Tips and Tricks to Repair Kites - add your experience!

[humandrive]

Are there any glues other than aquaseal that would work for regluing the valves to a bladder. I've had almost every valve come off of a kite, (not just the valve pealing back but the area of the bladder has pretty much torn off the bladder itself). So far I can't find aquaseal in my area and I don't want to spend +$200 on bladders and valves for a kite I didn't even pay $500 new.

[C_unit]

what do you do to valves that don't have stoppers in them

i have a caution 6 that i use for bombing days but it's hard to get it pumped up to the right pressure when you go to close the valve and it lets half the air out which it does in a nano second on the 1' long struts and even the le edge is hard to get good pressure in

[dow]

C-Unit, Check out www.u-stick.eu and buy some new valves with stoppers.

greetz
Dominique Kwaks
U-Stick Europe

[sleepymexi]

Does anyone know where to get the U-Stick valves for cheaper than $15 each? I have about 3 or 4 valves I'd like to replace on my spare/backup kites, and don't really feel like dropping $60+ on 4 valves. $5 - $10 is a more appropriate price point, if you ask me. It's just molded rubber and glue, afterall.

[MeafordBoarder]

Are there any glues other than aquaseal that would work for regluing the valves to a bladder. I've had almost every valve come off of a kite, (not just the valve pealing back but the area of the bladder has pretty much torn off the bladder itself). So far I can't find aquaseal in my area and I don't want to spend +$200 on bladders and valves for a kite I didn't even pay $500 new.

I have used something called Lepage ¨Extreme Repair¨ on all of my broken Fuel valves and it has worked rather well. If you cant find this (Got it in Home Hardware), what I did was bought a bunch of random adhesives that sounded about right (Waterproof, polyurethane/plastic bond, flexible) and just used a try-and-fail method do find one that worked...took about 3 tries.

One that works great but is more expensive is Glufix from the Kitefix line-any surf shop or kitefix.com

That isnt it´s intended use, but I put a thick bead of any of the adhesives on the valve, slide it through into the bladder, press it so it seals, then put a bead around the outside of the bladder, then flip the polyurethane flap over and press it all together.

If you need to get an adhesive off, Goo-Gone works great

[MeafordBoarder]

As for the U-Stick valves, I know theyre expensive, and I was in the same situation and needed to replace all of the valves on my Fuel (double the normal amount due to the 1pump!). And that just wasnt feasible as I had only bought the kite for $250!

My advice is if you have/can find a destroyed kite, get a bladder/valve off it, and follow my post on how to replace them.

It will run you about $3 each for the adhesive for the valve Im guessing, maybe a kiteshop can sell you a standard valve, dont know though

[eli_anderson]

first tip/trick,,,,FIND SOMEONE WHO'S DONE A MILLION REPAIRS, BUT THEM SHIT TONS OF BEER AND START LEARNING HOW..
I just fixed 6 kites last week...am out of tear air, got more coming...let me know if you want me to do it...$25/hr...and I'm pretty quick and haven't had to 'go back' on one yet!

valves are tough, find some good contact cements and a nice thin c-clamp and try until its solid...

[Hannay]

One pump strut repair video.

[skifly]

guys - fairly liquid or the equivilent does rot rubber type materials. have had it with ski bindings before on two identical bindings - one was tight and needed soap, but the other didnt and with approx the same use the one that needed soap perished first.

[chief_IMI]

...after replacing the LE-Bladder the 3rd time (Slingshot Octane, total 6 pealed off valves - it is really hot here in middle east) my advise is:
Buy a new kite!

For some of you will understand my thoughts.

Take your time and carefully!
Alex.
http://www.kiteboarding-oman.com