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Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

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cretan_runner
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Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby cretan_runner » Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:08 pm

I own a 2009 9m Slingshot Fuel which I bought in mid-May...
From the first sessions I noticed "tears" on the cloth around the central bladder. I didn't pay much attention, but as the months were passing the "tears" increased slightly.
I attach some pictures of the "tears" to tell me your opinions if I must start to worry...
Also, is it normal for the cloth to have so much damage in less than 6 months use..?
In my homespot we ride mainly with Fuels and my kite has the most damage of all, in fact only I, face this problem... And I take care of my kite, the time I don't use it I deflate it...
Can I do something with the warranty..?
If someone from Slingshot is reading this forum, can he help me..?
Here are the pictures:
Attachments
tear2.jpg
tear1.jpg

cretan_runner
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Re: Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby cretan_runner » Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:35 am

Nothing..???? :-? :-?

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Re: Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby panchito » Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:23 am

Easy repair

Clean the area with 99% alcohol & a piece of cloth

1) cut some round patches of same color spinnaker ( available at any kite shop ) or

2) some patches of tear-aid type A ( same used to repair bladders ) or

3) apply a few drops of urethane glue ( you can get it at www.kitefix.com )

1+2 press hard or if going with nr, 3 , leave it dry for 24 hrs

And you are ready to go riding

If the hole(s) are thru the material , apply the patches or the glue from both sides :wink: ( but remember to clean the other side too with alcohol ...

Saludos


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sq225917
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Re: Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby sq225917 » Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:38 am

Your kite looks like that because you leave it flapping on the beach.

cretan_runner
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Re: Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby cretan_runner » Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:46 pm

sq225917 wrote:Your kite looks like that because you leave it flapping on the beach.
I admit that in the first sessions I was leaving my kite flapping on the beach...
But after I noticed the first signs of damage I put my harness on the central bladder and it stopped flapping...
The matter is, that everyone in my beach is leaving his kite flapping when they don't kite and they don't face this problem, at least at this grade...

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Re: Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby BWD » Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:09 pm

Flapping on the beach.
Hmmmm.

REALITY:
Most kites are gonna be left flapping on the beach at least 1/3 of the sessions they are used.
Maybe not all day, but for a few minutes every session and an hour or so on many sessions.
That is just a fact, it is going to happen.
SS used to err on the heavy side, now they are off to the other side, with most other brands -too light!

Quality gear should last 200 sessions, minimum, assuming no abuse.

But how much flapping per session is "abuse"?

15 minutes? -no way! launch someone, check your lines, scope the conditions, land someone, and there's your 15 minutes.

1 hour? Could be, but it is too forseeable that things will happen often that result in this, so the kites should be stronger!

2 hours? Probaby careless or abuse. Get the stuff put away, or get on the water, unless you just don't care!

All day flapping? Definitely abuse of the kite.

I like my 09 fuel but don't like to think about how fragile the canopy seems.
Flies pretty darn good though!

Anyway, they could only make the kites a hair tougher (to my knowledge) without really making them heavy. And like any sail, if you leave it flapping too long, it will self destruct even if it is heavy. so be careful.

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Re: Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby Bigdog » Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:45 am

Some fabrics have a coating that does this and looks like crap but is still great. Stop worrying and kite like len10.

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islandstylen
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Re: Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby islandstylen » Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:05 am

maybe i need glasses .i fail to see tears in that material. I am sure they are there, i'd be well pissed at that. maybe you got some shitty material. have you contacted SS?

cretan_runner
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Re: Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby cretan_runner » Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:46 am

islandstylen wrote:maybe i need glasses .i fail to see tears in that material. I am sure they are there, i'd be well pissed at that. maybe you got some shitty material. have you contacted SS?
The wear is obvious I think... Just look closer...
I haven't contacted SS, I don't think they will be happy to replace kites with this kind of wear.

Some days ago I saw the Nomad, one guy brought it here...
Well this kite looks really bombproof...!!!
The cloth is so strong that you think you can't cut it even with a knife...

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Re: Tear around the central bladder on a Fuel.What do you think?

Postby Me3 » Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:55 pm

You are an idiot!!!!

If you buy a TV and the remote stops working what do you do?

1. Take it back to the shop?
2. Contact the manufacturers custom service department?
3. Use it for 6 months then go on the internet, post on a forum and hope that some one from Sony might just drop by and post a replacement unit to you?


If you answered 1 and/or 2 you are not an idiot.

If you answered 3 you are an idiot.

Why you think issues with a kite are different from issues with any other product you buy is beyond me. If you have a problem, take it straight back to the shop that you bought it from [b]IMMEDIATELY[/b] as you notice the problem. Don't keep using it for another 6 months! If you can not take it back to the shop then email or telephone them about the problem and have them liaise for you with the local sales/dealer representative. If you can not do this or get no satisfaction from this course of action then contact the MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY. If after doing all this you have not been satisfied with the efforts of the dealer and manufacturer to resolve your problem THEN go to the internet to bitch and whine in the hope that you can persuade them to see your side of things. In fact go see a lawyer first and see if they can't get you what you want. Internet bitch whine last, everything else first. Comprende?

Bypassing steps 1 and 2 and jumping straight to 3 is the action of a nice person!

Chances are, if you had taken it straight to the shop as soon as you saw the damage you would have been flying around on a different and undamaged Fuel for the last 6 months you prick!!!!

*sorry having a bad day and I have no patience for world class idiocy.


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