Clean and Lube Your DSV
- Hey Nemrod, the last time I used my DSV it was awfully difficult to open and close. After reading your story, I decided I should take it apart and do a little maintenance. I think it was totally dry (no lube) inside because I could not turn the mouthpiece at all. I took off the hoses and soaked the DSV in soapy water, hoping to slick up the O-rings and make it easier to take apart. That must have help because I got it apart and sure enough there was no lubricant present.
- Note To Self... Pay attention to the orientation of the inner tube of the DSV. There are baffles or flow directors in there and the right side is different than the left side. Fortunately there's an arrow molded into it to show airflow direction.
- Inspected the O-rings and they all looked just fine. It wasn't dirty either. I washed and rinsed it just the same. Then I applied Crystal lube to the O-rings and re-assembled it.
- Re-Attached the hoses and checked the DSV. It now turns freely like when it was new. Seems to breathe and exhale just fine, too.