Tool for removing an Apeks drysuit dump valve

[altaskier]

I wanted to swap out my Bullet skin for the Sport skin on my Whites Fusion drysuit. I had a devil of a time getting my Apeks dump valve unscrewed. Removal was impossible, it seemed! I found some words of wisdom on a Yorkshire Divers forum: "Last time i had it off my parts were stiff. After a while a large pair of plumbers grips were used. A good service was given and i finished off with some lubrication." However, the same web page showed a homemade tool, and it inspired me to create my own Apeks Drysuit Dump Valve Removulator:


I am very proud of my invention; it has a long enough handle to give adequate torque.

 

[bkbomb123]

Pretty cool idea, I was thinking off filing the threads off the screw not to mar anything up

 

[TSandM]

I just wanted to post on this thread to say I took this very good idea and ran with it -- I bought a good, sturdy, wooden stirring paddle from a kitchen store, and installed short bolts in the flat portion of the tool, secured with nuts. It gave me a nice, long, round handle to use for leverage. It worked great! Thank you very much for the removulator idea; we were getting nowhere with pin spanners and other things.

 

[altaskier]

Pictures of your improved removulator?

 

[gsk3]

Nice. I had given up on getting mine free but I'll give it another try with a removeulator!

 

[Toshas79]

mine was hand tight same on my brothers TLS, you don't need any tool

 

[altaskier]

Neither my very strong son nor I could unscrew mine by hand when I first got my drysuit. Toshas79, don't assume that your experience speaks for everyone ("you don't need any tool").

 

[Slmason.72]

Having just purchased a bullet, I'll be saving this link to your Removulator.

If I am a tool, do I still need a tool? :chairfight:

 

[mikeawags]

This may be an old thread, but it got me out of a jam. Thanks for the pictures of your tool . My dump valve was dumping around a half gallon of water into my suit on every dive. This became quite unpleasant while hanging on the deco line in the great lakes. I couldn't figure out how to take the stupid valve apart until I came across this thread. I made a copy of your tool, and viola. I found the diaphragm was poking through the wrong way in a couple spots. I straightened it back out, and hopefully the next dive will be dry!