Customizing a BC

[loosebits]

No, if you look carefully both straps do go through the backplate. It's easier to see on the left side.
The rubber(?) piece is attached to the strap on 2 places and keeps the tank from slipping and also protects its finish.
Loosebits, is this correct?

Yep, that's how it works.

I see what your saying Jonnythan but the tank does not role in that way. I guess you were thinking that the only thing holding the cam straps to the plate was the wing. This is not the case. The straps go though the plate and there is that rubber piece that is threaded across the straps to hold the tank more securely and to keep the tank and plate from touching each other directly.

Thanks ScubaRon, I didn't get what Jonnythan was talking about and he didn't get what I was talking about.

Here's the cam strap, you can see how it goes through the plate.

 

[jonnythan]

Yep, that's how it works.

I see what your saying Jonnythan but the tank does not role in that way. I guess you were thinking that the only thing holding the cam straps to the plate was the wing. This is not the case. The straps go though the plate and there is that rubber piece that is threaded across the straps to hold the tank more securely and to keep the tank and plate from touching each other directly.

Thanks ScubaRon, I didn't get what Jonnythan was talking about and he didn't get what I was talking about.

Here's the cam strap, you can see how it goes through the plate.

Actually, I understood exactly what you meant all the way through.

 

[in_cavediver]

Actually, I understood exactly what you meant all the way through.

I dive a halcyon plate and wing but I have tried a zeagle plate with a zeagle 44 ranger bladder. (Looking for a use of my old ranger).

Here's what I found and why I didn't buy it:

1) There was A LOT of tank roll in the cambands. I cinched them down as tight as possible but the tank would still flop from side to side when diving. This may be more with the wing moving but it felt unstable and if the tank was moving from side to side.

2) The wing attachements was terrible. It may have worked better with doubles but it was way to wide and floppy for a single tank. I would guess this would be the same with my 55lb explorer wing and a single tank but I wouldn't use it for a single tank.

3) I really disliked the mechasm for attaching the wing to the plate. The zeagle wings use small plastic d-rings to hold the wing to the normal BC. On the plate, you are to use those D-rings and 2 SS bolts to hold it in place. When I assembled the unit, I was sure I was going to break one of those d-rings. Seemed like a weak link to me.

This is in direct comparison to the Halcyon pioneer 36lb wing. (I have dove that on numerous occasions)

And for the comment about STA's and halcyon wings, I never really considered those to rods to be an STA but hey, I'll give you it is.

Mike

 

[scubadoguk]

I dive a halcyon plate and wing but I have tried a zeagle plate with a zeagle 44 ranger bladder. (Looking for a use of my old ranger).

Here's what I found and why I didn't buy it:

1) There was A LOT of tank roll in the cambands. I cinched them down as tight as possible but the tank would still flop from side to side when diving. This may be more with the wing moving but it felt unstable and if the tank was moving from side to side.

2) The wing attachements was terrible. It may have worked better with doubles but it was way to wide and floppy for a single tank. I would guess this would be the same with my 55lb explorer wing and a single tank but I wouldn't use it for a single tank.

3) I really disliked the mechasm for attaching the wing to the plate. The zeagle wings use small plastic d-rings to hold the wing to the normal BC. On the plate, you are to use those D-rings and 2 SS bolts to hold it in place. When I assembled the unit, I was sure I was going to break one of those d-rings. Seemed like a weak link to me.

This is in direct comparison to the Halcyon pioneer 36lb wing. (I have dove that on numerous occasions)

And for the comment about STA's and halcyon wings, I never really considered those to rods to be an STA but hey, I'll give you it is.

Mike

I have only one question! really a question if the strap on the back plate is is tight and the harness is adjusted properly then it will not roll on the body of the diver will it?
and how does any of the back plate debate answer the guys question about a seaquest bcd?

 

[Dan Gibson]

You must be carefull that you don't tighten down a plastic buckle too tight when it is very cold out. They become brittle. A friend had one break on a Transpac II with less than one year on it while up in the Vancouver area.

Steel buckles won't have this problem.

steel cam straps are over kill.
I set thousands of tanks using nylon/plastic buckles had a few slip 99% stay and a very few cam buckles break but all of the broke ones were on rental gear in a store and all were 5 yrs old plus.
QUOTE]

 

[scubadoguk]

You must be carefull that you don't tighten down a plastic buckle too tight when it is very cold out. They become brittle. A friend had one break on a Transpac II with less than one year on it while up in the Vancouver area.

Steel buckles won't have this problem.

steel cam straps are over kill.
I set thousands of tanks using nylon/plastic buckles had a few slip 99% stay and a very few cam buckles break but all of the broke ones were on rental gear in a store and all were 5 yrs old plus.
QUOTE]

:54:

 

[loosebits]

I haven't noticed any roll problem. Also, the wing must have been redesigned since you last looked at it (mine is a 34# wing). The wing is attached to the plate using 8 bolts around the inside of the wing. You can see two of these bolts in the photo of the cam strap.

 

[in_cavediver]

I have only one question! really a question if the strap on the back plate is is tight and the harness is adjusted properly then it will not roll on the body of the diver will it?

Two factors, 1 is strectch. The second is the support structure itself. Realize that on my plate, the width between straps was about 5 inches. With that, it is possible to move the tank in a side to side way, still in line with the plate. Think of the tank rolling across a floor for the analogy. Also, the roll wasn't that great, but noticable (or at least felt noticable). The straps were adjusted correctly.

and how does any of the back plate debate answer the guys question about a seaquest bcd?

It doesn't. It continues a discussion regarding BP's and STA's or the lack there of. Since I made a comment about the lack of STA's with some BP/wings combo's and another individual posted about his zeagle BP/wing, I thought I might share my expierences as well.

Mike

 

[in_cavediver]

I haven't noticed any roll problem. Also, the wing must have been redesigned since you last looked at it (mine is a 34# wing). The wing is attached to the plate using 8 bolts around the inside of the wing. You can see two of these bolts in the photo of the cam strap.

Ah, after looking at the photo more closely, my wing is very different. In my case, the wing was a horseshoe shape with only 4 plastic d-rings to hold it to the plate. (With those 8 bolts though). That may have also greatly contributed to the stabiltiy problems I felt.

Mike

 

[scubadoguk]

just looked at the guys answering this thread, lots from Indiana we really need to go dive