Bladder thread issue.

[rombulai]

Hi,
I have 30lb Donut Bladder - Optional Bladders - BCs - Zeagle Dive Systems this wing and I love it.
However I have an issue. The thread on the blader is plastic and very thin and gentle. I think that thread step is ~0.75mm and it is only about 1mm deep.
When I fit it with elbow mounted to inflator hose the connection is not reliable and can come off.
I had an issue this very morning when checking the wing for leaks before diving. The elbow just came off (well it did not pop out, it kind of twisted in a way when air can free flow, but the elbow still was fitted over the bladder mouth ).
I went to see how come my other buddies do not have same problem even on cheap BCDs. And I discovered that their thread is so much bigger. It is about 2-3mm deep with thread step >2mm and it looks waaay more reliable and heavy duty.

Any solution to my problem?
1) I can glue bladder to the elbow and live like that for a while. And eventually cut it open and replace together.
2) Or I can get compatible bladder from other manufacturer and use it (don't forget to get the elbow and exhaust valve from that manufacturer as well!).
3) It might be possible to buy bladder mouth separate from other manufacturer and fit it over Zeagle bladder (that seems complicated though).

Please do not tell me to buy same replacement bladder AND do not tell me you don't have such an issue.

BTW I love the product and I still think that Zeagle designes great stuff.
After all it was made modular so that everyone can make one to fit his needs.

P.S. If you have any doubts I can take a video with my phone and show that to you.

 

[Jeff-F]

P.S. If you have any doubts I can take a video with my phone and show that to you.

Could you send me that video in a private message? I'm curious as I have not heard about this issue before.

 

[rombulai]

Today I spent about an hour playing with the tank and BCD trying to see what is the problem.
Clearly problem is with the thread.
In fact the original design for that BCD included pull-inflator-hose-to-release-air design but I ordered Zeagle "no valve elbow" to avoid putting any stress on that joint as it did not seem to be strong enough.
I used this BCD about 20 dives so far and I did dismantle it couple of times (one of them to take a look and another to actually install that no-valve-elbow). The thread is so fine that is is not easy to feel that you have caught it.
You know that feeling when you are closing soda plastic bottle. You can clearly feel when the cup is over the thread and you can screw it to the bottom. That is not the case here I might have screwed the thread myself. But hey! Is not it made to be screwed?

I might come up with some stainless steel lathe custom made parts which I will epoxy to the bladder and make sure the thread is not going to give up on me.
Or, to avoid epoxy part (that has to be tested, tested and tested as you never know how epoxy is going to ruin your latex\rubber bladder) I can invent design that will not require any glue rather compressing everything tightly.
Still thinking about it...

I'm open to ideas and suggestions and comments especially from Zeagle staff.

Will update you with videos shortly.