Problems with NorthVegas leading edge tips bending at 90 deg

[Robbo]

Anyone else had this problem with North Vegas? 12m O7 Vegas. Pumped up the leading edge as hard as hell (maybe 7+psi) and still when I get hit by a gust or pull the bar in hard to power up, both tips on the leading edge at the last joint before the tip will bend at 90 degrees, the kite nearly collapses, then the tips straighten up again, it powers up again and then lurches forward.

All the strut bladders have just been replaced due to that defective design/manufacturing issue so it's not because of a soft strut or a soft leading edge.

Interesting to know if anyone else has had the same problem.

[Drande]

at what knots you use steering lines on the bar?
Maybe its because of owersheeting.
I ride them a lot and never had a problem like this if I understand it correctly.

Great kite for unhook.

[Isaac]

I've expereinced the exact same problem on my V07 12mt. Last time I experienced it, I found a soft strut.

Had the problem just this arvo, haven't checked the strut yet.

Perhaps re-check your struts, as it is possible that the replacement bladders are also faulty.

[Robbo]

Definitely not oversheeting. Struts are hard, so not leaking. I can easily bend it with my hand when it's lying on the beach on both sides. It acts as though the bladder has a twist in it but it doesn't. Seems the joint in the LE is just too soft. Just wonder if anyone has ever tried to fix something like this and how you would go about it.

[blowhard]

Not sure about your kite
BUT
The Waroo's are also prone to this
I had a steering strut go flat and didn't notice it.

When doing my preflight noticed that the threads where coming loose on the limp side and decided to check the other side to be safe and found some stitching loose on it as well
So my thought is there is a lot of stress on this point
keep an eye on it

[Toby]

not sure if it is the same thing, but I have parts of my tip bending when loading the kite at lift off. I jump to the right, so looking at my kite it is the left side. Once I pump it rock hard, the problem does not exist.

Vegas08 12+14

Dwight?

[zgur]

I had this happen on my 12m V7. The problem was my last strut was a bit soft, due to nipple on the strut leaking air ever so slowly..... After repairing the strut/nipple, problem went away.

Pumping up the struts super hard, all the way to 11psi on North pump, also helped (one of the many reasons I DON"T like 1/2 pumps, as it takes forever to get the right perssure in all the struts). Same with LE: I pump it up to 8psi on North pumps. I drop my kite a lot, and these pressures did not create any problems for me.

Looking forward to the 2008 Vegas kites (no 2 pump, plastic in the tip).

Good winds + waves, Zeev.

[kylek]

i experienced this, didnt love it. pumped it harder, both L.E. to 7.5 and struts to Spinal Tap like eleven and that solved it. Only on 12 though, no problem with 14 or 16.

[Robbo]

OK, will give it a try pumping LE harder. Makes me nervous though. North kites are notorious for blowing leading edges.

I've blown NINE leading edges on North kites.

When are North ever going to learn how to make kites that don't blow up???

There's a pretty bloody simple solution. STOP USING THAT STUPID FRENCH STITCH on the joins. Look at a Slingshot kite -- overlap the two pieces of material put 3-4 zigzag stitches across it and it doesn't break. Simple, effective.

But then again, I've never had much luck with North ever being interested in any user feedback.

After this one's done with, I'm back on Slingshot again for good. They listen, they care, they adapt. If anything goes wrong (which it rarely does) they sort it right away, no questions asked. I like that.

[Jan:)]

Its not the LE.
Its the last strut at the tips that has to be rigid.