BCA Float Bags

[Roly]

we did a little beacon training today with a group of 15-20 guys today and at the end we put on our avy bags and activated them. Or at least tried to. Two bags were bca float and one abs, The ABS hadn't been fired for two years ( I know you should every year, but the inconvenience of bottle exchange is a pain in the butt ) The BCA bags were both one year old, neither BCA fired and the ABS did> The fireing mechanism on the BCA was jammed up> I am not very happy about this and will be calling my dealer tomorrow, but this kind of a record is unacceptable. I will be fireing my ABS of every season now for sure,This experience has taught us the importance of an annual fireing> Any body else have this problem.

 

[tudizzle]

what in the firing mechanism was jammed...not completely familiar with the BCA packs



Have always felt the ABS trigger system was superior to others and one of the main reasons for choosing this brand

 

[SledsWest]

we did a little beacon training today with a group of 15-20 guys today and at the end we put on our avy bags and activated them. Or at least tried to. Two bags were bca float and one abs, The ABS hadn't been fired for two years ( I know you should every year, but the inconvenience of bottle exchange is a pain in the butt ) The BCA bags were both one year old, neither BCA fired and the ABS did> The fireing mechanism on the BCA was jammed up> I am not very happy about this and will be calling my dealer tomorrow, but this kind of a record is unacceptable. I will be fireing my ABS of every season now for sure,This experience has taught us the importance of an annual fireing> Any body else have this problem.

You bought the cheapest bag on the market, what did you really expect??

The 2010 and 2011 models have problematic triggering. I've seen one guy have to pull so hard to activate the firing mechanism that the metal cable ripped part way out of the shoulder strap... and it still didn't fire. BCA has improved the firing mechanism with the 2012 bags and have an option to have the newer device retro-fitted into the older bags. I believe you have to send your bag to BCA to have it done. Might want to call them to verify that.

 

[Ephratafarmer]

If you still have the hard pull trigger, call BCA and they will replace it with the new easy pull trigger. We replaced all of ours and they ALL work great now. Ck this out, OK.-------be safer

 

[snowmobiler]

You bought the cheapest bag on the market, what did you really expect??

.

maybe the salesman that sold it to him said it would work?

 

[mtnmodviper]

If you still have the hard pull trigger, call BCA and they will replace it with the new easy pull trigger. We replaced all of ours and they ALL work great now. Ck this out, OK.-------be safer

Is there a way to visually identify which trigger a BCA 30 has?

 

[SledsWest]

maybe the salesman that sold it to him said it would work?

Maybe. Don't know where he bought it but I wouldn't blame the salesman, blame the manufacturer. I've seen many reviews on the float 30 on here and there is information out there about some of the flaws of this particular bag. Plus this bag is only in its 3rd year and still on a learning curve, there's bound to be issues and the firing mechanism is one of them....nothing to do with a salesman unless it was purchased directly from BCA.

 

[B00nd0ck3r4lif]

I triggered my float 30 at the end of last season (its a 2010 model) and it worked like a champ. Put a new o-ring in it and refilled the canister about a month ago prior to my first ride.

Seems to work so far.

 

[mynewuseddoo]

I know of a couple guys who had a no fire situation in an actual avalanche with their Snow Pulse bags also. I will only ever run the ABS system, far superior to the others.

 

[jbusch]

BCA had problems with their canisters and offer an upgraded canister for easier pulls. I took mine into BCA and they upgraded it for free. New needle and firing mechanism. They placed an upgraded sticker on the canister. That is the only thing that you need to send to them not your pack. The pull is much easier now.

 

[Norona]

This is one of the reasons no matter which bag you ownm that you should be setting the bag off multiple times pers season, this will test you bag but also ingrain into your personal brain to pull the trigger when and if you feel something weird on the slope.
ABS stopped using cables in 1993 due to their jamming due to many factors. It is why looking at all aspects of an avy bag is important when buying one since they are all a preimium purchase.
ABS return on a bottle and handle is as easy as hitting up a dealer or shop that carries ABS and giving them your used handle and cartridge and getting a new one for about $20.00-$25.00.
Most Avy bags companies are at the snowmobile shows and welcome you bringing your bag down to be looked at and blown off as much as you want so that you see how it works and see that it works! I can not stress enough how important setting your own bag is...as always be safe out there..

 

[SnowBigDeal]

As has been mentioned, BCA made some changes to their canisters this year and have an Easy-Pull kit upgrade available. I would highly recommend this for the BCA canisters. Those who have the upgrade kit haven't had any problems (that I am aware of).

This post shows the importance of firing your airbag each year. 1) to make sure the user is familiar with their pack and 2) to make sure the pack is operating the way it is supposed to.

 

[skidooboy]

also, i am wondering if people are actually assembling the cable and trigger correctly. if you look at it without looking at the instructions.... you will just screw in the outer trigger attatchment in without thinking. there is an inner small diameter thumb screw, inside the outer trigger that HAS TO BE ATTATACHED BEFORE THE TRIGGER IS COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED.

ski

 

[skidooboy]

after the above, just to try them out, we assembled ours tonight, had the wife "try" to deploy the bca float30.... she had to pull with both hands tremendously hard to get it to fire. we bought them at the same time however, it appears once looking at the deployment pulls, she has last years T handle, and i have this years "shaft" style pull.

we had her try mine, and it was harder to find, and the same pull strength to get it to fire. i am wondering in a panic situation, and with warm winter gloves if you could easily find this new shaft style pull, and deploy it, without thinking.

taking our bags to the avy class this weekend... mike duffy, is working with bca so we will ask him. ski

 

[Rush44]

I just got off the phone with BCA and changes have been made. The kit to upgrade the canister can be done at home and also contains a set of instructions. BCA was going to charge me $20 but gave me an avalanche survivor discount of free. Thanks BCA!

 

[catmanm7]

No problems

I deploy mine 2-3 times a year and havent had problems. I thought I posted on a pull scale how many lbs it took to deploy. Either way, if you arent trying your bag before the season and during the season then that is your own dam wrong doing. It cost me 5 dollars to have the canister refilled. Why wouldnt you try it just because....

As far as being on the market as a CHEAP bag, no matter any safety device, they all should have to pass the same standard... You cant put a price on your own life, but I am also not willing to spend 2grand on a bag that MAY save me. Bags/beacons are there to help us in an avalanche, if you think because you have a bag ($600 or $2000), that you are invisible to avalanches then your an idiot. Rant over, just sick of hearing people put down BCA for making safety affordable

 

[ice man]

08 abs bag

just fired my abs bag last week for the first time in 3 years.result was one side full the other 3/4 full.acceptable i guess,would of saved me, 33$ can. will be testing it more

 

[Sled208]

You guys scared me and so I went and tested my Float 30 (first gen) and it worked perfect. popped off easily and the bag inflated full tight and held air great. I've been very pleased with the BCA products and the services from them and snowbigdeal.com

 

[gr8skidoo]

We have been selling and working with BCA for years now, and they have always given us great dealer support! Remember technology is always changing and updating, How many cell phones have we all gone thru? BCA makes great products, from shovels and beacons to air bags. If anybody in Seattle area, or Washington has any doubts about their bag just stop by I-90 and we will let you deploy it. Then we'll refill it for you for free just shop around or store and wait.

 

[Blk88GT]

Thanks for posting this. I'm holding out for an ABS bag after reading this.