Sealing Inflator and Dump Valves?

[yellowduke]

Should inflator and dump valves just screw up to seal or is some kind of silicone sealant supposed to be used as well? If some sealant is needed what type and how and on what surface is it applied?

I got a good soaking yesterday and think the first leak came from my dump valve as i felt a trickle down my arm. My t shirt was soaked when I got out so I think my neck seal failed as well. It isn't torn or loose so I guess it wasn't seated right.

Jim

[Rick Huggins]

You can use silicon, but I don't and have never had a problem!

[drysuit repair dave]

There should be a backing pad glued to the suit for the valve to seal against. The valve should be screwed on hand tight, no silicon/aquasure etc is needed. On newly fitted valves (particularly on neoprene suits), it is often neccessary to tighten the valve again after a couple of days, as the pad (or suit material in the case of neoprene suits)tends to compress
cheers
dave
www.polarbears.co.uk