Dump Valve Question

[coldsmoke]

Hi All,

I have a leaky rear dump valve on an older dive-rite wing. I have not taken any DIR classes so I don't know the answer to this and hoped you folks might be able to help. While searching for the best way to repair the leak I have come across many threads that discuss the liability of the rear dump valve and that it's useless. Come to think about it, I don't know if I ever use it anyway. There are some posts that talk about replacing elbows (which I don't really understand) and cutting off the ball on the rear dump. I guess my question is can I just remove the outer dump valve assembly and cap it? If so what do I cap it with? And back to the elbow question- is that for the inflator hose connection and what is the purpose of changing the "elbow"? Thanks in advance.

 

[Jasonmh]

Well, I think the DIR answer is you want the rear dump valve to be operational. It is useful for dumping without going feet down (when you are over something that going feet down would be a bad thing, like silty floor or a reef.)
The purpose of changing the elbow is if you have a pull-dump mechanism, which isn't considered DIR.

 

[*Floater*]

Hi All,

I have a leaky rear dump valve on an older dive-rite wing. I have not taken any DIR classes so I don't know the answer to this and hoped you folks might be able to help. While searching for the best way to repair the leak I have come across many threads that discuss the liability of the rear dump valve and that it's useless. Come to think about it, I don't know if I ever use it anyway. There are some posts that talk about replacing elbows (which I don't really understand) and cutting off the ball on the rear dump. I guess my question is can I just remove the outer dump valve assembly and cap it? If so what do I cap it with? And back to the elbow question- is that for the inflator hose connection and what is the purpose of changing the "elbow"? Thanks in advance.

Capping the rear dump valve is not DIR. In fact, GUE currently advocates (or so I was told during my DIRF) the use of the rear dump over the inflator purge button unless the circumstances merit the use of the latter for some reason. The ball on the rear dump cord is considered an entanglement hazard so that's why they are frowned up in DIR. You can just use a knot.

As for the elbows (the connection between the wing and the corrugated hose), my understanding is that some wings come with a dump valve (or an remote exhaust valve) built into the elbow so that if you pull on the corrugated hose the wing will dump if there's gas under the elbow. Within DIR such valves are considered unnecessary failure points (I guess corrugated hoses have come off in the past) and people are advised to replace them with a plain elbow. Diveriteexpress.com has some info on them: http://www.diveriteexpress.com/library/elbows.shtml

 

[coldsmoke]

So if the rear dump is leaking what is the best fix? I have taken it apart and while the gasket looks like it's in good shape there are several ring indentions on it. Is it possible that the leak is coming from a ring indentation crossing the seal? or is it more likely a worn spring? Or something else? Thanks.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Perhaps you are confusing two different things.
The "rear dump" on a wing is towards the bottom on the left hand side, a small valve with a string attached. You DO NOT want to cap this, it's quite important. It's all I ever use to control my buoyancy underwater.
The "pull dump" is the connection that probably came standard on your DiveRite wing, between your inflator hose and the wing. Sometimes it's set up so that if you pull on your inflator it will open a valve at this location. This is not DIR and should be replaced with a plain "elbow". This valve can sometimes fail or leak and cause issues; it's seen as an extra point of possible failure.
I believe most people recommend to cut the ball off the rear dump. It's seen as an entanglement hazard.

Pictures to aid this discussion (thanks DiveRiteExpress):
Pull dump:

"Plain elbow":

Rear dump:

 

[Cheekymonkey]

I'm no DIR guy, but my guess would be the indentations, unless the spring is very well used.

 

[SparticleBrane]

I'd just buy a new one from DiveRiteExpress. They're $12. I'd call or email to make sure that it comes with the rubber gasket though since that could be the source of your issues. I'd also recommend making sure the valve is completely screwed in place before buying a new one...

 

[*Floater*]

So if the rear dump is leaking what is the best fix? I have taken it apart and while the gasket looks like it's in good shape there are several ring indentions on it. Is it possible that the leak is coming from a ring indentation crossing the seal? or is it more likely a worn spring? Or something else? Thanks.

Take a dump valve from another wing or an SMB if they are compatible and see if that works. If it does then you just need to fix or replace that part of your wing. Otherwise it may be something more complex. (The OPV on my Carter SMB's, H wings and Oxy wings are all the interchangeable).