Bladders

Hi Deano,

Yes it can be fixed. You can re-heat seal the end of the bladder provided it blew out near the very end.

All you need is a domestic iron, some baking paper, a pencil and that's it.

Lay the pencil (hexagonal cross section) on a desk, cover it with baking paper, lay the bladder where you want it sealed along the pencil. Then start with the iron cool and gradually wind it up in heat waiting a minute or two between temp changes to allow uniform heat, and test on the very end prior to trying to do the proper job.

If the iron is too hot, it'll melt the hell out of the bladder, if too cool, it won't melt enough to seal the two sides together. Experiment with temp control. For me it is on the "Silk" setting.

When ready, lay the bladder down on the pencil with greaseproof or baking paper in between and then cover the bladder with some more greaseproof or baking paper, then put the iron on it for a couple of seconds. Remove the iron and the top greaseproof paper and check to see if the seal has worked. Continue until you have the desired result.

It's really easy, just take your time and don't shorten the bladder any more than you have to otherwise you'll blow it again as it tries to fill the space at the end of the LE tip.

Cheers and have fun!

KH

Hi guys,

I just spoke to Deano and gave him another trick which I should pass on to you all.

If you have to cut too much off the end of the Leading edge bladder and it is too short to be folded in the end closure properly, you can go to Clark rubber or an equivalent mob and buy a pool noodle. Cut the pool noodle to the desired length and insert it into the end of the leading edge wingtip to fill the vacant space between the shortened leading edge bladder and the tip of the LE casing.

Easy!

Cheers,

KH