JAN-29. Line weared off after Terrapin.

[ARY]

Telford, Luraville, JAN-29.

I might become paranoic but it seems like the begining of the golden line beyond Terrapin gap is weared off. Some core threads are still holding but skin is gone at the point where it is tied off and bends around a curve. I tied in my gap reel 10 feet further in a cave and used prussik knot on it instead of standard double wrap around in case main line snaps on me. I was doing swim alone on gas leftovers after clean up so i couldn't spend more time to figure out a way of mainline replacement, sorry. Water was not too warm 68F, viz was around 30'. Current was not very strong and water had a lot of "flakes" and "dust". I reached the place past turned upside down T high vertical canyon where cave becomes low and wide and massive blocks with vertcial cracks hanging above and turned on 200 psi prior to thrirds in my left cylinder. Still wonder what is the name of this place. The flight back downstream was fun with sudden primary light failure followed by backup light failure. It was easy to turn on next backup light since i kept all my 4 backups on helmet. Exiting the spring i noticed plastic jar that i forgot to remove after todays's morning cleanup. I moved it under the ledge at the left hand side and put rock in it so the next time someone exits you may collect broken glass in it.

[sdenney]

The place your are talking about is called The Rifts.

I just dove Telford last Tuesday (01/25/05) and again today (02/01/05). The line is almost black in certain areas and in other areas a thick coating of silt is sitting on it. There are a few areas where the line is buried and others where the line is eroding/fraying.

I'm not sure who owns/maintains Telford, but frankly it needs a new main line. Also, it would be nice if the gap in Telford sink was shorter (my 50ft. gap spool was about a foot too short :( ). There are no distance markers, so there is no way to guage where you went.

[tomhauburn]

Ary,
David Penny told me you were doing a solo dive after the cleanup. I bet losing two lights made it a bit interesting. What was the cause of the two failures? Keep in mind that I use the same primary as you. Anyway I was glad to see you again and hopefully we can dive again soon.
Tom







Telford, Luraville, JAN-29.

Water was not too warm 68F, viz was around 30'. Current was not very strong and water had a lot of "flakes" and "dust". I reached the place past turned upside down T high vertical canyon where cave becomes low and wide and massive blocks with vertcial cracks hanging above and turned on 200 psi prior to thrirds in my left cylinder. Still wonder what is the name of this place. The flight back downstream was fun with sudden primary light failure followed by backup light failure. It was easy to turn on next backup light since i kept all my 4 backups on helmet. Exiting the spring i noticed plastic jar that i forgot to remove after todays's morning cleanup. I moved it under the ledge at the left hand side and put rock in it so the next time someone exits you may collect broken glass in it.

[ARY]

What was the cause of the two failures? Keep in mind that I use the same primary as you. Anyway I was glad to see you again and hopefully we can dive again soon.
Tom

The only difference was is that light was attached to my SM butt, extra tension on cord or loose connector? Fred Berg told me once that approximately one dive in hundred will be "drill for real", i hope this was my "one". Really i have no idea of the cause of lights problem. Both lights were working aftermath when i checked them doing my airfill at BR, not even fogged from the inside. However to treat my paranoja i bought replacement head for Q40. Then we went to the end of a map of Distance Tunnel (to the right after split) with Rob. I used classic BM. MLS HID had no problems (to be sure i switched it on at parking lot).

See you soon in a water :-)

[mwenner]

I just picked up on the light failures, and wanted to mention two things. One, when I was a bench technician, anytime we had an intermittant circuit board, we'd take a pencil eraser and gently rub the contact to a clean condition. Those UK40's (i have two on my helmet) have the end of the bulb coming down on the head of a battery. I like to keep that contact clean.

Two, I also use a conductive grease that I can get at an auto supply store, an it's made for increasing the electronic flow on contacts, like spark plug wires, etc. I put just a touch of that on my primary light connector (a Helios that has flickered once or twice on me at start up, with a new bulb) and other back up lights, like the UK40's.....

Now I just watch other people's light fail....

Hope that helps somehow.

[DeWayne]

I remember the pencil eraser routine from days of toting the older PRC radio models. Best thing ever for keeping contacts clean and functioning and I still make use of it today. Will have to find the grease and give that a try as well.

[normblitch]

I remember the pencil eraser routine from days of toting the older PRC radio models. Best thing ever for keeping contacts clean and functioning and I still make use of it today. Will have to find the grease and give that a try as well.

(and if you think I'm old from my stories of Caving in the 'day, I made chump change fixing neighborhood Ladies "All American 5" tube table radios when I was in Elementary school...<g>)

I favor(ed) the old typing erasers...coarser cut, and less fluff...an old substitute for crocus cloth (relay contact abrasive) was a fresh dollar bill...

Is the grease y'all are talking about RTV silicon grease?

Norm

[DoublesOrNothing]

Telford, Luraville, JAN-29.

The flight back downstream was fun with sudden primary light failure followed by backup light failure. It was easy to turn on next backup light since i kept all my 4 backups on helmet.

Must be something about telford. Back in January I was doing a dive with my buddy and we were at the far end of Beulahland (sp) when I had primary light failure. Ended up replacing cord and switch on my DR. Oh, and I ripped out that rediculous Illinois University line arrow!