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switchkites
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Postby switchkites » Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:09 pm
A bladder twist can cause a proper-built kite to present asymmetrical and fly off-center.
Here is a quick how-to video to fix.
Cheers!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/oUpQLDgeYYQ
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NYKiter
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Postby NYKiter » Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:13 pm
A company public service announcement for problematic switch kites?
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switchkites
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Postby switchkites » Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:42 pm
NYKiter:
Bladder twists are not brand specific and generally rare. It is good to know how to fix them.
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Peter_Frank
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Postby Peter_Frank » Wed Mar 12, 2014 11:16 pm
Awesome to know
This is an issue that can happen on ALL kites - especially those without one-pump
I usually took all the air out, "shook" the strut or bladder in order to try to get the bladder to put itself straight.
This sometimes work, other times it can be really difficult and you have to try over and over...
So nice to know how it can be corrected, as I did not know this method, thank you
Peter
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NYKiter
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Postby NYKiter » Wed Mar 12, 2014 11:52 pm
Better to deflate all the way, inflate 10% and then use a 'popping' compression motion with a flat hand and repeat twice before total inflation. Twisting doesn't always solve the problem.
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robertovillate
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Postby robertovillate » Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:35 am
If your kite has a light colored leading edge here's a little trick I've used in the past:
With the LE bladder removed from the kite, scribe a dark line on it from one end to the other with a "sharpie" marker. I usually use the inflation valve as a baseline for the scribe line.
I also mark each end of the bladder with corresponding up or down orientation.
bladder should be dry and well coated with talc
when you pull the bladder (flake it in 18" folds) into the leading edge you can watch to see if the bladder is feeding nicely. It always helps to have an extra hand with this procedure.
Once your bladder is in place you can inflate slowly with light pressure to see how things are aligning. If you can see thru the LE fabric you can see the scribe line and whether it is in good position. You can leave all your retrieving lines attached at this stage. Primary objective is to get it in straight.
If you have more than a 1/2 to 3/4 bladder rotation you need to start over, especially with single pump bladders obviously. If you have a complete sausage twist you'll rupture the bladder if you inflate too much. Don't force anything...just start over and try to get it in straight.
If you have a dark leading edge then I suggest having a friend pull the retrieving line while you feed the bladder carefully is your best bet. I have done this alone many times by pinning the kite to the ground and setting up a pully system at the wingtip so I can pull the line and feed the bladder by myself.
Some kites are easier than others depending on the curvature and size of the LE. Sometimes it can be maddening, other times it goes smoothly.
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GregK
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Postby GregK » Thu Mar 13, 2014 4:52 am
The problem with inserting a LE bladder by pulling the end of the bladder in with line is you rely on a triangle of tension between the edges of the accordion pile of bladder going in and one single point at the tip of the bladder, which provides very little rotational control of the tip as it travels down the LE pocket.
The solution is to use a thin, flat ( about 2 - 3 cm wide - a little narrower than the opening at the pocket's tip ) and long ( about 40 cm ) tool ( plastic or stiff cardboard ) onto which the tip of the bladder is fixed securely to feed the tip along the LE pocket and pull the bladder past the zipper and into the pocket.
You hold the flat tool during the entire movement, so you can feel its orientation through the fabric, control it and avoid any tip rotation.
I've been using this kind of tool for over two years now with 100% success. LE bladder twists from insertion are eliminated.
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robertovillate
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Postby robertovillate » Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:26 am
GregK wrote:
I've been using this kind of tool for over two years now with 100% success. LE bladder twists from insertion are eliminated.
I've used this method successfully as well...if & when I have access to such a long flat object. If it's a big kite with a really long LE you need something that can be controlled while you "shimmy" it thru the LE to the wingtip ... and sometimes you just have to get by with the tools available (or not available). Good to know as many techniques as possible.
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naishdude
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Postby naishdude » Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:11 am
interesting subject,
Thx
Dude
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Peter_Frank
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Postby Peter_Frank » Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:11 am
Interesting points indeed.
But I think most of you are missing the original posters point here....
You DONT want to take your bladder out, if not needed.
Especially on one pump kites, you also have to dismantle the whole thing at every strut - but even the feat of pulling a single pump bladder out and put it in, is not just something you do in a few minutes (as you also need a huge amount of space - not easy to find, or a helper)
So switchkites shows us a (not known for me at least), way to correct slightly twisted bladders easily and on the spot
This is priceless information IMO, great
As we all know, sometimes "straight" bladders can get a bit twisted suddenly, even without having had the bladder out
Good post, thanks
Peter
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