Does anyone know how I can fix this or should i just purchase a new bladder.

2007 Ozone- front bladder has a hole in the seam of the port that allows air from the front to the spar. right where my finger is? any ideas


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Chad,

two/three chopices actually...........you can pull the bladder and replace the nipple or patch the hole with aqua seal. Aqua seal or any urethane (wet suit) repair kit should work. Id try that before i pulled my LE bladder. Tear aid patch may also work. Either way your gonna spend about $12 for materials but save time by not pulling the bladder. Id try aqua seal and or tear aid first, let it cure and pump it up. Let me know what you decide/result........................Ive used tear aid on a LE bladder explosion hole (big hole) and it worked great. Aqua seal is pretty amazing too...............

repair it

pulling it thru the hole , that probably tore the nozzle, the adhesion to the bladder is like there as well.

It looks like the bladder is twisted inside the leading edge
If it is that may be the reason the valve pulled away in the first place.

It might just be the picture but it looks twisted to me

Dave,

great call but Ive been with Chad the last two times he pumped the kite so unless he pulled it out for some reason the bladder should be fine. When I met him at Sullivans Island 2 weeks ago he mentioned he had a slow leak with his 13m Ozone................have you used or tried aqua seal or tear aid?

The nipple was not out until i pulled it out to expose the hole. the hole is like a razor blade cut across the small indentation that holds the nipple in place in the kite edge. where the clear and opaque come together?
I have not tried anything just yet. waiting for some suggestions from you guys before I destroy it doing the wrong thing.
BTW it took over an hour finding this little bugger!

I'd try the Aquaseal. It is an excellent product for your use. I would urge you to get the primer for it as well . It is called Cotol. Mixing the primer with the Aquaseal will reduce the cure time as well.

thank you ! ordered over internet so that i can get some.

I was looking at the Airtime (I think they're the ones?) site the other day and saw a DIY bladder kit. You can buy just the valve bit which you'd cut the old one out and stick the new one overtop. Not sure if the hole you'd wind up with after cutting the old valve out would be too big though.

The glue is on its way, and as soon as i try it i will decide where to go from there. I think if I can get a good layer inside and another on the outside ? well we shall see. I don't want to cut "more" but I understand the concept and how it might do better for this situation. If all else fails purchase a new bladder right?

Thx guys .. I will keep this updated

the valve replacement comes with adhesive "skirts " and can have extra wide for bigger defects.

if the actual nipple is cracked or split, i think this is your case right? best i can tell anyway, a repair with a sealer is gonna be tough. using the sealer can be good and not so good, the age of the material can limit repair-ability and obvious mechanical pressure. it will work but most likely reopen.

the replacement is simple and straight forward, remove old, peel or cut, apply wrinkle free and its done.

by far the worse part (besides the zero session effect) is the bladder in and out . solid, DURABLE test under pressure before the install.

valves are like $ 15 and 20min start to finish to instal, you have already found the leak, thats what eats the time!