Self servicing my Buddy explorer

[sijomon]

Hi,

My Buddy Explorer BCD has started leaking, and I need to fix it.

I understand that AP give an excellent service, however this is now £89.99, and they explicitly exclude the bladder from this. Although they don't give a price for a bladder replacement I'm guessing, since it also includes the service, that it's more than £89.99. I don't have £89.99, but I do need my BCD in working order. I don't really have any choice, therfore, but to attempt to fix it myself. Oh, and before anyone points it out, I'm not the orginal owner, so I'm not covered by the lifetime warranty on the bladder.

I've been told that I can probably repair it in much the same way as bike inner tube, but to do that I need to get the bladder out, and that's where I'm struggling.

I have unzipped the rear compartment so I can now see the baldder, however it appears to be held in place by 4 valve gromets(1 is for the inflator hose, 2 are dump valves and 1 is a blanking plate) and 8 plastic studs. I'm fairly sure I can figure out how to get the valves gromets off, but the studs are totally perplexing me.

Here are some pictures:

First this is the style of Explorer I have (this isn't a picture of me BTW):

http://www.divernetxtra.com/gear/pics/buddy1198.jpg

And here are the studs:
Front:
http://www.sijomon.com/images/BCD_prestud-front.png

Back:
http://www.sijomon.com/images/BCD_prestud-back.png

Does anyone know how I undo these studs? I've tried unscrewing them (but can't get any purchase) and levering them up (but I don't think this is correct and I don't want to break anything)?

Additonally has anyone any general advice on removing and patching bladders, either for this BCD or just in general.

Thanks for any help you can rpovide.

Simon.

[paulg]

Hi,
Those plastic studs unscrew, however they are difficult to grip! I think we used pliers to grip it. You'll find there's quite a few of them hidden in the jacket and pockets! Once you've removed all of those, if it's like the Buddy Commando you can unzip the back and remove the bladder with a bit of fiddling!
Not sure on bladder repair, however on the ap valves website they sell tear-aid, that worked it repair my crack bottle dsmb (which inflates to quite a high pressure!) when it got punctured on some sharp rocks .
Paul

[PeteM]

Why not claim on the Buddy Life Time Warranty?

[Tristan Green]

Why not claim on the Buddy Life Time Warranty?
Oh, and before anyone points it out, I'm not the orginal owner, so I'm not covered by the lifetime warranty on the bladder.
Sorry, couldn't resist.:D

Seriously, if you have already established that the inner bag is the problem and not one of the valve attachments leaking then I'd suggest that you take the inner bag out of the jacket (carefully unscrew the studs with a pair of pliers) and find out where the hole or split is located. Then give AP Valves a call and explain the location and size of hole/split to them (they are usually very helpful). They may advise that a repair can be made by patching (similar to how you would repair a bike inner tube) and advise what sort of patch and glue you will need - they may even be able to supply this to you.

If the hole is near to an edge of the bladder you may not be able to repair it and they may recommend a full replacement of the inner bladder. Not what you want to hear I know - but better than your home made repair failing the first time you jump in the briney.

Cheers,
Tristan

[sijomon]

Ok thanks for the info.

I guess I get my (t)rusty pliers out and see how it goes.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[PeteM]

Why not claim on the Buddy Life Time Warranty?
Oh, and before anyone points it out, I'm not the orginal owner, so I'm not covered by the lifetime warranty on the bladder.
Sorry, couldn't resist.:D

And how would Buddy know they were not the original owner?

Plus in my experience Buddy have always just honoured the warranty anyway even if told that it was bought second hand

For the sake of a two minute phone call it is definitely worth asking Buddy and I would put money on them agreeing a repair

[sijomon]

Once again AP Valves customer service has been just awsome :)

I rang up to get some advice, and whilst they didn't offer me a free replacement (which, to be fair would be a liitle too much to expect) they did sell me the stud tools they use for removing the plastic studs (£7), and a repair kit (£5) which their service people use themselves. theY even offered to let me speak directly to a service guy to talk me through the repair if I had any problems.

Just fantastic, a big thumbs up from me to AP Valves.

[ChristianG]

Once again AP Valves customer service has been just awsome :)
Nothing strange about that, service as per usual it seems.

I do have one niggle though, Why use studs (or whatever) which require what would seem to be a highly specialised tool? Surely there is some other device out there which doesn't require such specialised equipment?

Mind, I'll put a caveat on that. There is a case to be made for avoidance of "amateur" fiddling with such potentially life saving devices. Please, that last is absolutely no reflection on the OP.

[sijomon]

OK. The tool set and the pathc kit arrived today - hurray :0

Unfortuantelyt now I've got the bladder out I can see its not a puncture but a burst seam, so the patch kit isn't going to be much good as the pacthes are all self adhesive.

Has anyone any experience of gluing these bladders? The patch kit is a vinyl only one so I guess it must be a vinyl bladder? The seam runs about half an inch in from the edge of the bladder sides, so I figure I can just glue that half inch down for 2-3 inches either side of the burst and it'd probably be stronger than the original seam; does this seem sensible?

Thanks for any advice/info.

[PeteM]

OK. The tool set and the pathc kit arrived today - hurray :0

Unfortuantelyt now I've got the bladder out I can see its not a puncture but a burst seam, so the patch kit isn't going to be much good as the pacthes are all self adhesive.

Has anyone any experience of gluing these bladders? The patch kit is a vinyl only one so I guess it must be a vinyl bladder? The seam runs about half an inch in from the edge of the bladder sides, so I figure I can just glue that half inch down for 2-3 inches either side of the burst and it'd probably be stronger than the original seam; does this seem sensible?

Thanks for any advice/info.

I would phone buddy again and ask their advice.

If they say you need a new bladder then probably worth trying a self repair but worth getting their input before potentially trashing it

[sijomon]

Yep, good advice. I rang them but they said they couldn't recomened that I try and repair it if the seam was burst. I guess I'll glue it and see how it turns out. I can't afford a replacement bladder whatever happens so I guess its either attempt a repair or stop diving for a while :eek:

[ChristianG]

I can't afford a replacement bladder whatever happens so I guess its either attempt a repair or stop diving for a while :eek:
You've, no doubt, asked then what a replacement bladder is worth"

[sijomon]

Not explicitly, but I got the distinct impression that they'd not just supply the bladder I'd have to return it to them for it to be fitted - wish I had asked though. Not sure I have the balls to ring the same person AGAIN ;)

Its currently gluing now anyway, so fingers crossed.

[ChristianG]

I have no real way of knowing but a seam is usually a significant problem. If not, then your orientation in the water, although critical I suppose, is a quick, certainly impermanent, way of fixing the problem temporarily.

[sijomon]

Well the repair appears to be a success.

The fact that the seam runs 1/2 inch from the edge meant I had a massive area I could glue down.

I've just given it a simple pressure test; connected a LP hose to it and filled it up until the pressure release valves opened, then let them depressurise it to its normal maximum pressure, then fully immersed it in water. There were no bubbles :) I then pressed down relatively hard up against the repair and the pressure release values went before anything budged around the repair.

I'm counting that as a success. :D

I think I'll still start saving for a new BCD (probably a wing now I'm slowly moving over to twins) but a least this should keep me going in the mean time.

[PeteM]

Once it is back together full inflate until the over pressure valves go. Then leave it lying down flat (on end adds pressure) and leave it for 24 hours. It will probably loose a bit of pressure however good the repair but it will allow you better judge how successful you have been.

[Steve in Sharm]

Whilst we are on the subject of servicing BCDs.

Does anyone have advice for servicing the inflator assembly on a Commando.

[sijomon]

I've done this, let's see how it is in 24hrs.

Thanks for all the advice on thisthe spectre of 'NO DIVING' is looming less menacingly now :)

[Nick Bailey]

Which model of inflator?