2013 North Fuse question for Ken Winner

[Rbgar]

Couple q's for Ken Winner or any North guys out there.

I've flown N Rhinos and Rebels since '04, just bought a '13 Fuse 18m and flew it yesterday. Just want to make sure I have this big kite tuned correctly.

Q's:
-flying it on a 5th element bar line-set is the 5th line totally unloaded? Mine is 100% slack.
-when riding I slightly load up the 5th line and it spreads (widens/flatens) the kite, makes me think the 5th line should be loaded?
-or, if not loaded does the front lines being split at the Y so hi up pull the wing tip in?
-a 4 line bar line set has the front lines split so low does this let the wing tips fly wider apart like it looks when I load the 5th line a little?
-what is the correct setup?

Many thanks

[Dan-at-Duotone]

-flying it on a 5th element bar line-set is the 5th line totally unloaded? Mine is 100% slack.

It should have a little slack when fully sheeted in and lots of slack otherwise.

-when riding I slightly load up the 5th line and it spreads (widens/flatens) the kite, makes me think the 5th line should be loaded?

No, the 5th line should not be loaded. Tensioning the 5th line on this kite flattens the center of the leading edge and distorts the shape of the canopy.

I should mention at this point that flying lines should all be the same length and have to be checked every five or ten sessions (depending on how hard you ride and whether they’re being stretched in the surf, etc). Unequal lines can lead to all kinds of kite tune problems and this applies to all brands, all models.

-or, if not loaded does the front lines being split at the Y so hi up pull the wing tip in?

The high V makes the kite slightly more stable and gives it a more compact feel. Lower V, slightly less stable but slightly more consistent tension on back lines.

-a 4 line bar line set has the front lines split so low does this let the wing tips fly wider apart like it looks when I load the 5th line a little?

Perhaps a little wider.

-what is the correct setup?

The kite flies well both on unloaded 5th and on four lines. The main reasons people go with 5 lines on this kite are:
1) easier relaunch, particularly in light wind (when 4-line kites won’t relaunch at all)
2) safest, most instantaneous total depower available in any kite, big or small

Hope this helps.

-Dan

[bnthere]

2) safest, most instantaneous total depower available in any kite, big or small[/color]

(in reference to a 5th line safety system)

a 4 line bar's single centerline system is equally as effective and "safe."

[Rbgar]

Thank you Dan

[knotwindy]

also the higher Y and the lower V split give the front lines a different apparent length to the kite so be sure to adjust for that.

[oliver011]

2) safest, most instantaneous total depower available in any kite, big or small[/color]

(in reference to a 5th line safety system)

a 4 line bar's single centerline system is equally as effective and "safe."

+1111

[Dav_de_Lyon]

Hi everyone,

I'm having some problems setting it up my 2013 North Fuse 16m as it often overflies beyond the
zenith of the wind window, mostly during take-off and landing, and then crashes nose-diving.

I ride it on 4 lines, with front pigtails settup on 4 lines (ie upper knot) and back pigtails on light sheeting force (ie closest knot to the adaptive tips).

FYI all my 4 lines have been double checked and have the same length

I have tried to extend the front lines / increase the angle of attack of the kite [/color]by setting the front pigtails on the lower knot, this reduces slightly the overflying but does not prevent it completely.

Does anyone have any idea on how to solve this problem?

Thanks in advance for your help on this.

[Don Lester]

One way to prevent over-flying the wind window is to keep more tension on the rear flying lines.

If a kite is over-flying the window it's because you're too sheeted out..........

[Dan-at-Duotone]

Some people, generally those who preferred the 2012 Fuse and its tendency to stall, may find the 2013 Fuse to feel a little undersheeted. One symptom of undersheeting is the tendency of a kite to overfly the window (though this is the first I've heard of this on a 2013 Fuse).

Those customers have reported that they prefer to use the 5-line setting on the front connection when riding on the 4-line bar (as you reported doing) but then they also shorten the outside lines by adjusting under the bar ends. If that still isn't shortening the back lines/lengthening the front lines enough you can put knots in the pigtails at the end of the flying lines.

All of these fixes will tend to oversheet the kite, which will make it more reactive and powerful, and less likely to overfly the window, but at some point it will also make the kite tend to want to stall.

Hope this helps.

-Dan

[Dav_de_Lyon]

Great, thanks guys for your answers