How to put BP/W on tank

[anchochile]

Stupid question alert: I’m loving my new BP/W, but having a hell of a time mounting it onto a tank.

I have a SS plate and SS cam bands. To mount the BP/W at the correct position, it has to be held up off the ground or bench a bit to mount higher on the tank.

But due to the weight of the backplate, it feels like I need one hand to hold the BP/W up, and two hands to tighten and close the cam bands.

If I use both hands to deal with the cam band, the backplate sags down. If I hold the backplate up, I don’t have enough hands to deal with the band.

The only thing that his worked is laying the BP/W flat, with the wing facing up, laying the tank on top of the wing using gravity to hold it in place, and then cinch the cam bands.

But this seems like a bad idea with the weight of a full tank resting on the wing. Good way to get a pinch tear, I’d think.

What am I missing?

 

[chris kippax]

Have your cam bands tight enough that they require a small amount of pressure to get down on the tank, this way they will support the rig.

 

[admikar]

What I do is press it with my knee against a tank.

 

[Saniflush]

If I am understanding what you are saying, it sounds like your bands are a bit too tight. Try loosening them a little so it does not take so much effort to seat the buckle.

 

[Compressor]

Do you have a single tank adapter for your back pack?

 

[Bowers]

have the cam bands adjusted so they need a slight "wiggle jiggle" to get them on. once the bp is at the right height, secure the bottom strap then it will be easy to get the top strap however you want it. after the top strap is tight, you can reajust the bottom again if it even needs it.

 

[Landlocked123]

If you have 2 bands like my OMS does. I do the following.. left hand supports both chest straps at the top where they come forward off the backplate and over your shoulder. Slide it on. Right had tightens and closes the lower camband. Not too tight. Just enough to hold the BC. Now with the bc held in place I tighten and fully secure the top cam band. I then secure the bottom camband fully. Done. Very easy to do once you get the hang of it. And as others have said if you pre tighten the cam bands to just the right length it slides on but does not slide down and its even easier.

 

[uncfnp]

@stuartv put a loop on his freedom plate to hold it in place and at the right height until he could secure the cambands. Not sure if he made it from webbing or bought it. Its the same idea that many jacket BCDs have.

 

[Marie13]

My Halcyon wing has a webbing handle at the top. Very handy for holding onto when putting a BP/W on tank.

 

[Neilwood]

Personally I kneel with the back of the plate facing me and hold the plate up with my knee until I have the first band tight. I think a lot depends on the cam band system you have - I have the Scubapro which means you never have to rethread the cam portion - you adjust the "tail" section.