North 5th Element Bars Chicken Loop Replacement Problem

[Toby]

Once in a while you should replace your chicken loop (CL)...I had it twice breaking on my during filming the AIRSTYLE DVD.

Below a screenshot from a breaking chicken loop and what happens then...luckily I had deep water below me, which is not always the case...

Those chicken loops do break, so you need to replace them from time to time.

Since I just wanted to replace one on a used North Bar (2012) from me, I encountered a problem, and decided to post the problem and its fix here. Nothing major, but hopefully saves some time and hassle for someone else.

In order to detach the chicken loop from the iron heart, you have to push out a metal pin.
The replacement kit comes with a black plastic tool to push it out. Due to the forces on my CL my pin is a bit bent...so the tool does not work at all to push it out.
Use the metal pin that comes with the replacement kit, to hammer the old one out.
Quiet tricky to hammer since the iron heart keeps getting out of position...place your foot on it...worked for me.

CL 1.jpeg (113.49 KiB) Viewed 2767 times

In this picture you see the problem...might not be with all replacement CL, but I have 10 here, and all have the same problem: the distance between the hole and thick plastic (which stops the chicken dick from pushing further down) is too short. See on the picture below, that the original CL (above) has more distance than the replacement (below).

CL 3.jpeg (112.54 KiB) Viewed 2767 times

This leads to the problem, that when you want to attach the chicken dick, the loop does not get all the way into the iron heart, so you can push the pin thru the hole.

CL 2.jpeg (101.74 KiB) Viewed 2767 times

But the solution is simple, and shouldn't have any impact on the function or security.
Just cut of some of the plastic on the chicken dick as shown below. Works well with any sharp knife.

CL 4.jpeg (104.78 KiB) Viewed 2767 times

Then you can easily insert the loop back into the iron heart and push the pin thru. Now the bar is ready again to take its load!

CL 5.jpeg (72.01 KiB) Viewed 2767 times

this happens when the CL breaks...

[bidiman]

Knowing that you posted it on the forum
I can deduct that you're still alive after this crash..

Cheers

[Toby]

yes, deep water! And the kite is alive as well!

But filming in the Philippines it was more scary when the CL broke...onshore wind...I had both hands on the bar while it broke...my camera wondering, since we filmed "strictly hooked"...and me being unhooked! Flying towards land, I managed to come down soft before the palm trees and camerman catched it quickly. All good

[Henning_NL]

What's exactly failing in the North CL? And is it possible to detect the worn parts before failure?

[Toby]

inside the plastic tube is a line, this can break.
You cannot see it. Maybe, if the plastic tubing gets a hole you should replace it.

But I think only guys who use it with power in the kites over a longer period will have it break.

And I assume every chickenloop from every brand can have this problem, if it gets used a lot with pressure.

So, if you do radical stuff, also snowkiting and landkiting, you do want to exchange it from time to time, just like depower or flying lines.

[Puetz]

... ha ha ha that last pic made me laugh my arse off,,, sorry Toby but it looks funny!!!

Did you eject the safey too, looks like you did, I assume it was to save the precious 18 from hitting the drink too hard under load!! Good thinking!!

I've snapped 2 also, only I should have learnt from the first time. The harness must have worn away the plasitc and it had a small hole in it, snapped right under the hole. The second CL was also worn out, and yet I ingnored it and went for one more session,,,,, idiot, should have listened to my inner voice.

cheers,

Robbie

ps snapped a spreader bar a month ago, geez there must be a bit of force involved ehy!

[Toby]

yeah, I know...called it "All Off" trick (trick 667)

But, when this happens there is nothing to think...just to fall! The QR on the leash opened by itself!!!
My baby flew away, towards the baracas! Luckily Fabian, the camerman, got into the buggy and drove fast to the other side and caught my baby!

I was happy he got it, and he was happy he could yank around with the beach buggy at full speed

[Puetz]

... tee hee, makes me laugh every time I see the pic! So glad you didn't land on your head btw!

I forgot to add, I snapped a Core chicken loop too, exactly the same way so that makes 3 for me, 2 x North and 1 x Core!

Probably lucky the safety came off, if you tomahawked the beloved 18 she would have exploded for sure so it turned out for the best. Lucky you had a friend more or less ready to run for you.

I've only ever had one kite run away fro me in my years. Snapped a steering line so I punched out and the shock snapped the red safety line so now I was attached to nothing while I watched my kite run away. Chased the kite for 2 km til it finally stopped in the shallows, lucky it didn't get anyone. Replaced the bar after that!!!!!

cheers for now,

Robbie

[Johnny Rotten]

thanks for the session saver.
I'm nursing some old bars from 2010
replaced all lines with Q power as they wore and did the depower/5th line 3 or 4 times

I'm due for a C/L by the sounds of it.