Power Kite Forum

kite turning by itself

metsag - 27-11-2009 at 09:39 AM

Bought about 3 weeks ago and had one great time
Bought a 3m Eolo Radsail
Flown on the beach and a gust picked me up and slammed me after which I let the kite go and it got full of water and sand . Now all of the sand is out but after the process ofuntangling everything I ended about with 2 or three tight lines in my one brake line and one in my other control line . Flown it thereafter and it keeps turning wanting to spin left . Im noticing I might pull on the brakes ( after landing on my face I guess thats normal , so it might be that I pull the one side more ) or do you think it could be those tiny knots

krumly - 27-11-2009 at 10:01 AM

Sounds like you didn't get the bridles untangled properly. Your description of 'tight lines' is a little confusing. Look to see if you have nay extra loops or knots worked into it. It's possible something may have slipped, but more likely you have an extra loop or two in there somewhere.

krumly

furbowski - 27-11-2009 at 10:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by metsag
or do you think it could be those tiny knots


2-3 tight brake lines on one side of the kite and only one on the other side?

sounds like the extra tight ones are on the left.

when the bridle is tensioned up, it should be all straight lines, no little hanging loops or extra knots in the lines anywhere but where they meet up with each other.

hopefully the bridle didn't get stretched and it just needs to be untangled a bit more...

and yeah... what tiny little knots :puzzled::puzzled:

indigo_wolf - 27-11-2009 at 10:59 AM

It sounds like the bridle lines got torqued enough that they formed little knots. Could you snap a picture of one of them? If they are what I think they are, I sometime get them when I am bringing in an SLK too fast.

If they weren't there before the incident, you definitely need to clear them. However, you need to do it without damaging the bridle line. A small (loom) pick, burnishing tool, or the smallest fid you can find might help you.

General picks (available at better hardware stores) look like this:


A loom pick (available at fabric stores) looks like this:


Burnishing tools (available at arts & crafts store)look like this:


Fids (available at marine/sailing supply stores) look like this:


Again, you want to undo the knots without shredding the bridle line.... so thin, but dull is better.

ATB,
Sam

metsag - 28-11-2009 at 09:47 AM

No the little knots formed due to untangling and not removing a knot or two that was a bit tight and now after flying is too tight

furbowski - 28-11-2009 at 11:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by metsag
No the little knots formed due to untangling and not removing a knot or two that was a bit tight and now after flying is too tight


you need to unpick the knots without damaging the line. you'll definitely need patience and you'll need tools like the ones mentioned above.

dragging your kite in a mix of sand and surf made things worse, imho.

if you can post or link to photos of the knots, you'll get better help.

indigo_wolf - 28-11-2009 at 11:38 AM

Oi.... if you weren't so far away, I'd offer to help in person. Have even managed to untangle Spectra micro line with cats helping.

Like Furb said.... a large chunk of it is patience, taking things slow , and walking away for a bit if you find yourself losing patience.

Definitely post pics if you can.

ATB,
Sam

furbowski - 28-11-2009 at 12:19 PM

do let us know if we've got it all wrong....

:bigok:

:evil:

furbowski - 28-11-2009 at 12:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by indigo_wolf
and walking away for a bit if you find yourself losing patience.
ATB,
Sam


:smilegrin: