Pre aneurism in bladder

[vakiter]

Trying to track down a leak in a 7m ozone edge . Thought I saw soapy bubbles from main . Took it out and blew it up . Soaked it again. Can’t find any bubbles now , but do see a pre aneurism

[Qman]

I have experienced this with all the Ozone bladders I have tried to repair.

With the micro holes caused by grains of sand or salt you need to inflate the bladder outside of the kite to find them,which is not possible as this happens.

There is lots on this forum referencing problems with Ozone bladders.

My advise would be not to waste your time repairing, go and buy an alternative manufacturers replacement bladder (not made by Ozone) in the thickest material you can find. They are more expensive, but in my experience they last longer than the 6-9 months lifespan I had with Ozone leading edge bladders.

These guys are in France: https://www.lakiterie.com/gb/kitesurf-b ... epair-shop

[Peter_Frank]

All bladders without exception do like yours, when pumped up outside the LE.

Bladder will still work just fine now, even after this aneurism, so just use it.
But next time you seek a very small pinhole, or any bigger puncture, first locate the area like you have done, with kite pumped hard, either with soapy water or held under in the sea on a calm day.

Then take the bladder out, only the part that is needed (typically only one side), and pump a bit of air inside just in the neighbourhood of the assumed hole.

Now take with both hands around this area, lock the air inside as a bubble, and put it underwater in a big basket with water (or a tub if you got one)

You can press more pressure now, and turn it around also, to find even the tinyest pinhole.

This is much more gentle on the bladder, as if you pump it up in full, trying to get sufficient pressure to find a pinhole, you will blow the bladder before this point - it is NOT meant to be pumped up hard when outside.

Peter

[sarc]

Sometimes the tiny holes don't produce enough pressure to create bubbles. I've had cases where nothing showed with soap but if I submerged the bladder in a bathtub one piece at a time, held it to the bottom and applied pressure by squeezing I could find the holes.

[Peter_Frank]

Exactly

[alexeyga]

My advise would be not to waste your time repairing, go and buy an alternative manufacturers replacement bladder (not made by Ozone) in the thickest material you can find. They are more expensive, but in my experience they last longer than the 6-9 months lifespan I had with Ozone leading edge bladders.

I'd push it as far as "Don't waist your time with Ozone at all" - there are far too many other nicely-flying kites from other manufacturers out there.

[sflinux]

I did the same as you on a 2003 kite and caused an aneurism in my bladder. Since then, I never inflate the bladder to pressure outside of the dacron fabric to support its structure. To find bubbles, I partially inflate the bladder, then twist a section at a time (like kids balloon animals), and submerge that section into a bucket of water. While the bladder is in the kite, I use soapy water on the dacron to give me an idea of which side or section of the bladder is likely leaking.

[joriws]

The bladder plastic is not pressure tolerant in kite, the fabric is. So pumping bladder-only hard you risk this aneurism. Just see what happens on fabric tear and bladder bursts out from the tear. Bladder pressurises/tightens against kite fabric.

[PullStrings]

After making sure the aneurism has zero pinholes wrap the area in a home made type girdle.

This will keep that weakened area from expanding.

Now you can pump the bladder with more PSI.

Dont pump too hard.

Use good judgement.

Best soapy solution i have used to find leak is in the kid section in department store.

Soapy bubbles types.

It is extra sensitive and will show the micro holes.

[vakiter]

I tried the twist method for the section of interest in a trash can of water , but couldn’t see anything so I pull it all out . Didn’t see anything with soap, so I reinstalled with bunch of talc . Doesn’t leak currently , which is frustrating ,