CL Case modifications?

Rubis

Hi I got my unit in march and I have the extra holes too.
Frankly they are not really doing much good for me even with my small hands.
What is really working for me so far is to access the counterlungs from the top of the case, not the side.
However I must say that removing the case completely seems like the best for easy accessing the CL attachments. (post nr 2). The other nice mod I have seen is Brett Humphill's (hope spelling is right) rig at the cave conference in may. In both cases those solutions make the CL closer to the body, WOB should be improved. I am curious by the difference that that would make.

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CK # 341

RichClark

Is counterlung access really that much of a problem for people in general?

What I tend to do is to

1. lube the inside of the counter lung ring
2. you push the lung up from the 1st stage cut out at the bottom
3. align the lung ring over the lung attachments
4. from the top, push the lungs on
5. do the fastening ring up only finger tight

I think the trick is you make sure the lung is fully on before you start to do up the fastening ring, there only there to retain lungs not to leaver it on.

Cheers

Rich

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Ben Field

Depends how many hoses and other bits are stuffed inside the CL case and lay across the top... also I have large forearms (combination of muscle and "bio-prene" ) so I can only push the lungs in alittle way by hand.

Assembling/dissassembling isn't hard but I want to make it easier if I can so when I'm doing it on a rocking boat or late at night there is less need for swearing and bl**dy knuckles.

Don't get me wrong- I love the compact and enclosed nature of the CK, its one of the reason I got it, however if there are minor tweaks that lead to big ease of use increases I'm all for them.

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Rubis

putting it on is not the problem for me. I have problems having a full grip when unscrewing them (we took all hoses out of the case : the WOB is much better)

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CK # 341

Art Greenberg

Yes, sometimes. I usually get a scrape or two in the process.

We follow the same procedure you outlined, Rich, more or less. The one thing I've found is that both mounting and removing are an iterative process. When mounting the CLs, the ring can get in the way. So I push the CL on as far as it will go, and observe that the ring is now jammed between the CL and the head. I give the ring a couple of turns to start it on the threads, then finish seating the CL and tighten down the ring. Removal goes similarly, in reverse order.

As our instructor promised, it is getting a little easier as time goes on. I'm not sure if that is because the fitting on the CLs are opening up a little, or because I'm adapting to the process.

My wife (Tina) is not able to get her CLs on or off by herself. She is smaller than I am and can easily access them, but she lacks the hand strength needed. Its especially difficult for her to remove them, as its tough to get any leverage to do that. Removing the head altogether would seem the best approach for her, but I don't see her doing that.

The one thing that I will do to both our units is route the hoses outside the case, use Miflex hoses where practical (including installing Kim's latest modification for the oxygen plumbing), and maybe move the dil manifold. That should get the hoses completely out of the way and make the process at least marginally easier.

--
Art

Scubascooby

I currently have the MP manifold supply hose running inside the case but the HP hose runs outside.

Similarly on the O2 side the O2 Swagelock hose runs inside but the HP runs outside.

This stops the first stages flopping about too much when moving the unit to access things.

While considering de-inverting the tanks I realised that it will put the regs on top which may make access to the CL rings a little difficult. It depends on how much they can be moved out of the way. I may fit quick connects to allow the regs to be pulled away completely.

However it will make pushing the lungs up from the bottom much easier and there won't be any hoses in the CL case to get in the way of the rings.

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Philippe GERIN

I do the same as Rich except I fold the CLs in 3 and drop them from the top. I never put my hands in the case only 2 fingers to push them in then one finger in and the 2nd is outside in the CL holes of the case next to the head.
Finger tight is enough. I might even say "nail" tight. No need for a screwdriver or anything else. I always remove my tanks so access is easy. I have only the dil hose in the case, no more.
But isn't that covered in the CD delivered with the CK ?
Best
Philippe

Ben Field

Foolishly decided to strip my CL case last night... head bolts caused major agro- first one slid out perfectly once unscrewed, second one was just not having it.

I tried every chemical "loosener" I could find, broke two screwdrivers then moved on to impact driver- nothing. Finally tried 1/2" flat socket set with special driver bit on 3ft breaker bar, suceeding in chewing the thread but head bolt refused to turn so completely is it concreted in.

Have now carefully drilled out half the bolt, first the counter-sunk head now have the shaft but still won't budge!
Going to drill out the rest of the thread tonight, what a mission for one stupid bolt!

Good thing I'll be replacing it spine with a SS version that includes a handle so next time I won't have this problem

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brockbr

Ben,
I know you already know this, but the problem is coming from the stainless bolt going through the aluminum spine block, and that the bolt isn't stuck because of anything to do with the head itself (which is threaded Delrin).

I mention this because even if you succeed in grinding the head down, the normal method of using an easy-out might not work since this will expand the diameter of the bolt ever so slightly and pin it even harder inside the spine.

If you have the head COMPLETELY off the bolt, here is what you can try - Since there are NO threads inside the spine itself, carefully position the counterlung case so that you can forcefully drive the broken bolt out (which *includes the head now*) using a dowel or very similar sized bolt... Be careful because when it finally breaks loose of the spine, the head is going to want to fall out.

Oh, and I'd remove the ADV and the O2 cells from the head prior to doing this

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Ben Field

Hi Brock,

I hadn't thought of using an easy out- went straight for drilling the whole thing out! Last night I drilled down and completely removed the head of the giant "screw".
I can now see the Ali countersink cut with the remains of the threaded shaft in the middle- I have tried driving the bolt out but it refuses to move, really rather remarkable corrosion/reaction to stick its self of badly- I'd be impressed if I wasn't so furious with it!

Everything else has been stripped off the head, was doing a minor service anyway.

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