Don't just use a biner for the leash. If it goes a$$ up, you won't be able to release the kite under tension. Which is also why I don't think having the whole mess hanging from your wrist is a good idea.

I understand the bar. Just saying not having instant control of brakes is not good. Having to yard a leash or pull a trim strap in and out to adjust brakes is pretty hinckey. If you're obsessed with experimenting with bars on FB foils on a budget, at least get a used bar with a center line, trim strap, leash with safety, and chicken loop with safety. Have fun but be careful.

krumly

Quote:

Originally posted by krumly If you're obsessed with experimenting with bars on FB foils on a budget, at least get a used bar with a center line, trim strap, leash with safety, and chicken loop with safety. Have fun but be careful. krumly

That is basically what my bar is and it has a a center brake adjuster. Yeah thinking about it, staying with the wrist leash is safer than a biner. wrist is just one quick tug on the velcro tab and I am free. There should not be any major load on that line since it is only connected to the brakes and the kite will be bowtied unable to fly deployed that way. Unless I run the kite into a moving object like a car, bike, lawnmower, and then all bets are off regardless..

Thanks allot for all your input guys!

UPDATE: I have had one short flying session (post work run to park and fly for an hour) with the home-made cross over bar.

IT WORKS!! I tried the std Ozone bar on the 8m Pepper2 previously and the kite just did not turn well, turns took the entire window and made trying to fly a nightmare. The kite just wants a bit of brake to really come around.

SO, I looked at pictures of other cross overs, this thread and came up with the set-up pictured below. Please excuse the knots, this is a rough up. (click images for full size)
Closeup of bar and cross over pulleys/lines:

Shot of cross over and lines out to kite:


SO total investment was:

• Ronstan series 20 orbital block x2. These blocks came with 30" of lashing which was perfect to make a link thru my existing pulley joining the Series 20's.
  
• 5ft of basic 1/8 poly line. Only used a few feet.
  

The entire assembly installs with 2 larks heads and a "two half-hitch" knot. I have also built in a provision to link the pulleys to the bar ends for my next testing session.

RESULTS: Initial flight was not very good and all of 2 min, the brake lines were to tight and had the trailing edge deformed. The kite just did not want to get moving in the light air. I shortened my power lines a knot and this set-up works GREAT on the pepper2!!

As mentioned before, bar only the kite could barely make a full 180* turn from apex to ground in 3-5mph winds, having no brake input just did not work. With the cross-over installed the kite can loop and make 2 full loops from apex to ground! The kite is a joy to fly on this set-up. I put in a full hour of flying on bar and harness and it was a pure joy. The kite now turns and keeps <2ft radius circle with the inside wingtip. Not quite spinning on a tip, but not bad for a 1st try with an 8m. I was able to do figure 8's, upturns, down turns, fly straight down the power window and make a turn out the side. The kite would go where I wanted when I wanted. Landing the kite and kite killer braking was solid. A 2" pull on the center line produced enough brake to stop and land the kite, pulling more would invert the kite and bring it down inside out.

So I am very happy with the results so far. As mentioned my next testing I will try connecting the pulleys to the bar ends to see if it produces more brake effect.:wee:

DOOD you NEED a buggy/landboard with that kind of terrain.
<3 the pepper

Quote:

Originally posted by dandre DOOD you NEED a buggy/landboard with that kind of terrain. <3 the pepper

Yah I know I know, Todd has buggied that park in his Sinner's Prayer video. The problem is it is a public park that is very busy with bikers, walkers and dogs. What you do not see is the walking paths criss-crossing that area.

On low wind cloudy days I could probably get away with it, but if the wind is up 8mph+ then the field is covered with other kiters also as it is the only open spot with decent wind in a 45min drive. If the sun is out at all it is wall to wall pedestrians. I get nervous just flying static as many peopleare not even looking where they are going and start walking right toward my lines as I fly...

Video update!

Put a small video together, try not to laugh at the vid quality, editing or flying. Wifes Cam is not that great, I am working on getting a Gopro here soon...

Winds did not cooperate, was just a bit high and gusty for my to put the 8m up, so I ended up flying the buster 3.3 Already a smaller quicker kite it is tough to really see the difference the cross over makes until the last video where the change is exponential..

Going to try and link and make playable in this post. (Indigo usually fixes for everyone, but if it does not work, drop me a U2U telling me how to and I will fix it?)




I need to work on cleaning up the lines for the bar end cross over and tweak with line lengths, it definitely produced the most brake input by far. That buster was almost spinning on it's centerpoint! Winds were 5-8mph never steady at one speed for more than a min tops.

So winds came bck up and stayed int he raneg best for the 8m. Sprinted to the park after work for a quick session.

After the last trip I did a bit of re-rigging. The center pivot line had been bottoming out on the pulley, so I put the original pivot line back and took the pulley off. I used the original pulley lashing and tied it into loops so that I can larkshead each pulley onto the original center line. The added length there meant making my power lines and the cross-over all much longer. I also moved the link point farther up on the power lines to compensate.

Ready to fly

It FLEW GREAT! By adding the pink between the pulleys and the power lines it adds in some exponential pull on the brake lines. That 8m dances in the air now. I had it pivoting on a wingtip without full bar throw. I flew for about 30min straight on the bar and it was a total dream. I could put the kite where I wanted, when I wanted. Brake work well, I could reach up and pull the center line a bit and back the kite to the ground. Kite killer would invert the kite no problem.

I tried to take video with my phone but it is 90* off and not that good I will work on editing tomorrow...

Quote:

Originally posted by lamrith I honestly am not sure about the handles on strop idea, just does not seem as simple as the bar. I also see most kite skiers using the bar? I do plan to go Depower, not sure when, maybe spring, so need to start getting used to a bar, hoping the added brake will make my kites more responsive while I get adjusted to a bar. That bar I show has a chicken loop with release on it and I also have a a QR on the harness as well. Pretty easy to pop either release with a hand still in the center of the bar keeping the kite under controll. What makes you think the layout will not work. Not challenging you, just asking honestly. I based the layout off the PKD design(picture attached), just the pulleys attach to the bar from the center not the bar ends. I layed the bar out and locked down the center line and did some measurements. From dead center to full turn one way puts 6" of pull on the brake line going to the pulley, which will then pull 6" on the brake line. Not a ton, but should help speed up turns. This is mostly something for the 8m to help it around on the bar.

Funny, that pic looks familiar...

Thought that was a stock pkd photo. Added your Info to the image, and updated the post.

No real worries, just funny to recognize my driveway :P. The stock bar comes with a diagram that indicates the use of a safety strap but does not include one. I add one to my orders.

Nice Angus,
Wonder if PKD sort of assumes you will be converting from handles and have KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s to swap over?

Gotta give credit where credit is due. Things like adding the KK to make a complete package tells me why you come so highly recommended on this forum ;-)

I finally had a chance to DL and rotate the video from last week. Pardon the lack of quality, it is taken with my phone..

Wind was about 5mph sustained, toward the end fo the day up near 8mph. The video shown was lower 5mph range. As you can see it really spins pretty quick for a big 8m!

Probably the last I do with it other than cleaning up the lines. I have a pair of extensions on the cross lines. Need to clean that up and I think it is done!

Lamrith .... you have that kite tuned pretty nice .... what do you think guys... dare we nickname him "DR.PEPPER"

Quote:

Originally posted by Bigbear97e Lamrith .... you have that kite tuned pretty nice .... what do you think guys... dare we nickname him "DR.PEPPER"

HAHA Thanks Bigbear. As much as I would like to take credit, this pepper2 has flown like a dream since the day I bought it from BigKid. It is a true joy to fly it.

All I have done is rig up a homemade crossover set-up using pictures of various mfg set-ups and images in this thread..