Am I going to die? BCD repair

[neevo]

When I bought it back in 2004 it was widely reported as being one of the best stab jackets in the UK at the time. The construction is rock solid and the team at AP are amazing.

I've been contemplating going to a BP/W but I've got a new found love for my Commando TD

 

[Freewillow]

A small leak in a BCD will never kill anybody.


A BCD makes life easier and safer when diving but they have not been used in the beginning.

I dived 15 years ago with an old diver in the carribean. He did not use a BCD. Kind of odd, I know. He just dived with almost no lead and grabbing a stone from the sea bed when he was getting too light at the end of the dive.

However, I convinced him to buy one because he wanted to dive a wreck with me in Martinique that is some 170 feet deep. It is more for MYSELF, that I felt he needed a BCD.

 

[emoreira]

Yeah I was a little worried about using specific lubes like wheel bearing grease or wd40 as I didn't know what effect they'd have on the materials in the BCD. Thought canola oil was the least likely to do any damage.

Just checked the BCD again and it's still fully inflated. I think it's fair to say it's back and 100% ready to use.

If you search in the web the WD40 formula, you will see that the main components of it are fish oil. It is completelly harmless for the skin, so it would do no harm to your BCD.

Dunk the entire assembly in a tub of water to find your leaks. Alternatively, use a paintbrush and soapy water over all the suspect areas.

Obviously you've figured it out by now, but for others following-here is a "how to" video on installing the hardware in question:

That is the DGX BCD valve spare. It can be used for those blades with that type of valves.
Generally BCDs are built with flange valves that are RF welded to the blade. The flange will fail in the flange next to the thread, so, that DGX valve spare will be of no use unless some modifications are done to it, using plastic flanges glued with some cyanacrylate glue and some machining.
The main problem is that the rest of the original flange will be hardly welded to the blader and very difficult to remove.

 

[Couv]

Generally BCDs are built with flange valves that are RF welded to the bladder.

Correct Em-and exactly why I try to avoid purchasing BCs or wings that I cannot easily remove, repair, and reinstall the bladder and the components.

 

[plaamook]

Does anyone know how to remove the grommets on the pre 2007 commandos?
I don't want to force anything when I don't even know how they come apart.
Is it just a case of grip em with something and turn or what?

I emailed AP...and I love those folks...but they're not getting back to me very quickly so I thought I'd try here.

Cheers

 

[neevo]

Does anyone know how to remove the grommets on the pre 2007 commandos?
I don't want to force anything when I don't even know how they come apart.
Is it just a case of grip em with something and turn or what?

I emailed AP...and I love those folks...but they're not getting back to me very quickly so I thought I'd try here.

Cheers

What do they look like? Are they a cone with studs on them? If they are they unscrew and allows you to take the entire bladder out of the BCD.

 

[happy-diver]

By placing the bc on a rubber mat for grip then twisting with your rubber soled boot

Not with 2ft stilsons

 

[34109411]

I have an old AP Diving Buddy Commando BCD that I love. It's only got a few hundred dives on it. And it shows, because it is in fantastic condition. I've had it recently serviced, to make sure its safe to dive and the service centre did the regulator/inflator service as well as doing a pressure test.

The BCD is fine although it didn't pass their strict pressure tests as it lost 50% pressure in 24 hours (I think I remember that correctly). But they mentioned it would be fine to dive until it's time to replace it (plan on going BP/W at some stage anyway).

The one thing the service centre weren't able to fix was a seam that had split slightly. It annoyed me and so tonight I thought I would have a crack at sewing it back up, as I'd just learnt to use the missus' sewing machine making some soft weights so why not use my new skill twice

Luckily for me anyway as I took the BCD apart as much as I could by taking the dump valves off the outer BCD material and found some big salt crystals in the bladder which I duly flushed with warm water to completely clean it out.

I managed to sew it up nicely and put it all back together. I've inflated the BCD and cannot hear any leaks and it appears to be holding pressure, however want to make sure I'm not forgetting anything before I dive it as I don't want to find out I have a problem at 30m down (although will use a drysuit on local dives which offers another level of protection if anything goes wrong).

What's the thoughts from those that do their own maintenance?

Some obligatory pics.

you be fine

I have an old AP Diving Buddy Commando BCD that I love. It's only got a few hundred dives on it. And it shows, because it is in fantastic condition. I've had it recently serviced, to make sure its safe to dive and the service centre did the regulator/inflator service as well as doing a pressure test.

The BCD is fine although it didn't pass their strict pressure tests as it lost 50% pressure in 24 hours (I think I remember that correctly). But they mentioned it would be fine to dive until it's time to replace it (plan on going BP/W at some stage anyway).

The one thing the service centre weren't able to fix was a seam that had split slightly. It annoyed me and so tonight I thought I would have a crack at sewing it back up, as I'd just learnt to use the missus' sewing machine making some soft weights so why not use my new skill twice

Luckily for me anyway as I took the BCD apart as much as I could by taking the dump valves off the outer BCD material and found some big salt crystals in the bladder which I duly flushed with warm water to completely clean it out.

I managed to sew it up nicely and put it all back together. I've inflated the BCD and cannot hear any leaks and it appears to be holding pressure, however want to make sure I'm not forgetting anything before I dive it as I don't want to find out I have a problem at 30m down (although will use a drysuit on local dives which offers another level of protection if anything goes wrong).

What's the thoughts from those that do their own maintenance?

Some obligatory pics.

duct tape is my best friend for all my diving journey .

i will not tell you what have done last summer.

You be ok !

 

[neevo]

These are the proper tools from AP to undo the buttons that tie the BCD together. One on either side.

And here is one I undid to show you how they look, but it’s pretty obvious.

The bladder is plastic welded around these areas so these also attach through bladder to the jacket. You can just about see the bladder in this pic:

AP also sent me these when I ordered the rebuild kit for the valves but I have no idea what they are for.

 

[neevo]

Well that escalated quickly. I thought I’d pull the bladder for inspection given it’s going back in to service again (it’s been in a cupboard for far too long).

Bladder looks amazing and I was only getting some small leaks from debris in valves. But I broke the blanking plug so I’ll order a new one of those, plus I’ll ask AP about the price of a new bladder and whether it’s even required.