the end of a long but shallow dive. 5-20’ for 4 hours. I was very wet and the oring had extruded.

 

[grantctobin]

Dumb question here, did you use the oring with the port plug? I tried mine today with the oring. By the end of a long but shallow dive. 5-20’ for 4 hours. I was very wet and the oring had extruded.

Good catch. No o-ring.

 

[Canajan]

I have a light monkey tinkle vlv, the newer one without the bolt, it has a threaded cap. Was balanced, there is an open Allen key with a duck bill vlv, supposed to allow pressure in the suit to seep in and equalize the hose. BS if you ask me, I took the duck bill vlv out and blocked the port, making it an unbalanced vlv. I’ve had absolutely no issues with it like this. Your own hydraulic pressure will overcome most issues with the catheter flattening and whatnot. As long it’s not twisted somehow or super kinked, it’s amazing how much pressure you’re body can create.
I use Holister extra glue, or wide band catheters. Try and get as much of the fella up in the tip of the catheter before rolling the rest down. It helps a lot, as with more of the fella in there it gives less room for kinking and whatnot.
I have a 6inch whip with the male side of a disconnect on one end, and the barb on the other. Get ready at home, or wherever before the dive. Works great, have a cap for the male QD, for when I don’t need to go.
When I get in my suit, I connect both ends and make sure it’s fully connected, bam ready to go. Never had an issue when I haven’t gone / primed it on the surface, again as long as the routing is good, your body will create the pressure to get it overboard.
Once had wetness in my old suit down near my vlv, thought it was leaking, but it was actually a leak in the suit, and the water finding its way to somewhat lowest point.

 

[Underwater Tourist]

Do all balanced pvalves need to be serviced/maintained?

I will be getting unbalanced LM simply because i can forget about it after installing

 

[Canajan]

Do all balanced pvalves need to be serviced/maintained?

I will be getting unbalanced LM simply because i can forget about it after installing

Well when properly cleaned after every dive, they do last a long time, I wouldn’t say install it, use and forget about it.

Clean it after each dive with some ear beer, or better just a mix of alcohol and vinegar. I used a hospital sterilizer when I first started out, instructions said to rinse it, I didn’t bother. After a few dives, one day we got in the water and descended, well I started to get a very cool feeling on the tip of my fella. Turns out the sterilization stuff built up in the vlv that it kept the little mushroom vlv open allowing water to come in and up the hose to me.

 

[Boarderguy]

Half a tablet of steramine dissolved into a regular 16.9 oz water bottle and use that rinse out your pee valve. No build up. No additional maintenance required with my Trigon.

 

[admikar]

I bought large syringe for flushing it. Turns out, flow is so unimpeded, just holding the hose up and pouring water/vinegar mix down works.
I have done nothing else so far.

 

[vioch]

I took the duck bill vlv out and blocked the port, making it an unbalanced vlv.

You can use any p-valve you like... as long as it's unbalanced.)))

Since I came to the same conclusion that the best-balanced p-valve is an unbalanced one, the very first thing I did upon receiving my new drysuit was to block the port either. ))

 

[Tracy]

the very first thing I did upon receiving my new drysuit was to block the port either. ))

Not me, I waited until I had pissed myself about 5 times before I did it.