Removing spring heels

[crab]

Hello,

I have a pair of IDI Power fins that I want to remove the Halcyon spring heels from-- the idea being to place them on a pair of Turtles...

Here's my inevitable dumb question: How do I get these things off the power fins. They were on the fins when I bought them, so my installation experience is clearly lacking.

I attached a picture for reference (as if anyone who can answer my question really needs it).

 

[ABQdiver]

You should be able to pry the "U-shaped" section off one end of the pin carefully and the remove. Try the end that doesn't look to be peened over larger than the hole..

 

[jonnythan]

For whatever reason, I thought the pins going into the rubber were like watch pins. Push them in and the rest should come off. Barring that, just try to bend it...

 

[Cave Diver]

Hello,

I have a pair of IDI Power fins that I want to remove the Halcyon spring heels from-- the idea being to place them on a pair of Turtles...

Here's my inevitable dumb question: How do I get these things off the power fins. They were on the fins when I bought them, so my installation experience is clearly lacking.

I attached a picture for reference (as if anyone who can answer my question really needs it).

Look at the pin that goes through the rubber portion of the fin. If it has been peened, you may have to file it slightly in order to remove it. If not the C shaped portion can be pried away from the pin and the pin slid through the rubber ear on the fin.

Before re-attaching, squeeze the C portion together slightly so you actually have to spread it to put the pin back in place.

 

[Cave Diver]

For whatever reason, I thought the pins going into the rubber were like watch pins. Push them in and the rest should come off. Barring that, just try to bend it...

The pins should be solid, not spring loaded like a watch pin. Removal of the buckle requires that they be spread apart and lifted off the pin, providing it's not peened.

 

[jonnythan]

The pins should be solid, not spring loaded like a watch pin. Removal of the buckle requires that they be spread apart and lifted off the pin, providing it's not peened.

My bad, I thought I remembered that from somewhere.

 

[Cave Diver]

My bad, I thought I remembered that from somewhere.

It's possible that there are some out there like that, but all the ones I've encountered so far are solid. If anyone else has knowledge of the watch pin type I'd be interested in hearing about it though.

 

[crab]

Thanks for the replys...

The pin appears to be peened on both ends (I should have gotten a shot of that too), so I guess I'll have to do a bit of filing to which ever side appears easier to pull back through the "C" section. When re-installing, do I just peen the crap out of it again to hold it on the "C"? Is the installation of this type of spring heel a matter of slipping the pin (one end already peened) through the "C" and then peening the other end?

 

[Genesis]

IDI did not peen them at the factory. Scubapro DOES.

However, the person who installed the straps might have. If they did, then its time to get out a dremel with a cut-off wheel - that's the fastest and easiest way to deal with it.

A new set of hardware can be had for a few bucks, so its not hard to replace the U-piece and pin.

 

[crab]

Genesis--

The person who installed them did the peening.

The Dremel idea sounds like a winner. I should be able to take off the peen on the pin and leave the "U"/"C" in reusable shape. Do you have any ideas on a good place to source a new pin? My preference would be a local hardware outfit if they carry something like that.