I've been having a few issues with my 8m Synergy, and I'm wondering if there might be something wrong with it, or if I'm not tuning/flying it right.

Chances are that I'm just flying it in too little and too choppy wind, but I'd like to have an experience 'Arcophile' check it out to be sure.
Here are some of the problems I've been having:

• Bow-Ties or stalls during launch.
  
• Stalls and luffs continually.
  
• Does not stay at zenith without input.
  
• Turns inside out A LOT.
  
• Uneven power/pull.
  

I've been flying it with my ATB in winds gusting up to around 17mph, but without a constant base. Could too little wind be the only problem?

PM me the next time you see some significant wind coming and I can meet up at OSP and take a look at it in flight.

I usually have time at lunch, otherwise it will have to be on the weekend since we had the time change.

Dave

17mph isnt much with an 8m arc...

how is the wind signature where you are flying it? (where are you flying it?)... gusty wind will cause the kite to surge forward and uneven lines (even a millimeter off) will cause the kite to turn...

also, didnt you say on an earlier post that you slammed the kite into the ground, possibly rupturing some cells? that could account for all of this alone...

Dylan,

I'm flying at OSP either in the field behind the pool or the one across the street from the tennis courts.
I had FixMyKite.com fix the broken seam. I don't think the kite flies any worse now than it did before I had it fixed. In truth, it slammed itself into the ground while I was messing with the chicken loop and DD - it should have been at auto-zenith.

It may well be that I'm flying it in too little wind, but I'm still leery from my first power kite (purchased this spring) turning out to be a lemon. I want to make sure that is not the case with this one too!

Quote:

Originally posted by sp4cem0nkey I've been having a few issues with my 8m Synergy, and I'm wondering if there might be something wrong with it, or if I'm not tuning/flying it right. Chances are that I'm just flying it in too little and too choppy wind, but I'd like to have an experience 'Arcophile' check it out to be sure. Here are some of the problems I've been having: Bow-Ties or stalls during launch. Stalls and luffs continually. Does not stay at zenith without input. Turns inside out A LOT. Uneven power/pull. I've been flying it with my ATB in winds gusting up to around 17mph, but without a constant base. Could too little wind be the only problem?

1.bow ties / stalls --->
a. not enough air filled inside.
b. too much trim. you should have the trim in about 30% than when at zenith trim to your desire.

2. Stalls and luffs continually. --->
a. not enough wind.
b. trim strap adjustment

3. Does not stay at zenith without input. --->
a. sub windrange
b. lines uneven
c. internal straps uneven, or set too tight for the low wind condition

4. Turns inside out A LOT.
a. bar trim set too IN
b. VPC setting

5. Uneven power/pull.
a. Internal straps uneven
b. sub windrange
c. VPC set to light bar pressure

for more reference...

http://www.peterlynnkiteboarding.com/

---> Technology
---> Variable Power Control
---> VPC Adjustments

hope this helps.

Just based on what you've written, it sounds like too little wind and too much back line tension. I haven't flown a Synergy, but in general Arcs like to be flown almost 100% off the front lines. If the back lines don't have a loose curve to them when the kite is in the air, then they're probably too tight. Also, remember that smaller arcs are high wind kites, so although they will fly in light winds, they generally need 20+ to generate power.

Thanks, rip.

So, I am seeing sub windrange and trim strap adjustment as potential causes for many of my problems...

What do you mean by "too much trim"? Does that mean too much tension on the front lines or too little? When I launch, I pull the trim strap all the way in - I believe this has the effect of increasing tension on the front lines relative to the rear ones. After launch, I have played with different settings, but I took the repeated luffing as a sign that I should keep the strap trimmed in all or most of the way to avoid this.

I set my VPC up to connect the rear lines to the last or second to last knot. Towards the end that the manual says gives the least power and best low-wind performance. Likewise, the strap inside the deflate zipper is completely loose. Also the straps inside the inflate zippers are 90% loose and balanced. I'll double check the length of my lines.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkahuna Just based on what you've written, it sounds like too little wind and too much back line tension.

Thanks for the tip, bigkauna. I'll keep that in mind. Methinks I need a new kite to fit the gap between my 8.5m Blade and my 8m Syn.

Hey soccerflyer...

Quote:

Originally posted by sp4cem0nkey Thanks, rip. So, I am seeing sub windrange and trim strap adjustment as potential causes for many of my problems... What do you mean by "too much trim"? Does that mean too much tension on the front lines or too little? When I launch, I pull the trim strap all the way in - I believe this has the effect of increasing tension on the front lines relative to the rear ones. After launch, I have played with different settings, but I took the repeated luffing as a sign that I should keep the strap trimmed in all or most of the way to avoid this. I set my VPC up to connect the rear lines to the last or second to last knot. Towards the end that the manual says gives the least power and best low-wind performance. Likewise, the strap inside the deflate zipper is completely loose. Also the straps inside the inflate zippers are 90% loose and balanced. I'll double check the length of my lines.

WOW... OK... Looks as though the kite is WAY TOO DEPOWERED for the conditions. Everything you describe happening can happen when you are that sheeted out (depowered).

Try to set everything to the middle to start. Try the trim strap at 30% depower and use the bar to depower /power as needed at launch. The rear lines need some tension at launch.

When tweeking things, tweek in smaller increments and one adjustment at a time so you can actually see their effect.

Personally, I've been flying my 15 and 10 Syns with everything set to the middle for a year and love it. I haven't felt the need to play with these settings (yet).

If it's new, the intakes can get stuck together by static cling and not open properly, so the kite won't fill up. Apparently ... pinching the intakes opens them up again. All the problems you're talking about are ones I've had when the arcs were under-inflated at launch too ...

I hadn't seen Ripsessionkites' response before posting mine, but he's pretty much nailed it. I'd just add a few more comments:

Quote:

1.bow ties / stalls ---> a. not enough air filled inside.

The kite should almost be 100% filled, or as close as you can get it. To get the kite this full I usually fill it with air, holding the zippered slot open by hand, then zip it closed and give the kite a squeeze, then let it fill again before zipping it closed and launching.

Quote:

b. too much trim. you should have the trim in about 30% than when at zenith trim to your desire.

In other words, the back lines are too tight, which causes the kite to stall and fall backwards during the launch.

I'd just add that it could also be:
c. incorrect launching technique - The kite should be at an angle of about 45 degrees from the wind, or even a little bit deeper if the wind is light. If the kite is too far forwards during launch, especially in light winds, it may stall backwards.

Quote:

2. Stalls and luffs continually. ---> a. not enough wind. b. trim strap adjustment

This one's got me stumped. I've never seen an arc stall and luff continuously, unless you've really got the kite so over trimmed it can't fly. By over trimming I mean that the back lines are too tight.

Quote:

3. Does not stay at zenith without input. ---> a. sub windrange b. lines uneven c. internal straps uneven, or set too tight for the low wind condition

I'm guessing it's "a", but double check your line lengths they should be all even. By "all even" I mean that when the chicken loop is tight against the bar and the depower strap is all the way out, all 4 lines should be the exact same length.

Quote:

4. Turns inside out A LOT. a. bar trim set too IN b. VPC setting

This is another symptom I've never experienced, so my guess is "a" also.

Quote:

5. Uneven power/pull. a. Internal straps uneven b. sub windrange c. VPC set to light bar pressure

The only other bit I would add is that Arcs are not light wind kites. They generally need 15mph+ before you'll start to see them perform. But, they will fly, albiet sluggishly, in less than 15 mph. Just as a point of reference, I needed a minimum of 17 mph to fly and ride with my Venom 19, with 15 mph I would sink, but 17 mph I could go along happily.

Launching an Arc is the hardest part of learning how to fly them. The higher aspect ratio Arcs (F-Arc, Phantom, etc) especially so. There used to be an introductory video that came with Arcs, if you can get your hands on that video (it's probably posted somewhere) that may help give you the basics.

Hope this helps...

Thanks everyone! I will have to play around with the Syn's settings a bit. Maybe put everything back to the middle strap setting next time I take it out. Launching it is still pretty tricky for me. I think at least part of the problem is I have been flying it in too little wind. I just picked up a 5m Ace from soccerflyer to fill the gap between the 8m Syn and my 8.5m Blade.