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North kite 2014 inflation valve

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cglazier
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North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby cglazier » Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:46 pm

North has made a big improvement with their new twist lock inflation valve located in the middle of their 2014 kites. (Many of us did not like their old system where the deflation valve was at the kite tip).

The new valve allows easy pumping and quick deflation. :D

The problem is that it does NOT accept any common pump hose but it requires a special little plastic adapter. And only one of these adapters is supplied per kite. Without this tiny part, the kite cannot be pumped up. North should provide some spares.. I foresee this part being easily lost.

Just a suggestion to North.

:wink: CG

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Re: North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby BigPaul » Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:56 pm

Fully Agree

I had the chance to use a brand new demo kite the North Dice which I was looking forward too. Got down the beach and had to leave it on the sand in the end as I could not inflate the thing. I didn't see anything in the bag to help me pump it up?

Really don't like things that mean you need specialist kit. What would happen if you get down the beach and forget your pump or something. The chances of someone having another New north kite are slim.

The day I was there I guy had a couple or Rebels. tried all the fittings on his North pump but is was and earlier year so no chance!

Paul

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Re: North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby Babel » Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:59 pm

That is not correct. Try using the Cabrinha pump hose. It works like a charm without the adapter.

However, I am not sure if I am happy with the new valve. Try pumping the kite up to max in a quiet environment. If you close the valve afterwards, you will always hear a slight air noise. Only the complete closing with the cap stops that noise and the loss of air.

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Dan-at-Duotone
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Re: North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby Dan-at-Duotone » Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:10 pm

Some people have been confused by this and I guess it's understandable. Pretty much every hose will work with most of our new kites' inflation system. I have used Cabrinha, SS, and Naish pumps without issue. The only hose I had trouble with was, oddly enough, an older North hose which was a pain to get locked in and would then hiss air out once it was almost inflated. If you have this kind of issue with a particular pump it helps to have someone hold the hose in place and do the last few pumps with the inflate valve closed (don't twist the hose, just have the guy hold it). But as I said, this is generally not necessary.

There is an adapter that we are shipping out with our new pumps because the first batch of Rebels would have the hissing problem I describe above when paired with our new pump (they use a valve designed around our old hose connection, and apparently the new hose connection is a couple mm different allowing the air to hiss out. The newer valve, found on all subsequent batches of the Rebel and all our other kites, Vegas excluded, will work with pretty much every hose out there, with or without the adapter)
The adapter makes the connector on our new hose more like all the other random pumps on the beach, so if you have trouble with your new pump and new Rebel not working perfectly together, A. you can use most other pumps just fine, and B. you can get a small plastic adapter (it will not affect the ability of the pump to work with other kites... you can use the normal nozzles with the adapter just like normal. Basically you can glue the adapter onto the end of the hose and you won't even notice it. See attached photo) that will fix the issue. The adapters are free and should be available through any dealer. We are sending all new pumps with the adapter, as you do not need the adapter for most other pumps. However, if you want another adapter, all you have to do is ask your retailer. If you're in North America feel free to PM me and I'll send you one for free. As I said, though, they are only required with certain pumps and for the most part you will not need one.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me here.

-Dan
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Re: North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby Westozzy » Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:43 am

Dans right I ride a zephyr and still using an ozone pump, so just use the tube end, straight in, no probs. I have the connection but can't be fagged putting it on and off.

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Re: North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby max » Sat Oct 12, 2013 10:45 am

Westozzy wrote:Dans right I ride a zephyr and still using an ozone pump, so just use the tube end, straight in, no probs. I have the connection but can't be fagged putting it on and off.

Agree with Dan and Westozzy . . . I am using a no-name brand pump and it works fine.

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Re: North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby heinzbush » Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:15 am

Dan-at-North wrote: There is an adapter that we are shipping out with our new pumps because the first batch of Rebels would have the hissing problem I describe above when paired with our new pump (they use a valve designed around our old hose connection, and apparently the new hose connection is a couple mm different allowing the air to hiss out. The newer valve, found on all subsequent batches of the Rebel and all our other kites, Vegas excluded, will work with pretty much every hose out there, with or without the adapter)
-Dan
Dan - sorry just to make sure I fully understand this:

Are you saying the valve of a new 2014 North Rebel bought early in September is different from a 2014 Rebel bought later?

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Re: North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby markchatwin » Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:57 pm

I ran into this problem when I received the Dice as a demo from Ocean Air in Hatteras. When I got to the beach I couldn't pump it up. Then I remembered something I read on this forum somewhere - pump it up through the "out" valve. The out valve is at the wingtip so I had someone hold the LE, someone hold the hose tight to the valve and I pumped. Problem solved and stellar session :D

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Re: North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby Babel » Sat Oct 12, 2013 2:44 pm

Hey Dan!

Is it normal, that by closing the valve turning the ring to the left, the air loss will not stop completely?

Cheers!

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Re: North kite 2014 inflation valve

Postby FabsPH » Sun Oct 13, 2013 1:23 pm

so, I get the new pump thingy or a new pump with a new kite order?
Why the hell do they need to re invent the wheel ? stupid shit.

I ordered a 10 m Dice, but kite only,.. does this mean I am without pump? Why is there a valve that needs a special pump? who design this BS? Are you guys at North just total morons and so full of your self that .... f that, can't believe that.....
still hope the kite is awesome,.. but the pump and valve BS is absolutely ridiculous.
Shame on you North, shame on designers, shame on team riders who thought (great idea) not to say anything, ..or even worse, thought it was a great idea to piss everybody off with a new pump valve thingy.
WTF ,...

I like to sit in, in one of those meetings, when they made decision to just f with standards...
" Hey, Bob, I got an Idea: Let's make the valve sooo special and unique so no other than special North pump will inflate the kite." Jimmy says:" What an awesome idea Bob,... ""
Dushbag says" Yes,... can't believe it will work, people will buy it regardless, and we can charge them for it..." .. I think I have to kick myself in the nutts for that, Says dush#2
...oh wait, that's me paying 1K for a new kite


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