10 Year Old DUI CLX450 with tags still on... need to move valves, but they aren't budging.

[AGeekNamedRoss]

I recently bought a used DUI CLX450 drysuit. I also bought a Bare CD4, but that's another topic.

It's (the DUI CLX450) been in storage for a decade. Uncut gaskets, DUI tags still on it. Based on the config, it looks like the military style.

It has a blank on the chest and the inflator on the thigh. (Setup for chest mounted CCR). Pocket for an inflator tank and the other is a cargo pocket. Exhaust on the wrist.

I want to swap places on the inflator valve to use it for OC.... but holy crap these things do not want to unscrew. There's barely anything to grab on the aluminum blank.

Any tricks? I'm about to CAD and 3D print a removal wrench to try and get a grip on the halves.

Any chance of me breaking something? I learned the hard way that SITech exhaust valves have an easy to break plastic wave spring inside and if you twist the housing, you can shear off the little ratchet tabs.

Did I waste my money by buying such an old drysuit? How likely are the seams to hold up?

I don't plan on diving with it until I get a class completed. I do plan on leak testing it and a Bare CD4 that I bought for a cheap.

Has someone else printed a tool for these Apex valves and blanks? I see some pin wrenches that dont fit this style backer on the normal 3D sites.

Thanks in advance.

 

[stretchthepenn]

Any tricks? I'm about to CAD and 3D print a removal wrench to try and get a grip on the halves.

Any chance of me breaking something? I learned the hard way that SITech exhaust valves have an easy to break plastic wave spring inside and if you twist the housing, you can shear off the little ratchet tabs.

Inlet and exhaust valves are inexpensive compared to an entire drysuit. You're more likely to run into trouble if you tighten a valve down too much while reinstalling it.

Did I waste my money by buying such an old drysuit? How likely are the seams to hold up?

Depends. How much did you spend? About ten years ago, just like you, I also bought a CLX450 in new-old-stock condition. I used it for a few years with no major problems. It ended up with pinholes aplenty, but the seams stayed together.

 

[AGeekNamedRoss]

Inlet and exhaust valves are inexpensive compared to an entire drysuit. You're more likely to run into trouble if you tighten a valve down too much while reinstalling it.

Depends. How much did you spend? About ten years ago, just like you, I also bought a CLX450 in new-old-stock condition. I used it for a few years with no major problems. It ended up with pinholes aplenty, but the seams stayed together.

$500

 

[runsongas]

warm water soak to try and loosen it up a bit then a small strap wrench. also you will likely need a new gasket.