North kites-purpose of the blue ring?

[salvino]

I have e new Neo, 2017. Fantastic kite. However, I can't get it straight in my head about inflate/deflate in regards to that blue ring.

Does it move/rotate?
Is it supposed to?

I understand how the pump nozzle rotates 90* once connected and when disconnected. But I don't understand if blue ring is supposed o be rotated

[Lokihel]

The blue 'ring' inside the valve is supposed to be rotated. It opens and closes the valve, so please don't try to inflate without having rotated the ring first.

If you look at your kite there is a round patch on the canopy near the valve with instructions regarding the valve. It tells you which way to turn to inflate and deflate.

[salvino]

Yes the blue part inside the inflation nozzle is to be rotated. This I understand.
My confusion is the outer blue ring that is around the entire valve.
This seems to be solely for repairs, but the instructions were confusing

[Lokihel]

The only parts you should be be turning are the cap and the inner blue ring.


Everything else stays as is.

[jakemoore]

KISS. Why more and more over engineered kite inflate valves these days?

Shouldn't kites inflate valves be designed to be simple to figure out and sand proof? The operation should require no explanation. Not a criticism of the OP but of the kite valve design itself.

Soon they will require us to download a valve app that will never be compatible with iOS 17. A new quiver of iKites required if you want that new iPhone.

[Dan-at-Duotone]

That outer ring tightens against the base of the valve/bladder, snugging it against (sandwiching) the leading edge so the bladder cannot twist inside the LE you happen to overtighten the cap when closing or opening the valve. Before we had that ring we had reports mostly from schools that beginners were twisting the valve too hard, twisting the bladder and causing it to blow. It wasn't a huge issue but we felt it was a simple solution and it seems to have worked.


As far as the inner ring, it should open as you lock the hose into the LE, making inflation easier, then close with the same motion with which you remove the hose to hold the air in.

Jakemoore- I agree with you on the KISS, however I remember the year we switched to the Airport valve, as much as I was frustrated by what I perceived as the added complication, by the end of my first demo I did not want to pump up any more Vegas' (which were produced before we implemented the new AirPort and therefore had the old inflate system) because it was noticeably more effort and slower. I think once you use the new system you realize that it (along with many other new inflation systems out there) has a benefit and isn't really any more complicated.

If anyone has any other questions on this or anything else you can put it up here or feel free to PM me.

-Dan

[jakemoore]

Dan-at-north it's cool that you are on the forum. Respect to you and your mag-safe-2.0 valves. And also to your new valve-less kites too. Ace!

[salvino]

Dan,
Thanks for support and feedback. The North Neo is really well made- I just didn't want to be messing it up from beginning.

Another buddy just bought one after seeing me fly it! Infectious!