I just discovered a 3/8" inch "rip" in the center ballast bladder of my 2001 X-Star. <BR>Can this be repaired (like a water-bed repair kit?) or does the pressure of filling a bag full all the time make it a candidate for replacement? <BR>I don't want to be penny wise and dollar foolish, but I also know a penny saved is a penny earned. <BR>Who makes the replacement bladders? Its a blue bladder about 65 inches long (the end is about 12 inches in diameter though I guess the middle expands further than that) with 3 openings at one end for hose fittings. <BR>It sits inside a protective cover that has a 66 inch long pvc pipe on the outside that fits along the length to hold its shape. <BR>Thanks

I've replaced my center ballast 5 times over 3 years. I took it back to the dealer i bought it from. They had a recall on them, at least for the 2000s. I'm not sure about the 01s. I guess it depends on where the rip is. All of the ones i had, ripped right at the drain house on the bottom. I guess if you cut the bag yourself you can't have them replace it for free. I have used a water bed repair kit on one of my bladders in the front, works fine.

I used a water bed repair kit. As was suggested by the bed place, I put a small circular patch on first, and then after that dried overnight, I put a slightly larger circular patch over that one. <BR>As long as the tear is not on a seam, I was told the patch should hold.