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How to tune a North 5th Line bar

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NYKiter
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How to tune a North 5th Line bar

Postby NYKiter » Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:38 pm

Just purchased a 2010 Rebel (hope the kite lives up to its god-like reputation).
I'm going to assume the bar is all stretched out and could use some advice.
:whisper:
I see the outside lines are like most kites, but the center lines consist of a Big Y line and a smaller Y line above the bigger one.

How are these tuned?
Should ALL lines be the same length when the kite is fully powered and held against the chicken loop?
If the centers are severely stretched out and there are no more knots to lengthen the outside lines at the bar ends, do you begin to shorten the centers with knots?

If anyone has any links to North tuning I would appreciate it.
Cheers

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Re: How to tune a North 5th Line bar

Postby matth » Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:01 pm

The bar manuals for the last several years are on Norths web site.
My 2014 bar manual goes over 5th line tuning, they even give you a 5thline extension for stretch.

http://www.northkites.com/uploads/tx_vi ... 148066.pdf

I just recently checked the tuning on my 2012 Cad vectors. Something felt wrong, heavy bar pressure and reaching to far to depower.

They were 8" off, yes 8"

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Re: How to tune a North 5th Line bar

Postby NYKiter » Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:19 pm

Thanks!

Didn't think SS center lines would ever stretch but they did as well...
:cheers:
Last edited by NYKiter on Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: How to tune a North 5th Line bar

Postby Westozzy » Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:25 pm

Well all lines have to be equal length pulling back at the bar end as with any kite.

Just make sure there is some slight slack in that fifth line up to the main high Y when fully powered.

You will know the front lines have stretched again if this fifth becomes taught down the track.

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Re: How to tune a North 5th Line bar

Postby NYKiter » Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:27 pm

:thumb:

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Re: How to tune a North 5th Line bar

Postby Johnny Rotten » Wed Dec 04, 2013 1:52 pm

Awesome kite, still have mine.

Since it's getting older, check the stitching where the center "floating stut" is attached to the canopy closest to the leading edge. make sure the stitiching is not starting to separate from canopy. if it is ,it's REALLY easy to fix now, with a few hand stitches but much harder later.

The kite pulls on the stitches pretty hard in this area, and the strut is closed with the same stitches that are holding it together. If more than a few stitches let go BOOM! your strut and bladder will both need serious repair.

It's reinforced differently on the newer rebels, this was the first year they did the floating strut, so is the first weakpoint I found after 3 seasons of hard riding.

what westozzy said about bar tuning is spot on.
when pulling from the line side fully powered - all 5 lines same length,
When pulling from the bar side fully powered, 5th should be the stopper at the Y giving it a hair of slack below the Y

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Re: How to tune a North 5th Line bar

Postby NYKiter » Wed Dec 04, 2013 5:28 pm

wow...great input here. Will look at the strut straight away. Thank you.
:cheer:


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