do you have to remove the lines from the kite when you perform a mixer test???? I want to attempt my first mixer this weekend, kinda scares me but, I think it needs to be done. Is the whole idea that all the knots line up evenly??? Or is there a bit more to it???? The manual online and the videos I watched really don't make a black and white explanation other than tell you what happens when you move a knot.

There is a great Flysurfer vid out there for this and from what I gather no, you do not need to remove the mixer test. Let e know what you run into - I'll be doing the same with my FSers this weekend since we're fresh outta wind.

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Got word from the missus that our summer vacation plans include an extended weekend in Saskatoon. Seems a meet up would be in order?
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If I can find that vid I'll post it up. Someone might beat me to it.

KITESPORT is the vimeo user who posted the FS videos, the mixer test and Mirror Factory.

here is their vimeo page with the videos on it. I know it won't answer all your questions, but hey, if it can answer at least one of them.... ;D

http://vimeo.com/user735781

No you don't have to remove the lines.

This might help ...



Also, refer to the Speed3 manual for the technique - there's something in the older manuals (maybe the Speed2 or they may have fixed it by then, can't remember) that gives the impression that the ELCs have to line up - they dont. The important thing is the knots at the A & Z-main line up!

I attempted the mixer tonight, but must be missing something. I pulled everything and there were a couple knots not lining up. Next I did the same on the other side and it was different. I went back to the other side and tried it again for another comparison, and got a different result. Maybe putting a nail into the ground through the loops like the manual shows with a pencil??? It would be easier with a second person. Also If I adjust one knot and everything lined up do you still have to adjust everything accordingly??? Really don't want to adjust it imprperly and have it fly worse than before.

What's important is getting the knots on the A- and Z-main to line up ...

... what I did was LarS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s Head a line to both the front and rear line ELC then looped that around a solid object. That allowed me to put tension on the lines while lining up the A- and Z-main knots. Then, tension the B & C-main knots with you pencil thing, and you'll see if they're out. Do it several times till you get the same 'errors' so you know you're doing it right ...

A and Z adjustment is not done through the mixer. B and C are adjusted relative to A in the mixer test.
I have a few posts about this and confirmed with john at powerzone. If there is a difference between A (front lines) and Z (back lines) note the difference, which will most likely be A is longer than Z, you adjust the black line above the trimmer that the front lines are attached to make up for the difference.

That's relative line length though AD, not actual mixer test - it doesn't matter what A & Z are relative to each other - all the mixer test is concerned with is setting B & C relative to A & Z which is why you tension the lines THEN line up A- & Z-main knots ...
Of course, you should still check line lengths too :D

Assuming I've understood it all correctly :o

Check all the line lengths then set up like that. You can see how you can adjust the A & Z-main to line up on each other easily, then tension all the lines together to check B & C to line up.
Don't forget to make sure the WAC line is removed

I used the exercycle cos it's bloody heavy

I have a Speed 2 19m and I have my settings at C-4,B-2. Excellent setting to prevent front stalls...my kite is so stable at that setting. Not sure what size you have or if it's different for different sizes, but just wanted to share that. Also I just set B & C relative to A when doing the mixer test. I did not concern myself with Z.

If you haven't already, reach out to John at PZ...he's the man when it comes to everything FS.

Yeah John is definitely the guru here. I never asked any other questions other than here. (I have a 12m by the way) Today I tuned the kite. Actually quite simple process when you understand what to do. The B and C were shorter than A and Z by about 2-3cm (I do believe that John tuned it close to that when I had him tune it for me) . The B and C were a tad different than each other on the right side of the kite. Not sure if it was the correct thing to do but, I adjusted both sides so that all four knots lined up equally. Haven't tried it out just yet to see if it worked. I marked out were the settings were before in case I screwed it up. Here's the steps I took:
1) Released the WAC line from hard/soft steering.
2) lined up both A&Z knots
3) larks head knot a string to the lines by ELC'S and anchor to stake (thanks Kami for this tip)
4) Ensuring the A&Z knots were still lined up, I pulled everything tight.
5) I adjusted both the B&C knots accordingly till all the knots lined up.
6) I repeated everything on the other side.
7) Once complete, I double checked both sides in order again... all seemed the same as the first, so I assumed I was complete.
8) Reattached WAC line and packed up the kite.

Total time from unroll to packup 45 min-1hr

Hopefully this worked and is adjusted in a way that is more compatible with my skills. It was fine in the snow, the way it was setup, but when I'm trying to focus on a new skill, I think a more stable setting will suit me. I'll let you guys know how it handles now. I think they are calling for about 12kts tomorrow.:Ange09:


edit: Its funny Kami I never saw your illustration till just now. Spot on to what I did. Saved me, trying to get my wife with a rolled ankle to come help me.

Took the kite for very brief spin. Too early to tell for sure, as the winds may have been the culprit. I managed to get riding on the atb in low gusty winds. At the high end of the gusts it sat in the sky effortlessly. When the wind was low It was backstalling while fully depowered. When I caught a wingtip I had to keep the kite fully depowered and run backwards hard to get it to reverse launch. When I was heading left and changed direction to go right, the left wingtip would fold over almost collapsing. The same thing happened when I changed from right to left except the right wingtip would collapse. I had the hard soft steering set in the middle. I was gonna set it more towards soft, but it started raining while I was doing that. I never got the chance to see if it was better that way. It definitely felt closer to what I'm use to though. Hopefully it was the win conditions, and not my tuning.

Sounds like the wind was the culprit - I would try it again in more consistent wind.

Hard/Soft steering ... keep it in the middle or closer to Hard IMO cos in the beginning, you need the feedback - you'll really feel when you sheet in and the kite starts to bite. Setting it Soft, you loose that and it becomes easier to stall it - especially when the wind is light.

I've set my FSers in the middle ... I had the SA on full soft but I like how it flies and feels now much better - especially the feedback when it's about to luff.

I might need to adjust the mixer a tad.... Still only in about 8-9 knots I tried a low wind test while static.The kite seems to want to turn gradually to the right. Almost like its a tad out of alignment. Should of tried earlier today in 12-15 knots, but I spent the afternoon teaching my brother how to fly my 3.5m imp and 6m access. :dunno:

Check your line lengths first, that's usually the cause of turning.
Mixer meddles with the shape of the airfoil primarily and while it may affect turning, check the easy things first