Need help with DSS rig

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I've chisled a couple out of the foam kayakers use to pad out cockpits.

Maybe zip tie them on to the wing or speedy stich the one you have to the wing.


I'm sure the tobinator will have something to say though...
 
Stephen Ash:
I recently got a new DSS rig. Well... it's new to me... I bought St. Elsewhere's. (It is a very nice rig and is in great condition. It's obvious that John really takes good care of his stuff. Thanks, John)

Anyway... I have been using a DSS plate for awhile but this is the first complete DSS rig... wing and plate... that I have used. Lots of great things have been said about this rig so I won't say much more except that I wasn't disappointed. The wing looks very nice and to my surprise it folds up pretty small for a inner bladder/outer shell design. I really like my single layer wings for traveling but this one... I believe... folds up significantly smaller (or better) than those! Wow!

Tobin has assured me that this rig, when mounted on a tank, should be rock solid... as solid as using a standard STA. Problem is... mine isn't. When I lock down the cam bands I have to be very careful that the rig lines up perfectly straight relative to the cylinder and once locked down I can twist the plate. I have made sure that everything is set up carefully but it still slips. Even though the cam bands don't need to be real tight with the DSS rig I have cranked mine down pretty darn good and it still slips. I can see the cam bands slide a wee bit thru the wedge blocks when I twist the plate. The pictures below show what I mean. In the first photo the plate has been twisted counter-clockwise and then clockwise. You can see how it slips and doesn't stay in line with the cylinder. The second pic just shows the rubber STA and its relation to the cam bands.

It's not a really big deal. It takes some effort to twist it. But it does move and I can't figure out why. I like my plate to sit perfectly straight on the cylinder and I can't stand anything that is even a hair crooked... I'm very compulsive, unfortunately.

The thing that bugs me is that I have to fiddle with getting the rig on straight ( it doesn't seem to auto-straighten like a standard full length steel STA) and then once mounted it appears as if it will have a tendency to get out of whack over the course of a days diving.

This is an older wing... I guess. It looks brand new but the rubber STA thingie is on a strap instead of sewn to the wing. Has anyone else noticed this? Is this just a normal thing? Do you think a new rubber STA thing would fix the situation even though this one looks pretty dag gone good? Even though the wedge blocks look fine, I'm thinking that replacing these with new ones might fix the problem.



Stephen,

This is entire post is utterly predictable.

You have tried to maintain your "objective" stance in post regarding DSS, but you are in no way objective.

Your basic method has been the "DSS is great.........but" One needs only look at the frequency and proximity of your posts relative to anything Oxycheq.

It would appear in many instances that either you are writting Patricks copy for him, or perhaps the reverse, he is writting yours.

Patrick has in recent posts demonstrated that he had no understanding of how our gear works. That leaves him with a problem, how does he now discredit a design he doesn't understand? How would it look if he purchased on and then posted negative things?

The answer is obvious, have you do it for him.

The real users of DSS goods, those without an agenda, have found the system to work well.

I have been fully expecting you do engage in exactly this type of thing. "Oh help me help me, I really like my DSS rig......but it sucks, breaks, leaks, wobbles, etc."

Patrick must really feel threatened to stoop to this obvious ploy.

Dissapointed,


Tobin
 
Stephen Ash:
Here are the pics... sorry...

I can see the thumbnails, but when I click on them to get the enlarged version I get an error message instead. I've had the same problem with all pics on SB recently - is it just me?

Maybe you could post them in your gallery so that I (and others?) could get a closer look.
 
Stephen Ash:
It's not a really big deal. It takes some effort to twist it.


You must be doin' something wrong......

Is this happening when you're wearing it or are you just standing on the plate and trying to twist the tank back and forth? I'm not sure what you'd be worried about. No one's come up behind me before while diving and tried to wiggle my tank. Some buddy you must have!

Mine is dead solid against the plate. Hasnt slipped a bit, even when I'm being tossed against the rocks on a hairy exit.
 
*Floater*:
I can see the thumbnails, but when I click on them to get the enlarged version I get an error message instead. I've had the same problem with all pics on SB recently - is it just me?

Maybe you could post them in your gallery so that I (and others?) could get a closer look.

OK.. it seems to work in the gallery...
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/55220/limit/recent
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/55221/limit/recent
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/55222/limit/recent
 
Stephen Ash:


Nice Pics Stephen. The smear continues.

So after a 1000 + dives you haven't figured out how to open one camband and tap the plate parallel to the tank?

As others here have said properly set up the tank does not move, once straight it remains that way.

Apparently you should stick to a bolt on STA.

Dissappointed but not surprised,


Tobin


Tobin
 
johnnyseko:
You must be doin' something wrong......

Is this happening when you're wearing it or are you just standing on the plate and trying to twist the tank back and forth? I'm not sure what you'd be worried about. No one's come up behind me before while diving and tried to wiggle my tank. Some buddy you must have!

Mine is dead solid against the plate. Hasnt slipped a bit, even when I'm being tossed against the rocks on a hairy exit.

Ya... it IS pretty solid and only moves if I grab the plate with both hands and twist. I doubt that it would move at all during a dive. As it is, though, it simply isn't as secure as my STAs and that's for sure. That's not a dig at the gear... it's just that unless I can figure a way to fix it, then I believe that I will prefer to use the backplate and wing with one of my trusty STAs!

Speaking only for myself, having the plate a little bit closer with the rig setup as intended just isn't worth the trade off of not being as secure and easy to set up straight as when I use an STA. I have long arms and reaching my valve is not a problem.

I think that I've been using an STA for so long that it will be difficult for me to appreciate this kinda setup. It is far better than any other STA-less rig that I have used but unless I can get it so that it won't move I don't think that I will like it. I just thought that I would give it a try.
 
Stephen Ash:

I've never tried twisting the plate myself, however, from the pics it seems that the lower cam strap has stretched out or given in a little in the second pic. Maybe you should pull them even tighter - if they are tight enough, then the phenomenon depicted should not be possible. Also, you could try not using the wedge blocks in case they are giving in. They aren't really necessary in the sense that I don't use any such when using the independent slots and a strap holds each tank fine when tightened properly. By the way, I like to lay the plate flat on the ground or floor when I tighten the straps, but I'm sure you already do this.
 
Tobin,

I don't have an agenda.

I'm not in kahoots with Patrick.

I am not trying to smear your gear.... that's the last thing I would try to do. There are a whole lot of folks here that really like your stuff. Heck, I'm one of 'em. I've been a big supporter of your gear for some time now and I've pointed a lot of folks your way.

I don't expect you to believe any of this... and that's a shame.

Fact is... as good as your gear is, we all will have personal preferences. If I prefer to use an STA for the added stability, ease of set up and the extra weight that it provides, then that's simply what I prefer to do. Fact is, the DSS rig that I have and that I have set up correctly just isn't as solid as when I set it up with an STA. Maybe something ain't right with the way I have it... maybe. Maybe I need to replace the wedge blocks. I don't know. But I'm pretty sure it is the way it is. Is that something that would bother other users? Apparently not. But it does bother me.

Unless you... or someone else can show me how to make it as secure as an STA makes it, then I will continue to believe that an STA is simply a better option.... for me personally, that is.
 
If you are for real then try taking the wedge blocks out. They are to make it easier to tighten the cam bands. I like my DSS rig but I do prefer it without the cam band wedges.

If you take the wedge blocks out and tighten one cam band at a time while making sure that the BP is vertical after you tighten the second cam band then you will have no problem. I'm sure it is different than using an STA and may require getting used to on your part.

I had a similar problem when I first got mine but I use a pony bottle which can tend to pull the cam bands to one side. I removed the wedge blocks and everything is now vertical and tight.

Of course if you are trying to make it lean by not checking the alignment of the BP before you tighten the second cam band then you can make it lean if that's what you are trying to do.
 

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