I just aquired a used 7 meter Montana, and the safety release on the bar doesn't seem to do anything whatsoever. I'm talking about the flaired orange handle that appeares like it should release a pin when pulled back. The trouble is that the line is folded over, covered with a thin black covering, and stitched, so when the handle releases this pin, it's still attached! It all looks factory done with a zigzag stitch. I haven't needed this feature yet, but I'm sure it'll come up and I'll be sliding across the ground, knocking over trash cans and kids until I can get the kite to the side of the window. Any help?:puzzled:

Show us some pictures.

I'm not familiar with the montana's setup, but here is a link to the 06 Frenzy manual and if you review the safety system on p6, I think you may find yours to be similar.

The pin is supposed to be sewn in so you don't loose it when you enact the safety system. But the pin needs to be inserted through a loop in the lines. The pin then breaks free from the loop when the stopper is removed effectively lengthening the power lines enough to pull the brakes in and kill the kite. Similar systems are employed on traditional fixed bridle bars with break away strops.

It could be that you safety is simply not properly rigged in which case your manual or this manual may help you figure it out. Or, if its not properly sewn and set up, you really should consider sending it back as you'll have no way to kill the kite and save yourself when things go wrong.

http://www.flyozone.com/pdf/frenzy06manual.pdf

Quote:

I haven't needed this feature yet, but I'm sure it'll come up and I'll be sliding across the ground, knocking over trash cans and kids until I can get the kite to the side of the window. Any help?:puzzled:

Smaller kite!

Hey B-Roc, Thanks! The Ozone manual is beautifully done and the set-up appears to be very similar. I think it was improperly rigged when I recieved it. The center line starts at the chicken loop, through the bar, out a few feet, through the pulley, and back to the "release handle". I still find it a little unclear exactly what I'm supposed to be hooking over the pin before folding it back and sliding the handle up. There's a knot about an inch up the line, maybe it's this, but when released, it'll only let out an inch of front lines, it won't release them completely. Besides, that's where I'm flying from right now, so it sure wouldn't kill the kite. I'll try to post pics next week if I haven't figured it out by then. My camera is on vacation without me.
The Ozone manual also shows how to pack up leaving the bar attached, which should greatly reduce set-up. I've been flying my Blade rather than my new Montana when conditions were debatable, just because it 's quicker.

Ok...I will try to explain the setup. You should have a pulley that has two pigtails on it that the leading edge lines attach to. You should also have a long center line with a loop sewn into one end that runs from the power adjuster cleat - through the pigtail pulley - and then back down to the pin. Put the pin through the loop, fold it over and secure with the red hat type thing. On some of the Montana's the center line had a metal triangle instead of a loop, if yours has the triangle thing then put the pin through the triangle and fold it over, secure with the red hat thing. When properly released, the center line that your flying lines are attached to should drop out and fall about 4-5 feet away from you, the triangle should catch on the pulley and stop and the brake lines should let the kite fold back completely depowering the kite and making it fall from the sky.

Pull your center line in to re-attach to the pin and your ready to launch again.

Hope this helps....pictures would be much better than my explanation.

Thanks very much. I watched the video again and saw the problem- I had connected the metan triangle to the little snap clip on the bar. I realize now that that clip is only used temporarily to attached the loops in the brake lines when the kite is on the ground. It just seemed like the logical place to put it. The release works as intended now. (go figure) I find it amazing I was able to fly it at all with the brake lines pulled in so far. Now I'm pretty sure I'll have some major adjustments to do next time out. When I watched the video the first time, having never even set the thing up, it was just so much information I missed this part. Again, thanks to everyone who responded!