Extreme head in overhead environments - lid protector?

C

ChilyDoodle

New Member
I tend to enjoy tight spaces in caves and I can be a bit hard on my Hammerhead. I have a classic head and it has held up with to numerous bumps and scrapes. The classic has the brick/handle on the lid while the extreme does not have that big block of delrin. Are there any DIY or aftermarket protectors for the extreme head?

I am envisioning getting a nice new head...and then immediately putting big gouges on the lid. I didn't want to add anything bulky to the unit..but was interested in knowing if anyone has added any type of additional protection to their extreme head.

I've never seen an example of a classic or extreme HH with any kind of additional protection added onto the unit's head.
 
I added a pvc block at least to protect the ring, not so useful but I reused an old part of plastic. On the Extreme I think is more difficult to fix it without the handle

myHH.jpg
 
I just wanted to say how gratifying it is to see a HH that has been beat up, scratched and used like this. That is the end-result of a lot of dives, no doubt, and the fact that the old girl keeps going is a testament to how tough we tried to design these things from day one.

We've seen a lot of our gear over the years come back, usually for upgrades, that is beat to hell. I'm kinda Old School about it - To me, a scratched, beat up rig is the sign of a experienced diver (or Don Six the day after he gets a brand new one :kiss:). We all like shiny and new, but there's something about that used "patina"...

Rock on, Funky Bro's.

:)

Kevin.
 
I'm not convinced the top of the head needs any additional protection. The HammerHead CCR, the Defender CCR and the X-CCR are all machined out of very tough Delrin. In addition, the rubber loop hose stick up above the top of the head and make contact with the cave/wreck before the head does (in most cases). As Kevin alluded to, a few scratches give it character! :)


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I know that the HH head is very robust, in 6 years I never broke any parts (only one time the primary cable), but some caves in my area have very narrow passages, and the metal ring has more contacts with wall/ceiling. Probably it'll never have problems even without it but I prefer to think to have a small shield before to break it ... :)
 
I have found that my 3L cylinders take the majority of the abuse. Although I have definitely bumped and scratched up the head a bit, it has never caused any problems.

We have replaced a few delrin bayonet rings for customers, but in every case I know of, the ring was broken due to the CCR unit falling from some height onto hard pavement.
 
So when I first got mine I told myself that I would baby the hell out of it. As it turns out, I agree with Kevin and now the scratches actually don't bother me anymore.

I have an extreme head and make every effort to keep off the cave wall but it takes a beating without any issues.


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Josh,

I tend to have the same situation as you do.... Cave diving this week has continued to only prove that out. Kinda like NASCAR.... If your not rubbing... Your not racing.... :)

Safe diving!!!

M

CCR Josh said:
I have found that my 3L cylinders take the majority of the abuse. Although I have definitely bumped and scratched up the head a bit, it has never caused any problems.
Click to expand...
 
atomik said:
I added a pvc block at least to protect the ring, not so useful but I reused an old part of plastic. On the Extreme I think is more difficult to fix it without the handle

View attachment 8249
Click to expand...
Maybe a rubber bumper ring that slides over the bayonet ring would be a idea for the rough cavers. I have had my extreeme fall onto a boat deck head first without a nick, very robust indeed.thank you Kevin!
 
atomik said:
I added a pvc block at least to protect the ring, not so useful but I reused an old part of plastic. On the Extreme I think is more difficult to fix it without the handle

View attachment 8249
Click to expand...

I have seen this in person. I believe you even offered to give us the design in case we wanted to produce it. But we didn't see a large enough market that needed or wanted it. It is nice to have something sacrificial to take the beating but for the few people that actually beat it enough to hurt it I think periodically replacing the ring would be an easier solution since the extreme head has no mounting for something similar.


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All I'm reading here is callous remarks about how much damage you bozos are doing to the caves. Maybe the canister should be padded instead of delrin. Ever think of that?


iPhone. iTypo. iApologize.
 
kwinter said:
All I'm reading here is callous remarks about how much damage you bozos are doing to the caves. Maybe the canister should be padded instead of delrin. Ever think of that?


iPhone. iTypo. iApologize.
Click to expand...

No actual caves were damaged. It's actually a new customization we added to our BART (build a rebreather tool) you canhave it scratched pre shipment at the factory so it looks like you are an experienced diver when it arrives. Sometimes Josh tows it behind his truck down the interstate when someone orders the "East Coast Wreck Diver" version.
;-)


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That is hilarious. While I am not a tattooed member of the east coast wrecking crew...some of my open water mentors (and instructors) were. I think this comment is highly appropriate. My OW/AOW instructor would find that funny...if he could read. Bazinga!


Michael Thornton said:
No actual caves were damaged. It's actually a new customization we added to our BART (build a rebreather tool) you canhave it scratched pre shipment at the factory so it looks like you are an experienced diver when it arrives. Sometimes Josh tows it behind his truck down the interstate when someone orders the "East Coast Wreck Diver" version.
;-)


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Click to expand...
 
kwinter said:
All I'm reading here is callous remarks about how much damage you bozos are doing to the caves. Maybe the canister should be padded instead of delrin. Ever think of that?


iPhone. iTypo. iApologize.
Click to expand...



Buoyancy control is overrated and unnecessary. I usually bounce off the ceiling and then immediately nose dive into the mud followed by an infantry style low crawl for a while. Its hard to appreciate the dives sometimes with the screams of terror from the dude that is following behind me. Maybe if I was on open circuit, the bubbles and noise might help drown out his pleas for help? Happy New Year everyone!
 
It's like when we were producing films - I'd be relaxing, waiting for John to get his camera configured, while sitting on a huge piece of Elephant Ear Coral... :) I remember riding a giant Leatherback Turtle, 45 foot Whale Shark, and Manta Ray in my day - things that would probably get me arrested today, even though these critters seemed perfectly fine with me (the turtle came back and wanted me to scratch it's head, and the Manta turned around and nibbled on my hair - the Whale Shark didn't give 2 rats asses, but it was also 45 feet long...).

Banging up a 30,000 year old Cave that NO ONE will see unless they are a Tech Diver is probably tantamount to Harpooning Whales while eating a Spotted Owl Sandwich to some people, but to me it's just a sign that you are exploring places that fewer than .0000001% of people on earth will ever see - so Go On With Your Bad Self, and EXPLORE! Just make sure you're using a Hammerhead...

:wiggle:

Kevin.
 
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