Hi I've had my kite for a while but am still a beginner, I've only had one proper flight. I've been trying it again recently but the last several times the kite keeps spinning and gets very tangled as you can probably imagine!
I thought it might be if my lines are different lengths? I have stretched them together as was suggested to me by someone. I tried making one shorter than the other (by wrapping it around the handle a lot!) to even it out, which seemed slightly better but still unbalanced. Now I'm thinking I might need to buy new lines - which seems odd after so little usage :S....

basically my kite keeps getting so tangled I'm not able to even get it up - can anyone help!

You need to also check the bridle. Check to make sure both the power and brake leads are of equal length. Make sure you do not have any twist what so ever in the power leads. All lines coming into the lead should lay separate and not twist around.Also check the power leads off your handles, something definitely sounds uneven.

It could be the lines, but you can check these few things before you spend the money.


What kind of kite do you have and are they stock lines.

I've heard about "stretching" lines but any kite I've had I could not feel any stretch when I hooked them to a post and leaned back with the lines hooked to me. Now if for some reason you have nylon lines you would feel like your pulling back on a rubber band. Make sure you have real kite lines.
The other thing to check is the bridal , make sure every little line has an equal and opposite line on the kite ,and attatches at the same location , both sides have to be perfectly symetrical. Make sure they are not wrapped around each other.
If it has openings on the trailing edge make sure they are closed and stay closed.
Find someone to look it over , sometimes a different pair of eyes is all it takes to find the problem.

I agree with all the above.

The easiest way to check your lines is to get a stake, stab it firmly into the ground and then hook your lines over the stake. Go to the other end and pull them firmly so they are completely stretched out. If one of the lines is longer than the other, it will show up immediately. If this is the case then you will need to equalize your lines. Depending on how your lines are made you can do this fairly easily.

If your lines are sewn, the easiest way to equalize them is to get some leader line and attach it to your handles. Then tie different length knots to the leader line and connect your flying lines to the knots so that your lines are equal on the kite end. Example: Tie several knots that are 2 inches apart in the leader lines. If one line is 4 inches longer than the others, that line needs to be pulled in two knots towards the handle so that the other end lines up evenly with the other lines.

If your lines are knotted and sleeved, you can take the longest line and undo the knot making the loop. Carefully untie the knot - this can take a little time, especially if the kite has been flown in very strong winds. The knot will be very tight but keep working at it and it will eventually come undone. Be careful to not destroy the braid of the line while you untie the knot. Don't poke it with sharp objects, just keep working it and it will come undone. Once the knot is undone, carefully pick the main spectra flying line out of the center of the sleeving and slide the sleeving up the line so that it takes up the extra length. Fold the sleeving back over and re-tie the knot. Check to make sure the lines are all the same length now and if it is right, cut of the extra line.

If you need help with this, let me know.

Also, if you are not using a high quality spectra kite line then no matter what you do, the lines will always be messed up. Cheap lines will kill your kite flying. Get some good spectra line and you will never have these types of problems.

Hope this helps.

Almost every time your kite acts up, Spins or doesn't sit overhead it is due to bad brake input !

If your bridle is properly untangled odds are far greater that you have a brake issue. Try adding some length to the brake line. This may mean tying a knot to shorten the front lines.

Pay attention to what you are doing with the brakes when it's happening.

Are you holding your handles right?

go to www.coastalwindsports.com and read over Angus's tips. They will help you greatly!

Get a good harness and try other boards...

Quote:

Originally posted by JohnCostillo Get a good harness and try other boards...

:puzzled: :puzzled: :puzzled: :puzzled: :puzzled: :puzzled: :puzzled: :puzzled: :puzzled: :puzzled:

Huh?!?

And on Sundays, we had milk.

ATB(?),
Sam