Halcyon Pioneer 27lb Wings

[Dan Gibson]

Maybe the Halcyon users are making quite a few more dives than most divers who use a traditional BC

I know I do a lot of dives on my gear and I am not one who is all consumed by maintenance. I'm kind of lazy when it comes to hanging it up at the end of the day. It may sit till the next day before I even take it out of the box I haul it in.

I know my pin hole was caused by myself and the way I took care of it, yet Halcyon replaced it at no cost and no questions. I guess I'm just lucky and must be part of some inner circle;-)

The fact is that any problen I have had other than the 10 W HID head was caused by me and resolved at no cost to me and no questions asked. Even the 10W head was replaced quickly and at no cost to me other than the expedited shipping I requested. Even then, Halcyon covered the first portion of the shipping cost. The expedited portion I picked up.

jamiei once bubbled...
Lets see what the numbers look like from Pioneer owners on the board. Some seem to think the problem lies in user error/mishandling only. Some say its because folks don't take care of their wing... cramming it into places it shouldn't be. It's odd to me that you don't see this same type of problem from users on the board concerning any other type of BC. Numbers don't lie, that is if everyone reports accurately.

Please keep your selections factual. If you've owned more than one 27lb wing, please report any problems you have had with any of them and the resolution, if any.

 

[Charlie99]

Dan Gibson once bubbled...
I know my pin hole was caused by myself and the way I took care of it, yet Halcyon replaced it at no cost and no questions. I guess I'm just lucky and must be part of some inner circle;-)

Was the wing with the pinhole the same one where you had a problem with the rear dump?

 

[Albion]

Dan Gibson once bubbled...
Maybe the Halcyon users are making quite a few more dives than most divers who use a traditional BC

.

My Oceanic probe had (retired now) 350+ dives on it, never had a hole in that. I think the key is that a wing is more exposed, especially when combined with a metal backplate and so should be more rugged than a bcd type bladder.

A single layer doesn't realy make all that much sence when you think about it.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Albion once bubbled...
.
A single layer doesn't realy make all that much sence when you think about it.

Yes, it does. Seaquest has a whole line of BC's with just a single layer. The outer bag is the BC. They dont seem to have any problems. Maybe Halcyon should ask them what they do.

When you go to a urethane bladder and a bag, with a rec bc, you run the chance of the bladder getting twisted inside and trapping air. (Larger wings dont have this problem as much) My Zeagle Ranger had alot of problems with air trapping... That is why I dive the Balance now. No trapping issues, and I have no leaks in that BC. I am on my second balance now...

 

[Charlie99]

LUBOLD8431 once bubbled...
That is why I dive the Balance now. No trapping issues, and I have no leaks in that BC. I am on my second balance now...

What happened to your first one?

I've been happy with my Seaquest PoQD. After 250 dives, the only hint of a problem is some wear on the right rear pull dump string where is rubs against the hole in the cap. After another 100 dives I'll have to swap it out with the right shoulder dump that I never use.

 

[Dan Gibson]

Actually, I need to clarify the story.

27# wing with pinhole caused by me - replaced at no cost in a timely manner.

27# wing with broken chord - replaced in less than one week over Thanksgiving Holiday. I pulled too hard. Could not remove the cover from the valve assembly. Special tool required.

55# Explorer wing with broken chord during cave class caused by reg hoses pinching cell and trapping air. Once again, I pulled too hard. Fixed on the spot by David Rhea. It was explained to me by David what was happening and that I need not pull so hard. Same valve problem. The cap would not separate from the assembly. This is a result of probably not putting the correct torque on the assemby when it is installed. David has informed Halcyon to watch out for this. I don't believe they make the valves, but they do install them and it does require a special tool to install.

Charlie99 once bubbled...
Was the wing with the pinhole the same one where you had a problem with the rear dump?

 

[Zerogravity]

Never heard of a "special tool" to install the rear pull dump valve. I have a 27# Halcyon wing and the dump valve unscrews easily. It is only hand tight. I routinely take it off to clean the inside of the bladder and replace it by hand. I've done this for the over two years I've owned it with no problem whatsoever. Works fine. ZG

 

[Dan Gibson]

From what I have been told by David, Bob in Tech Services and another person who I trust with all my gear, you don't remove the whole valve, just the cover, unless you have a special tool. If you can remove the whole valve, you can't get the cover off. It will be too tight and you won't be able to get a grip.

When mine was screwed up in the field, David actually had to destroy part of the valve to get it open. Luckily he is well prepared and had an extra or my day would have been done.

The tool is a two part wrench from what I could tell.

Zerogravity once bubbled...
Never heard of a "special tool" to install the rear pull dump valve. I have a 27# Halcyon wing and the dump valve unscrews easily. It is only hand tight. I routinely take it off to clean the inside of the bladder and replace it by hand. I've done this for the over two years I've owned it with no problem whatsoever. Works fine. ZG

 

[Charlie99]

Dan Gibson once bubbled...
From what I have been told by David, Bob in Tech Services and another person who I trust with all my gear, you don't remove the whole valve, just the cover, unless you have a special tool. If you can remove the whole valve, you can't get the cover off. It will be too tight and you won't be able to get a grip.

When mine was screwed up in the field, David actually had to destroy part of the valve to get it open. Luckily he is well prepared and had an extra or my day would have been done.

The tool is a two part wrench from what I could tell.

I thought DIR guys would only use regulators that they could field strip underwater to clean out the diaphram and exhaust valve. It seems strange to have a wing where you need special tools to go in and check/clean the dump valve.

Does anybody other than Dan have a Halcyon wing that needs a special tool for this?

 

[JeffAustin]

I have a special tool...



my thumb and forefinger!

Grab the outer cover, while holding the fabric around the valve, pull on the dump string, and unscrew the cover. The "valve" and spring are attached to the cover via the dump pull string, it all comes off as one piece. What doesn't come off is the back seating for the valve assembly, which the ft. cover threads onto. It is permanently attached (sealed) to the bladder.