broken limbs - 24-1-2015 at 08:01 AM
Probably been discussed before but I have just started this sport and bought a 3.3 sting to start with and a 4.9 blade. The sting is beautiful and
really enjoying taking it out, but wanted to get into landboarding.I took the blade out to have a bash but all it does is spin? Any ideas? Should have
known something was up as I bought it secondhand. Great condition but had to spend four hours untangling the line as it was all spun together. Really
want to progress with this kite but the spinning is getting me nowhere!
ssayre - 24-1-2015 at 08:09 AM
Welcome! Start at bridle and make sure there are no tangles. Check flying lines and make sure they are not tangled together and check to see if they
are at equal length. If that checks out start with brake lines totally slack and see if it flies. Then tune the brakes by using knots on brake
leaders of handles. You are using handles?
robinsonpr - 24-1-2015 at 08:28 AM
Just started this sport and you're flying a 4.9 Blade?
I'd leave that baby in the bag and get plenty of hours under your belt with the Sting!
abkayak - 24-1-2015 at 08:48 AM
imo...that 4.9 is a great kite...real aggressive nasty kind of foil..yea it needs to be sorted out and it mostly needs to be respected... you better
pick the right times to launch it..i hope you got a ton of time on that sting...like a ton
make sure all the lines are equal length, mine never worked good on the bar it needs handles
broken limbs - 24-1-2015 at 08:59 AM
Thanks guys, will check the lengths. May also take the advice and leave it in the bag for a few more weeks and stay on the sting.
Bladerunner - 24-1-2015 at 09:09 AM
Welcome.
It is almost certain that you have issues with you brakes. Either the bridle is still tangled on one side ( the side it is spinning toward ) or your
brake lines are different lengths. Odds are extremely good that your brake bridle is still tangled somehow. Often after untangling it is still twisted
on itself where the cascade comes together.
As ssayre suggest eliminate the brake input completely after being sure your bridles are tangle free and the lines the same length . It should fly to
zenith and not spin when flying it 2 line on the front lines.
When properly tuned your brake lines should be slack with your handles in neutral with just a bit of an arc in them. When you apply the brakes you
should be able to stall the kite and back it down once the brakes are fully applied. You can adjust your brake length by using knots at your handles
or leader line on your brake bridle.
If this seller did not tell you your kite would arrive in it's own rats nest of lines you should contact him. There is a LOT of labour involved in
untangling a mess like that and time is money.
Your Blade holds the nick name " the widow maker " . It is a high lift kite that will send you into the sky very easily. Unfortunately it is too small
to float you back down. To land safely with one takes some REAL kite pilot skills since you must constantly create lift by redirecting the kite. That
said it will be a good engine for getting going on the board. Just keep it low and go! Give your Blade a lot of respect and it will give you a lot of
pleasure!
skimtwashington - 24-1-2015 at 12:16 PM
With a handle like 'Broken Limbs'.....what could go wrong?
Four hours to unwind a spin? It doesn't take anywhere that long to undo even a 100+ spins( by spinning handles).
I'm getting a feeling some info might be possibly
missing....possible. let's clarify.
Were Fly lines all unspun and separate before you launched kite? or RTL(ready to launch)?
Anyway....Yeah, check fly line length's to make sure they're
equal.
Then...
There is some times 'catch points'(knots)where fly line is attached to bridal where a bridal line will catch on the attachment knot... maybe even
(possibly) sometimes knots within the bridal cascade itself- where one line will catch to a another line in that cascade of that side. When you stake
it go down and pull canopy open and check that all bridal lines are separated ....one side looks symmetrical with the other.
Before you launch...simply pull back just enough so kite just lifts almost off the ground( trailing edge[bottom] is dancing or just touching ground),
and try to see that all lines are indeed separate. This is not so easy because very hard to see at that distance ...but look for geometric symmetry
between both sides.
IF you see a catch or something looks different on one side go down to canopy and release caught line(bridal). Repeat prelaunch hover. If it looks
good launch it.
SAFETY NOTE: Spinning kites may create a dangerous situation of uncontrolled power.
If kite gets into a spin you need to brake and drop it down to ground immediately...before too many spins(sometimes even on the ground... in strong
winds..... the kite may rise just off the ground and still continue to spin).
After a kite has too many spins you will lose all brake control and it may pull you with a mighty power(depends on if brake was on at all during
winding).The ability to apply or release brake tension is gone as both brake and power are wrapped together. People have been taken for an
uncontrolled ride if unable to quick release or let go of kite.
How many times did this thing spin around?
broken limbs - 24-1-2015 at 12:40 PM
Yes got the kite with lines and handles attached. When lying out the lines prior to launch i noticed they were twisted. I thought if i launched it i
could untangle. I launched and it just went into a spin. I then spent the time untangling and unhitched the kite. Once untangled i wrapped the line
back around the handles, each separately. I came home washed the kite down and left to dry. Today i took out and laid the kite and handles plus line
out and reattached. Now i may not have attached in the right place as i noticed the brake line was really hanging down when i tried to launch. I have
hd the lines off my sting to clean and reattached and it flys like a dream. I may not have attached right and when holding the bridles up i did think
that they were a bit long which i think i need to check out. Anyway i have unattached the lines again and am going to inspect the bridles and measure
the length and compare. I will also measure the lines to the handles and see that they match. I did notice that the lines attached to the handles was
abit sloppy with the knots so i think i may tie new knots equal distance on both handles and reattach the lines. I another question is that the line
is the nylon sort i believe? The sting has the nice dyneema? line on which is as smooth as silk. Could this affect the kite? should i replace the
lines with similar lines to the sting? Like you guys are saying may stick on the sting abit longer. The sting managed to rip the tendons off my
shoulder and so am a bit dubious about taking the blade out. Any thoughts?
volock - 24-1-2015 at 01:25 PM
Easiest way to check line length is get a stake/nail on a tree or wall/etc and connect all four lines there then walk backwards and check. Way easier
than measuring, and you can sometimes get the short line to stretch the little you need if it's only an inch or so.
skimtwashington - 24-1-2015 at 02:06 PM
Ah-ha!
I had a feeling you launched an already twisted lines kite. That in and of itself may likely have been the whole problem and you cannot assume you
have any problem at all, actually.
You should always have the kite lines untwisted before you launch. Twist handles while kite is down until lines are untangled before lift off.
Also...... it's better to ALWAYS keep lines attached when wrapping up kite OR cleaning(nothing more than drying and brushing, or at most a damp
sponging).
The flyline on your Blade is likely a Dyneema also..... but a different weave that may not be as smooth. Not all Fly line is same look or
feel(weave/quality/strength). I would leave line alone.
What can effect kite is lines that are not same length. A good preliminary check to see all four lines are same length would not be bad to do. After
that ....fly kite.
if all 4 lines are equal ..... both power lines will attach at ANY equal distanced knot on lead line (the line on your handle)...and brakes should
both also be attached on a knot the same distance from handle as the power lines.
But...
In used line there is stretch often, and commonly all 4 lines will not be equal length. The power lines may be longer than the brake. If ANY line is
longer... that differential( an inch or two may not effect flight, but 6 inches or a foot+....definitely!) must be taken up using handle lead line
attachment point, generally.
TWO WAYS TO DO THIS:
#1)
In other words if two lines (or any one line) are longer than the other two by- as example- let's say 8 inches.... you will attach those
LONGER lines on a knot 8 inches CLOSER to handle than where the knot is where you attached the other lines..if you can.
OR
#2)
....another way to adjust is to do reverse- and attach the shorter line(s) 8 inches(in this example) farther away from handle than the knot the other
lines are attached to.
Longer go closer
Shorter go farther
Sometimes the lead line of handles is too short to make adjustment so you nay need to tie on an extension piece to handle's lead line with a knot
point. Simple.
After all is equalized you still may need to play with adjustment a bit...maybe.
You simple want to easily be able to launch, land, zenith and move kite at any angle from you using brake input and release of that input.
If you can do that the lines are fine at the distanced knot they are on..
bigE123 - 24-1-2015 at 02:11 PM
What blade did you get? I have a 4.9 mkV and tbh I don't find it that aggressive, keep it in sensible wind. Blades do tend to tumble and wrap up as
they luff and fall, just be patient and double check for tangles in the bridle. Good luck and don't ever think a question is silly, we have all been
there and will help.
skimtwashington - 24-1-2015 at 03:02 PM
Doesn't the Blade V have an AOA(angle of attack adjustment)? This is supposed to make a big difference in the 'spirit' of this kite ...depending on
what knot you've adjusted it.
If Broken Limbs has a late model one-IV or V(I think both have AOA Adjuster?)...he needs to check and set it on right point on his bridal...low lift!
For now anyway...
bigE123 - 24-1-2015 at 03:09 PM
Agreed, I have mine on the middle setting, or one towards the kite if the wind is picking up. On the closest to the kite lowest AoA) the kite is
harder to take off.
skimtwashington - 24-1-2015 at 03:25 PM
broken limbs - 25-1-2015 at 07:14 AM
wow thanks guys for all your help. Going to work through each suggested point next week when i have some time. Thanks again, glad i joined this forum!