Anyone fill their own abs tank & reset handle?

[Polarisrocks]

I am not going to sent this stuff back everytime it goes off.. I took the handle apart and its very interesting whats inside it.. a single 9x17 blank shell that has a center primer.. Question 1 How strong of charge did the shell have? If you google that shell its pretty popular in the theatre industry and also in the slaughter industry.. The shell looks like a 22 ram set shell.. but 9mm.. Now there are a bunch of different colors/ strengths in the slaughter side and full and half strength on the theatre world.. Without experimenting, has anyone seen or know what shell they are using? Does it have a colored tip? It all seems very simple, just need to do my research and i will find it and share what i find.. Now for the cylinder, i am very dissapointed there is NO gauge. I had mine go off on sat and it didnt even fill both bags... So if i am going to trust this with my life i need to know the tank is full and GOING to FIll the bags.. The tank I have has been filled end of last season so it should of been good.. The tank seal is very simple, its a copper washer and a copper disk that seals in the nitrogen. The pin pierces the thin copper plate and then the bags are filled... Anyone not want to post their finds can pm me too..

Seems silly the best bag in the industry has such major flaws.. No refills without exchange and NO gauge to know your full..

 

[carlc]

Seems to me it would be way easier to exchange. I believe it's only about 50 bucks this year. Also, why risk having the wrong shell in and have it not puncture the tank, or too much of a load. Also the tanks have a certain weight to them, so you can just weigh it to know its full. Going on three years with mine and it still weighs out. Seems like an awful lot of headache instead of just dropping it at ups or stopping at a dealer


Sent from my iPhone via magic!

 

[mulestar]

For what it is worth I have the snowpulse bag, but it sounds like the same copper disks are used for sealing the gas. I went to check mine out before my first ride and my gauge read zero. In hindsight I should have pulled the handle to see if it was the gauge or if it had leaked out. I exchanged it for a new one, but I think it is quite possible for them to leak out. This was the first and only canister that was installed, from the factory, filled.

 

[Polarisrocks]

I know it sounds easier to just send it off.. but its 45$ exchange plus $75-100 in shipping.. Dont forget ups wants alot for hazmat SO lets say your on a trip and a tree branch sets it off, do you have a spare tank and bottle? for $175 plus the 100$ shipping? or do you fill it for 3$ yourself.. If the bags wasnt the best i wouldnt own it.. I am just shocked there isnt more dealers in big cities or popular sled cities who stock recharge kits.. I am just not the take my sled to the dealer kind of guy.. so I wont be just sending it off and over spending.. it isnt rocket science.

 

[wjl]

I would like to see you fill that with 2000 psi of nitrogen and install the copper seal, Safely.
A lot of local shops in Utah now carry the recharge kit you bring yours in and exchange don't know about your area.
Here is a link: http://www.snowbigdeal.com/avalanch.../abs-airbags/abs-canister-trigger-refill.html

Shipping Fee is $35.00 for 1 or 50. Your old one can be shipped standard.
Not worth the time and effort to devise a plan to fill yourself.
JMO

 

[Jay]

From the looks of his avatar money isn't the issue here. Some guys like to do things themselves, it's called innovation and it's brought the sledding world alot of great ideas. Like he said, he bought this model because he feels it's the best out there, if he is confident he can fill it as well as the next guy I believe him, and if he can tell me how to do it, better still. I live along way from anything and I'd sure like to know how to recharge the best airbag in the business. I'm going to be buying a couple of airbags in the near future and recharging them is a major concern to me. Threads like this help me make decisions on what product I buy. If there was more guys on this forum with this kind of attitude we would have alot less threads about how do I put my windshield on, or which can makes more HP.

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

odd..... mine has never gone off if i didn't pull it. When i do pull it I'm not going to worry about the cost ... or if i mistakenly tried to save the price of a tank of gas.

 

[skibreeze]

I bought a spare trigger and canister and keep them in the trailer. This way, I have a spare if somebody accidentally triggers theirs or needs a replacement after an avy for the rest of the trip. This also works out well since almost everybody in our group runs an ABS.

 

[Polarisrocks]

I have done alot of searching and not much is out there.. but untill there is some interest in looking at it and getting a few good brains together it will still be a mistery... If there was a dealer in everytown this would be the ticket..but they are far and few between.. I know there is some safety issues with filling the tank and resetting the handle.. Someone brainstormed it, someone can do it.. I was just putting the handle on mine and i just pulled very very gently to see if the coupler was set and it went off. I couldnt believe how easy it went off.. too easy.Also the instructions say to deploy twice a year..

Thanks for the feedback too everyone.

 

[phatty]

Not dogging your choice of ABS, but I sold mine and went to Snowpulse specifically for this reason. ABS are expensive and a hassle. Never looked back and glad i dont have to deal with exchanging, shipping, border agents wondering why i have a nitrogen filled canister... just alot simpler and nicer with snowpulse.

I can fill my canister at a local scuba shop for $6. I can buy the copper disks (set of 3) for $20. The bag comes in more sizes and has more options and storage spots than the ABS bag as well. Plus it is way more comfortable IMO. But to each their own, good luck on your quest...

http://www.snowbigdeal.com/avalanche-safety-gear/avalanche-airbags/snowpulse-airbags.html

http://www.snowbigdeal.com/avalanche-safety-gear/avalanche-airbags/abs-airbags.html

 

[Jay]

So there are 3 main manufacturers of airbags? ABS, BCA and Snowpulse? Which one is the most user friendly for recharges? Are there any major flaws with any of them or is it more of a personal choice?

 

[nytro circus]

It's only $ 45 from my dealer in Lewiston and no shipping charges ! I pop mine and replace it every November before the start of every season just because it's going to save my life

 

[Polarisrocks]

I did just order a a refill from guys outdoor in lewiston and he reccomended a local delivery service to deliver it for 16.50.. I am still on the quest to find the shell and do my own filling later down the road.. I am going to pull the refilled handle apart and see if the new shell has any markings.. as for the copper discs, they are simple, 12 thou copper 0.415 in diameter.. I also want to incorporate a gauge/fill fitting so it can be filled at a local fire station too..
The ABS bag has over 400 documented cases of lifes saved....

How many does the others have??

My brother wears a snow pulse and loves his.. costs him 6-10 to fill locally here..

 

[av8er]

BCA sells a refill kit -customers can buy

so they can fill their bags from scuba tanks, the kit is $55

 

[Polarisrocks]

yes snow pulse and avipac and bca are all fillable.. at any scuba shop or fire department.. the fill/fitting kit is $50 and a pack of discs are under 30 for 4.. is you arer handy you can buy a punch and punch 60 in an hour and a small sheet of copper for $10. I got my abs pack for 500 for a 18l 1year old pack.. hard to pass up.. just didnt realize what a pain it was to fill it. The snow pulse has a bags that kind of would protect your head in the even of a head or neck impact.. I like how the abs fit me and how light it was compared to the bca... You need to try them on and feel the weight.. before you buy,

Jim