Hello Spruce,This has just been my experience with the Univalve.
I purchased a repair kit on the 22/2/2022, and it cost me £15 + VAT. I just found the invoice.
I fitted it to my son's pole shortly afterwards, and put the old stuff I took out of his pole back into spares stock, as I could find nothing wrong with it. So for him, his Univalve is still working fine after approx 15 months.
The original spring I took out had no evidence of rust on it. I don't know what the replacement kit spring looks like, but it's working fine as I recently used his pole.
My son moans about the brush not being as stiff as the one he had previously, and he moans about the clamps slipping, but he doesn't adjust the clamps. This is why I just ignore him now.
He is using the orange hose that came from Exceed many years ago. I've still got the same orange hose on my 40' pole.
I have Gardiner's PU hose on my SLX27, but I find it a bit stretchy in winter when using hot water with my current Univalve. I swap the PU hose for a length of red Exceed hose when regularly using hot. I've had that red hose for years and have used it since it was first released by Exceed.
Personally, I felt the exchange between Steve and @Skxawng was unnecessary, but I also appreciate that Steve is very protective of his products, perhaps overly so, and doesn't welcome criticism with open arms. Personally, I think it's important for a manufacturer of any product to listen to the end user and make improvement adjustments where possible without becoming emotionally involved and taking negative comments as a personal attack.
I haven't looked at Univalves on his website for a long time, as I have never needed to, so I honestly didn't know he had a Univalve+. This is how far out of touch I am. I still have a spare Univalve in my spares box. So maybe my current supply will outlast me.
just digging thru some old stock of mine here is a few univalves that I have had problems have throw some away ? I snapped the old with rusty spring but just to show the springs Have been thinner and turn rusty compared to the original univalve.
Ordered some springs from China about a year ago to upgrade some of my old U/S univalves If I get time today will install and let you guys known how I get on.