What signs should you look for when evaluating if a kite or lines are shot?

I hear a lot about a kite not being 'crispy' - when a kite looses crispiness does it loose some flying value?

And on the lines side - what do you look for (other than stretch?)

Quote:

Originally posted by stockton I hear a lot about a kite not being 'crispy' - when a kite looses crispiness does it loose some flying value?

As the coating breaks down it's ability to retain air/internal cell pressure will diminish. It'll still be flyable, but lose some of it's lower wind range at the level it was once capable of. Unless you are very familiar with the kite, it is probably unlikely you will notice it.

With water based kites, this will also mean that the kites ability to keep water out of the cells will diminish.

Over time, the nylon will also stretch, which will lead to a certain deformation of the original canopy/airfoil shape. How much you notice this will also depend on how familiar you are with the kite and how much time you spend flying the kite at the edge of it's performance envelope. I expect a loss in "performance" would be most noticeable to the racers.

Quote:

Originally posted by stockton And on the lines side - what do you look for (other than stretch?)

Lines will loose their "slickness" as the fiber coating wears away. Finer bits of grit will cling more readily to the lines. Increased binding when the lines have twists in them will lead to slower steering response. Lines will develop a certain "fuzziness" as the outer fibers abrade and break down. All of this will lead to increased friction and heat that will eventually lead to line breakage.

ATB,
Sam

Crispy usually refers to the quality of the material the wing is made out of. UV rays do degrade kites, so if a kite has not been flown much, but got inflated and sat on the beach regularly, its materials will have been somewhat weakened.(So beware any "flown once" kite that doesn't look absolutely amazing! Flown once doesn't say how many days it got sitting on the beach.) Crispy also refers to the ability of the fabric to repel water, due to it's coating. A waterlogged kite will weigh significantly more than a dry one, even when it's a LeadingEdgeInflatable kite. Water-repellence is more important if you are using a non-pump-up kite on the water, such as a FlySurfer(Ram-Air closed cell foil that will hold its shape) or a PeterLynn Twinskin(Closed cell foil).

Usually a kite that is "crispy" means it's not seen much use, regardless of how old it is.

To inspect lines, look for any knots or variance in the lines. any nicks or cuts on the sheathing of the line(exposing the core) will need to be replaced/repaired. Very hard to do on a ebay/online sale. If there is any worry that the lines might be worn to the point of danger, replace them. A lineset is not too pricey, and lines are definitely a failure-possibility.

Line stretch is easy to determine if you have hands-on, and easy to correct with a different knot attachment or by adding extensions to the other lines.


Check out places like fixmykite.com or airtime kite repairs, to learn what replacement can cost you on LEI parts(bladders, valves, hoses, etc.) it can often be a good deal to buy a wing in great shape but a busted bladder or valve.

Where are you at in the world, perhaps we can help direct you to locals to give you hands-on help?

Aw, jeez, It took me too long to type up my reply and sam beat me.

Thanks for the replies,

I'm not in need of any specific repair at the moment, I was just wondering what the signs are that I should be watching for and i knew the wisdom would be found here!

To answer your question - I'm in the vancouver area.

Vancouver, BC = lots of locals

With kite lines I look for the fuzz. When my lines break it's always in the fuzziest part of the line. I'll buggy with fuzzy lines, but if a fuzzy line set has a failure it's done. Scrap it.

Philip

http://vimeo.com/29221581

Excellent, a video tutorial! Look forward to seein it once vimeo is done processing it!

done

Ha! Those are pretty good signs that the lines are done! :bouncy:

i consider this, the doubt-phree level of confidence, that the lines are shot.

For some reason, I am reminded of this joke:

A software engineer, hardware engineer and department manager
were on their way to a meeting in Switzerland. They were
driving down a steep mountain road when suddenly the brakes
failed. The car careened out of control, bouncing off guard
rails until it miraculously ground to a scraping halt along
the mountainside. The occupants of the car were unhurt, but
they had a problem. They were stuck halfway down the mountain
in a car with no brakes, and the weather was getting bad.

"I know" said the hardware engineer. "I've got my Swiss army
knife with me. I can strip down the car's braking system,
isolate the fault, fix it, and we'll be on our way."

"No," said the manager. " Let's schedule some meetings,
propose a Vision Statement, formulate a Mission Statement,
define Achievable Goals, and through a process of Continuous
Improvement, find a solution to the Critical Problems and
we'll be on our way."

"Wait," said the software engineer. "Before we do anything,
shouldn't we push the car back to the top of the mountain
and see if it happens again?"

Philip

Quote:

Originally posted by pbc For some reason, I am reminded of this joke: A software engineer, hardware engineer and department manager were on their way to a meeting in Switzerland. They were driving down a steep mountain road when suddenly the brakes failed. The car careened out of control, bouncing off guard rails until it miraculously ground to a scraping halt along the mountainside. The occupants of the car were unhurt, but they had a problem. They were stuck halfway down the mountain in a car with no brakes, and the weather was getting bad. "I know" said the hardware engineer. "I've got my Swiss army knife with me. I can strip down the car's braking system, isolate the fault, fix it, and we'll be on our way." "No," said the manager. " Let's schedule some meetings, propose a Vision Statement, formulate a Mission Statement, define Achievable Goals, and through a process of Continuous Improvement, find a solution to the Critical Problems and we'll be on our way." "Wait," said the software engineer. "Before we do anything, shouldn't we push the car back to the top of the mountain and see if it happens again?" Philip