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Inflating a kite with ball type valves

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nafets
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Inflating a kite with ball type valves

Postby nafets » Thu Nov 14, 2013 6:58 pm

Guys, i just got my first kite and it has separete valves for each sturd.

Today i went to fly it but i had some problems inflating it. Whenever i pulled out the pump of the valve, most of the air would come out. Only once the ball did its job.

So my question is how do i efficently close the valve, without air coming out of it?

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Re: Inflating a kite with ball type valves

Postby BigPaul » Thu Nov 14, 2013 7:11 pm

The simple answer is quickly.

Don't wait for the stopper ball to do it's thing. Get ready to pull the hose out with one hand and with the other get ready to immediately plug the valve. You will get better at it the more you do it.

Try adding a little extra air, so that what little leaks out should not make a difference. you will be amazed at how quickly you will be able to do this after awhile.

most kites now have a one way valve to inflate and an open valve to deflate.

Happy surfing fella

Paul

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Re: Inflating a kite with ball type valves

Postby moo-mop » Thu Nov 14, 2013 7:26 pm

I rotate the strut to get the valve pointing down before pulling out the hose. Gravity will get the ball pretty much in place before you remove the hose. Works for me anyway (more or less).
With small struts I think you'll always lose a little air and they won't be super firm though(?)

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Re: Inflating a kite with ball type valves

Postby nafets » Fri Nov 15, 2013 12:56 am

And how stiff should the sturds be? Like really stiff, and they can be a little soft, as long as they keep their shape?

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Re: Inflating a kite with ball type valves

Postby L0KI » Fri Nov 15, 2013 2:27 am

Struts should be as stiff as you can get them depending on their diameter, super skinny needs more pressure.
9PSI seems to be a good useable number for most kites.
The gravity trick works good for the ball valves, but being quick with the hands makes any old valve work.
You can also pinch the valve down below the end while you insert the plug.

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Re: Inflating a kite with ball type valves

Postby Clew In » Fri Nov 15, 2013 4:39 am

Oldnbroken wrote:Struts should be as stiff as you can get them depending on their diameter, super skinny needs more pressure.
9PSI seems to be a good useable number for most kites.
The gravity trick works good for the ball valves, but being quick with the hands makes any old valve work.
You can also pinch the valve down below the end while you insert the plug.

Once you pinch and shut them a few times its will seem easy. Or it does to me anyway.

Rock On!

Clew In

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Re: Inflating a kite with ball type valves

Postby GregK » Fri Nov 15, 2013 7:47 am

If turning the strut to orient the valve down so the ball falls in place doesn't solve your problem ( some balls fit so poorly they still leak even when in place ), then ...
- if you are right handed, use your left hand for pump nozzle removal, and visa versa
- before removing the pump nozzle, make sure you have the valve plug firmly gripped by the thumb and forefingers of your dominant hand and poised in position right beside the pump nozzle
- use thumb and forefingers of the non-dominant hand to remove the pump nozzle, and the smaller fingers of the non-dominant hand to clamp down on the strut to keep it from moving
-nozzle out, plug in should be executed as an almost simultaneous motion

It will get easier with practice.


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