tank straps and BP problem.

[Jeff Pack]

Every dive I come back on now (4 dives now) the damned tank has moved rotated diagonally on the backplate.

Halcyon BP. Straps are damned tight. Shouldnt need an STA. My zeagle BP never had this problem. Ths straps are slide locked on each side of the bBP, so the strap itself is locked in.

I cant figure out how to solve this, as I shouldnt need to get an STA.

Help!

[Jeremy]

Is this for Kiss GEM or actual single tank diving?

[kdupreez]

what BP and Wing system are you using at the moment?

I can recommend an STA, I know thats not what you want to hear, but you can get a weighed STA and put 6lb close to your body on your back and it will keep the tank nice and steady.

[Jeff Pack]

Kiss GEM, but that should be of no real difference, and my Zeagle backplate, no STA worked just fine.

I dont think I should need an STA. But recommend away.

[Jeff Pack]

I guess if I have to go with an STA, a weighted is better, as I need to carry 10 pounds of trim weight, so a weighted STA is better. I suppose a Halcyon, or whatever..

Note: not sure a weighted STA will work, as maybe wont get the weight high enough like trim weights on the top band.

[Jeff Pack]

So far I see the Halcyon STA, Oxycheq full size and mini, OMS, and dive rite STA's and scubatoys, also a Scuba Pro. Also a HOG STA.

[Nwcid]

Jeff I have one that looks like it is made from fiberglass that you can have if you want it. I can bring it next time we come but I am not sure when that is. Possibly the middle of Jan.

[Jeff Pack]

thx, but I cant wait that long. Found a DR one on CL w/straps for 55$.

[kdupreez]

You are welcome to borrow one of mine anytime.

I have both weighted and unweighted.

[Jeff Pack]

I'm leaning towards the dive rite, as it also comes with the rubber pads, so the tank doesnt get buggered up from the STA. I plan to still use the slots in the BP for the tank bands, and the STA to just hold the tank.

[Mortuus]

A non-weighted STA is pretty damn cheap btw. Not even 1 scuba buck

[Nwbrewer]

Jeff, go to home depot, buy a strip of 2" wide aluminum, and 2 bolts and wing nuts. cut 2 6" pieces of the aluminum strip, bend in vice, drill 2 holes, done. Like this (without the slots) - http://oxycheq.com/index.php?main_page= ... cts_id=167

[ArcticDiver]

Take a look at this before going the STA route.

Had the same problem with one BP/Strap/Wing combo. Discovered the fastener holding the BP and Wing together was a bit high. The cyclinder would use that as a pivot point to rotate a bit under stress. ground it down a bit and all was well.

Maybe you have small high point?

[Jeff Pack]

My wing is Dive Rite rec EXP, just 2 bolts fasten it to the BP. I just picked up the Dive Rite STA (the fiberglass one) off of CL.

[Jeff Pack]

Jeff, go to home depot, buy a strip of 2" wide aluminum, and 2 bolts and wing nuts. cut 2 6" pieces of the aluminum strip, bend in vice, drill 2 holes, done. Like this (without the slots) - http://oxycheq.com/index.php?main_page= ... cts_id=167

Or just find some 1/8" channel (2in?). I can mill the channel low enough to hold the tank(where tank will sit flush against bottom of channel_, but still use my strap holes on the BP.

That should be pretty rock solid.

thoughts?

Alternatively I may just get a few feet of solid AL and hog it out to my specs on the mill.

[Nwbrewer]

Jeff, go to home depot, buy a strip of 2" wide aluminum, and 2 bolts and wing nuts. cut 2 6" pieces of the aluminum strip, bend in vice, drill 2 holes, done. Like this (without the slots) - http://oxycheq.com/index.php?main_page= ... cts_id=167

Or just find some 1/8" channel (2in?). I can mill the channel low enough to hold the tank(where tank will sit flush against bottom of channel_, but still use my strap holes on the BP.

That should be pretty rock solid.

thoughts?

Alternatively I may just get a few feet of solid AL and hog it out to my specs on the mill.

Either way would work, yeah, but both sound like more work than just bending an al strip in a bench vice.

[Jeff Pack]

true, but more fun...

[jerryehrlich]

I guess if I have to go with an STA, a weighted is better, as I need to carry 10 pounds of trim weight, so a weighted STA is better. I suppose a Halcyon, or whatever..

Note: not sure a weighted STA will work, as maybe wont get the weight high enough like trim weights on the top band.

Weighted STA = Halcyon

Really, does anybody make one and that actually is available ?

Jerry

[Mortuus]

Jeff, take Koos up on his offer to lend you one

[Jeff Pack]

What I've found so far I dont like about commerical STA's, is there is the thickness of material, then the angle of the STA which causes the tank to clear the bolt head. Some big gaps there. Over .5in with the DR fiber type STA I got last night.

So I'm calcing angles now, so the tank is slightly less than 1/8" gap from tank to STA bolt head, so max tank will be from BP will be .250in, assuming I mill the STA to .125, maybe .118 as billet should be plenty strong.

Billet material, custom angle soley for the 8in tank.

[kdupreez]

The big clearance in at least the steel STA design is to accommodate the lead for weighted versions.

My halcyon STA's have removable weight and with the weight there is just enough clearance for the straps.

[Jeff Pack]

I wound up with a DR STA, put it in in my hydraulic press and flattened to shape for minimal clearance now. Still using the strap on teh BP, so its rock solid stable now.

Later I'll machine some billet STA's. I still dont understand though why the Halcyon requires an STA, but my Zeagle worked fine without an STA.

[Johnbhutch]

I guess if I have to go with an STA, a weighted is better, as I need to carry 10 pounds of trim weight, so a weighted STA is better. I suppose a Halcyon, or whatever..

Note: not sure a weighted STA will work, as maybe wont get the weight high enough like trim weights on the top band.

Weighted STA = Halcyon

Really, does anybody make one and that actually is available ?

Jerry

It is available. There is one sitting in the shop at Tacoma Scuba.