Tried a drysuit inflation valve rebuild kit off Amazon for $35

I figured it would be a quick way to save some money instead of sending my suit to the shop in Seattle. Installed everything last weekend, took it down to 30 feet at the dock, and the damn thing started free-flowing like crazy. Learned my lesson about trusting non-OEM parts, think I'll just bite the bullet and pay for the real repair next time. Anyone else had bad luck with those cheap rebuild kits?

2 comments

2 Comments

stone.thomas18d ago

Yeah those Amazon rebuild kits are a total crap shoot. I had one start leaking air through the manual inflate button after three dives. Ended up just ordering the real Si-Tech parts from a proper dive shop, took ten minutes to swap and it's been perfect since. Save yourself the headache and get the OEM stuff.

rivera.henry18d ago

Used to swear by those cheap kits myself, figured it was all the same plastic and rubber inside. But after watching a buddy's suit turn into a bubble at 60 feet because his cheap valve stuck open, I changed my tune. You're right, the risk isn't worth saving a few bucks when you're relying on that thing to keep you dry and warm. The tolerances on the off-brand parts just aren't the same, and the seats seem to warp after a few compression cycles. I've got a Si-Tech rebuild on my bench now just waiting for the weekend to swap it in. Makes you wonder how many people are diving with those ticking time bombs from Amazon.