If you - just like me - were stupid enough to buy an Epic bar for your Epic (or non-Epic) kites, and if you're just like me - tired and fed up with Epic's "epical" customer service - you probably have one or two Epic bars laying around with a non-working trimmer or some other epically-failed piece.
But there's hope! So hang on!
As far as my bar is concerned, I've simply refused re-placing these faulty trimmers that were failing at a stupid rate and decided to do it my way.
Disclaimer: this modification will not make your already-not-so-safe Epic bar anymore safer. The only way to make it really safe is to convert it into real front-line-flagging system and we're talking about totally different budget here - which makes throwing your Epic bar into garbage and buying some other brand's bar that actually works - a very attractive and cost-effective option!
So here's an easy, step-by-step guide:
First and foremost, I've started by ordering some parts from Dimitri's best friends at: http://switchkites.com/
I've got the fallowing:
Please note that replacing your Epic chicken loop is optional - my mod would've worked with the stock Epic chicken loop just as well. However I always hated mine since it's damaging the bar, creaking and cracking when jumping and unhooking when you don't want it too. There were also reports that it jams up completely and doesn't release when you really need it to... soooo long story short - I've replaced mine with the one from Switch even if it's the most expensive item on the list.
Then you'd need to find or to make a trimmer handle as Switch doesn't sell one. I made one my-self, but rumor is - North's is a direct fit:
- NorthTrustBar-L3.jpg (11.51 KiB) Viewed 2478 times
And here's the main source of frustration towards this bar:
Now... GUT THE DAMN THING!!!:
And re-assemble everything with Switch parts, make sure to re-install both the stopper and the ball exactly the same way as it was stock:
Isn't she something???:
1)Cut the rear leaders to length and make new knots with figure-8-s.
2)Find another way which requires less cutting and splicing
I went with the #2 - hey mom look, what do we have here???:
Points worth noting:
1)Apparently i've got a newer version of the Switch chickenloop and it comes with 2 simple nuts that you have to tighten against each other instead of a single nylon-lock-nut like it used to be. The catch is that these 2 nuts are very thin an require a metric 17mm key that isn't that easy to find to begin with, yet alone in thin version. I've managed with some unorthodox tooling that I don't really want to discuss in details, but I'd like to add that it's a good idea to apply some thread-locker in the process.
2)Yes I'm aware that I removed the Oh-shit handle from the steering line. It was rather useless to begin with, but I might install it later on one of the front leaders - a very easy mod.
3)I've re-installed the steel rings on the rear leaders as stoppers for the foams - just made a figure-8 knot through the ring.
4)Make sure to spend some time de-burring the trimmer's body as there are some very sharp edges that will shorten the depower line's life by a fair bit.
5)That's about it!
A personal message to Dimitri and his dogs:
- Epic-Customer-Service-Sign.jpg (90.85 KiB) Viewed 2478 times
Can't help wondering if all that crap is worth packing and shipping back to Epic:
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