Newb airbag question

[FreeThinker]

I used "search" and could not find a link or any information regarding my question. I am not saying it's not out there; I just could not find it.

I have Gaia bags. The black plastic inflation hose seemed "iffy" where it meets the inflation end, so I reinforced it with Gorilla Tape. It then totally broke in two. Can one replace just the hose (it is fine on the end where it joins the airbag) or do I have to get another airbag altogether?

Thanks for the help.

[ezwater]

If I understand correctly, the open/close valve has either come apart or has broken. Sometime the piece that twists or pulls out for inflation will pop out, and it can be forced back in.

If the valve is actually broken, it is very likely you can get a new valve from either another bag maker, or from a retailer like NOC that has to deal with all sorts of broken valves. The rest of the old valve can be pulled out of the vinyl tube, and then a new valve inserted, using Vynabond to fix it in place.

If a valve ever leaks or breaks while you're far from a replacement, you can double most vinyl tubes back, to seal the air in, keeping the crimped portion shut with some tape, string, or a wire tie.

It's the bag end of a float bag that can kill it. I wasn't paying attention to all the wind rumpling of a cheap Harmony bag, and the bag end of the inflation tube tore a patch of fabric right out. That's something hard to fix.

[arhdc]

The valves are replaceable and you can frequently find them in gear shops.

I don't remember the proper name for them but pblanc knows the name I'm certian. Anyway, if you can't find them I know my local shop has a bin of the things for sale, I can send you one.

Hope that helps.

[ezwater]

Freethinker, on re-reading your post, it sounds like it was the hose rather than the valve that broke. If so, you might not need to replace the remainder of the hose, if it seems sound. You'd just have to cut the valve out of the broken piece, clean up (cut square) the remaining hose, and then install the valve with Vynabond.

But there may be situations where you want a full length hose. For example, if you drive to rivers with the bags in your boat, blown up snug so they don't flap, you need to be able to bleed off air if a bag gets too tight, or to blow more air in to keep a bag from flapping.

So you want to be able to get your mouth on that inflation hose while the boat in on the car. The reason I ruined that cheap Harmony bag was that I could *not* get my mouth on the hose, so the bag got limp, flapped, and destroyed itself.

If you had to replace the hose, you might find Tygon clear plastic hose at a hardware store, in various inside/outside diameters. After you carefully cut the old hose off its base on the float bag, you clean up the base tube, and install with a bit of Vynabond.

[FreeThinker]

EZ and Aaron - thank you! EZ, your second post is right on the money. The hose broke, not the valve itself. Going to try to get her fixed up this afternoon if the rain showers allow for a window to work on her a bit.

[clarion]

So you want to be able to get your mouth on that inflation hose while the boat in on the car. The reason I ruined that cheap Harmony bag was that I could *not* get my mouth on the hose, so the bag got limp, flapped, and destroyed itself.

I keep wanting to put a 2' length of tubing in the car for just such occasions. I need to actually do it.