Cuda battery trouble...

[Sounder]

Took the Cuda out on Friday and had a great couple dives on it. Charged the battery last night, let it cool, and then took it out again today for an awesome dive where we practiced all sorts of scooter skills.

Then I get home and, after rinsing it, I try to remove the battery...

I think I pulled a hammy.

I've toggled the tension ring on the top that holds it in place, I've tapped the side while pulling, I'm using a webbing wrist-strap on a bolt snap to pull it.

Nothing. Won't give an inch.

So now I'm stuck. I'm working Monday and diving Tuesday... and I need my scooter. This is a brand new scooter. Cuda serial #010.

Any advice?

[Mo2vation]

Took the Cuda out on Friday and had a great couple dives on it. Charged the battery last night, let it cool, and then took it out again today for an awesome dive where we practiced all sorts of scooter skills.

Then I get home and, after rinsing it, I try to remove the battery...

I think I pulled a hammy.

I've toggled the tension ring on the top that holds it in place, I've tapped the side while pulling, I'm using a webbing wrist-strap on a bolt snap to pull it.

Nothing. Won't give an inch.

So now I'm stuck. I'm working Monday and diving Tuesday... and I need my scooter. This is a brand new scooter. Cuda serial #010.

Any advice?

Sometimes they stick.

The circlip may not be fully retracted.

The ring that the circlip clips under may not be fully extended in the body tube.

You may not have it in level - it may look level from the top, but it may not be in level.

My recommendations (as I have 7 batts in the fleet and they're all very different sizes and fit differently - so I have some experience here)

• Be sure the circlip is fully retracted - as in not just clipped to its self, but also pulled away from the outside edge of the battery top cap so there is nothing extending beyond the edge of the top cap

• Gently, with full force (as in pushing with your fingers with all of your strength, slowly) go around the edge of the battery and push down. Don't pull up any more - push down. This will tell you if its not level. The batts must be installed and removed near-perfectly straight up and down. If the batt is leaning, even a bit, its a monstah to get out.

• Once you've done the push around the edge, get the webbing into the Dring and pull straight up.

The above has worked 100% of the time for me with stuck X-scooter batteries, and I've had some that I was convinced would never come out.

A rubber mallet was my last resort once. Tap tap tap around the body tube - not to dent or mis-shape the tube (duh) but to kinda loosen things up - the way you tap the lid of a jelly jar on the counter.

It will come out. You may be new at this and it takes some time to get it dialed in. Its a funny thing about the Dive-Xtras scooters - the hardest thing to learn about them is getting the battery in and out. It takes less time to learn to ride one than it does to consistently get the batt in and out!

---
Ken

[KMD]

Took the Cuda out on Friday and had a great couple dives on it. Charged the battery last night, let it cool, and then took it out again today for an awesome dive where we practiced all sorts of scooter skills.

Then I get home and, after rinsing it, I try to remove the battery...

I think I pulled a hammy.

I've toggled the tension ring on the top that holds it in place, I've tapped the side while pulling, I'm using a webbing wrist-strap on a bolt snap to pull it.

Nothing. Won't give an inch.

So now I'm stuck. I'm working Monday and diving Tuesday... and I need my scooter. This is a brand new scooter. Cuda serial #010.

Any advice?

It sounds like you have a lot of suction on the battery. Couple of things you could try.

First try pushing it in, The battery could be sitting crooked in its seat.

Try warming it up a bit. should help relieve any imbalance of pressure behind the batter seal.

[Sounder]

Battery is out...

(Murphy's Law - as soon as I posted, I was successful)

I did all of the above... nothing.

However, tapping the hull on the garage floor followed by the super-Sounder battery-pull freed the hostage battery.

I now have broken blood vessels along the top of my hands in the shape of the webbing I was using... but the battery is out.

Wow. Any ideas on how to get it less sticky for the future?

[Mo2vation]

Battery is out...

(Murphy's Law - as soon as I posted, I was successful)

I did all of the above... nothing.

However, tapping the hull on the garage floor followed by the super-Sounder battery-pull freed the hostage battery.

I now have broken blood vessels along the top of my hands in the shape of the webbing I was using... but the battery is out.

Wow. Any ideas on how to get it less sticky for the future?

I used to use spray silicone. I now put some ORing lube on the sides of the batt. I don't grease the thing up or anything. Just a lil dab'll do ya.

I also make sure the body tube ring is extended - so I take it out once in awhile and expand it a bit.

That's really it.

Sometimes they just stick.

---
Ken

[KMD]

silicone spray on the battery sealing surface.

[AzTek Diver]

I had the same problem with both of my Cudas, the ring was loose, lubed good, but no go. I finally stuck a couch pillow in the tube to catch the battery, and bounced the open end of tube on the carpet, both batteries came out with one bounce. I think the new o-rings are just tight. I finally found a good use for couch pillows.

[Mo2vation]

<snip> I finally found a good use for couch pillows.

That's so true!

The preferred usage is to bop my wife, Jaye with them. I just smack her around with 'em.

Apart from that, they are worthless.

Thanks for the tip!


---
Ken

[Sounder]

FWIW... I am in love with my cuda. She was outstanding in today's mini-class.

I'll write more tomorrow.

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[Grateful Diver]

I've had the same problem with the Sierra battery.

I've noticed it usually happens when I put the battery in just after charging. I'm wondering if it's caused by the fact that the battery is warm when first inserted.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[dsteding]

Have you guys lightly lubed the o-ring that seals the battery in place? It is in the groove inside the body, below the groove that the cir-clip goes into.

That solved my battery sticking issues.

[AzTek Diver]

Have you guys lightly lubed the o-ring that seals the battery in place? It is in the groove inside the body, below the groove that the cir-clip goes into.

That solved my battery sticking issues.

Lubed the o-ring, the battery sealing surface, and the second support ring in the body, they are just tight. Like my sierras, I hope they will loosen up after a little use, but either way I'll gladly deal with it for the added fun factor of the Cuda.

[Sounder]

I'm lubing the o-ring and the battery tonight before I put it back in.

Speaking of this... what kind of silicone do you use and where did you get it? I went to Home Depot to get the spray but it was full of hydro-carbons in addition to the silicone so I passed.

Where does one get straight-up plain old silicone spray/grease??

[rjack]

Where does one get straight-up plain old silicone spray/grease??

Seal Saver is 100% silicone oil and works well without being goobery (Most dive shops have it.) You only need ~2-3 drops per oring.

[dsteding]

I got my silicone spray at Fisheries Supply.