Does anyone know if it is possible to remove the bite valve from the tubing of a Source widepak bladder? If so how? I assume it must be but it is well sealed and I do not want to damage the tubing. The reason why I want to do this is (a) to give it a clean and (b) I am thinking about replacing the valve with a camelbak big bite valve as my valve has a habit of dripping. It does not drip everytime, just now and again. Has anyone tried replacing the valve with a different make ie are they compatable? Or has anyone got a solution to stop the dripping.
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If you are superman you can do it; I had to resort to careful cutting with a sharp knife - but I only did this as I was moving it to another bladder; the Source tube has never got manky on my set-up. The dripping might be that the 'innards' of the valve are slightly twisted, try turning them a little and make sure you put the cover on straight?
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 The Source bite valves can leak, the do seem to wear faster than otheres. It's the wee plastic spring mechanism, it gets tired. Just run it under a hot tap and pull with a little twist at the same time, it comes of nae bother.
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Mine bloody well didn't  !
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They're definitely tighter than most Ed, it will go though. Straight from the freezer is another good time to do it, as it slips off easier. In fact if you soak the hose before freezing, the outer fabric slips off and you can examine the hose for cleanliness. Edit; When you're pulling the bite valve off, hold the hose right on the end of the bite valve spigot, if you hold the hose itself it stretches and tightens onto the bite valve even more.
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| Edited: 27/10/07 11:35 |
 I manage to get my valve off easily, you can jsut pull it off the orange bent bit, this way you have the rubbery thing with an oragne stiff thing inside, this is easily removed by pulling it out. If you then want the orange bent bit out, jsut pull on that too. Its quite simple really. What I have found with my source value is that there seems to be some black growth inside the rubber of the valve. Its very odd, as I have got cotten buds in there and it won clean off, and looking at it very closely you an see the black stuff has grown inside the pores of rubber, right inside it. It looks 'orrible, but doesent taint the taste as Ive noticed, I hope its not harmfull. Anyone else experienced this at all?
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Er, no. Maybe it's a hard/ soft water thing? How do you store yours Smeg?
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It seems I am an utter wimp  ......
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Your hands are just slippy 
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I used to just store it open and empty, now I will totally remove the valve for staorage too to help this problem. Its not helped though, it gets filled with water from anywhere, locally tap water I think is pretty soft, but it will be filled from a stream or tap anywhere availalbe really so I doubt it is something to do with the water hardness. Strange 
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 Stick it in the freezer between uses. Keeps it cleaner and, I guess, the temperature will discourage growth of nasties.
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I replaced the Source bite valve with a platypus one. Finally no more dripping. I do miss the cover when I go mountain biking with it.
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| Edited: 14/11/08 16:31 |
