BCD hose "convenient" dump valve (shoulder one) - some ideas.

[rombulai]

Hi everyone.
I just got a brand new Zeagle donut wing type bcd.
As many other bcd's it has following feature:
There is a dump valve on top of bcd inflator hose and if you pull hose gently it is supposed to release the air. The valve itself is opened by tiny metal cable inside the hose.

That is the idea.

Now how it works for me:

1) If I pull the hose with left hand I have to really pull sh^& out of it feeling that I'm about to tear it apart. The place where hose meets the wing does not seem to be strong enough.

2) If I hold middle of the hose with my left hand and pull end of it with my right hand it does not put a lot of stress on the mount point (BCD-hose) but it takes me a lot of strength and two hands to do that!

3) If, while on the boat, I straighten the hose and pull end of it or do the two-hands trick it is a lot easier to pull! Seems like friction is preventing cable to move freely inside the hose.

I like the idea of shoulder valve. But it does not work for me.

How do you use it? What are your workarounds?
I just thought to put a slippery casing around the cable so it will stop rubbing the hose. But could not come up with the material to do it.

 

[Splitlip]

Don't pull the hose. Pull the inflator. The cable connected to the dump is connected to the inflator mechanism. The cable runs through the corrugated hose.

 

[rombulai]

Same thing.
I even tried to take the inflator off and pulling the cable itself.
If the hose is bend in U shape (as it is when I'm underwater) the cable just does not slip through

 

[ajtoady]

I also didn't much care for the old "pull the inflator move". Seemed to be way to much force on the bladder. I went with a Ranger LTD which has the additional shoulder dump which has a separate pull cord.The pull cord dump works very well and freely. Also has two lower valves that if you put your butt above your head releases all the air quite readily.

 

[Splitlip]

With time, once I got my buoyancy dialed in (warm water diver), I only dump from my butt opv during the dive. I'll use my inflator dump while ascending under my DSMB, and maybe when begining my decent. As you guys progress, you'll find the pull dump is not needed in any event.

 

[claymore]

Zeagle pull dump valves are hard to pull it is the nature of the beast. Thought mine did not work at first because it was so stiff. This issue has been brought up previously.

The best way to get the pull dump to work is get the hose straight and pull on the inflator.

After using mine for awhile I don't use the pull dump I get the inflator real high drop my right shoulder and use the inflator or I use one ofthe but dumps if I am horizontal or head down.

I have even considered getting rid of the pull dump and putting on an elbow.

 

[mrfixitchapman]

I use this technique. Try it.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ad.../403733-air-siphon-technique.html#post6135927

DC

 

[Hollywoodivers]

An Idea, convert it to an elbow. use the rear pull dump and you will have one less expense in the long run. Once you get used to not having it, you won't miss. I just got tired of always fixing it. Leaking, cable rusting into..etc.

 

[DevonDiver]

I don't use pull-dump LPIs. I think they are too prone to failure - exerting force against equipment that's just threaded on and/or secured with a couple of tie-wraps has never seemed like a safe design approach to me. Especially given the consequences (complete loss of buoyancy via LPI/Bladder failure).

They tend to be used by people who find it difficult to raise/orientate the inflator for a manual dump and/or who aren't in proper trim and therefore cannot use a hip dump. In that respect, it illustrates the classic 'equipment solution to a skills problem'. Unacceptable, given that the equipment solution could lead to an emergency if a 0.5mm zip-tie failed...

 

[rombulai]

I have added a drinking straw around the cable and that is already better.
I'm considering getting a softer\more strechable tube to replace the stiff one. So there will not be as much resistance.

In fact I do not use my BC that often. Just 2-3 times a dive. Still it is a problem. As my rear dump valve is on the bottom side of the bludder. So no matter how hard I lean forward there will be some air left.
Only way for me to completely dump all air is to turn myself looking upwards. Tank facing bottom and rise my left arm with inflator hose. That is not always convenient. I'd rather had a simple and straightforward manual shoulder dump....