Hello.
I recently purchased a new-to-me kite online. It came with a bar (hole in middle), and some ratty lines. Im pretty sure the safety/relaunch option is removed...

Im looking to replace the lines and safety (Which is currently not there).
I'm having trouble picking the right lines, and the right type of safety...
Anyone help?

Pics would help if you don't know the make or type of bar. What kite is this associated with?

Hey, thanks for taking the time to help me out.

The kite in question is a Slingshot B6.

Just wondering about the 3ed line safety...it seems to be missing. The line, and bridle for it too...if there is one.

Anyone possibly own one? Could tell me what I'm missing?

Quote: Originally posted by Mr.TMacD

Hey, thanks for taking the time to help me out. The kite in question is a Slingshot B6. Just wondering about the 3ed line safety...it seems to be missing. The line, and bridle for it too...if there is one.

Are there any attachment points on the trailing edge of the kite? Wondering if the previous owner removed the brake line leaders on the kite.

You might want to contact Slingshot directly as their pricing for replacement lines (2 power, and a brake line) seems ridiculously low. $9.00 for all 3 lines seems crazy unless they are having a fire sale.

They would also be able to tell you if there should be a brake leader and perhaps they have those too.

http://www.slingshotsports.com/s.nl/it.A/id.336/.f#.WRi8xdLy...

ATB,
Sam

Thanks for the direction Sam. I've just finished writing Slingshot a letter explaining the situation and if they can help. I will be awaiting their reply.

In the meantime if anyone else has any input, all would be appreciated.

Is this your 1st kite?

I started on trainer foils. I have a rush 3.5, hq 2.7(I think). I've been flying those for a year now. I use them with a Peter Lynn buggy. The slingshot b6 is great in the lower winds...but I'd much rather use it with a safety/break line. On that note, I'm looking to break into the depower scene with an ozone access (6-10) not sure which one yet...

But for now, I'd like to fix up my slingshot b6 back to normal working order.

Isnt this a 4 line older depower surf kite?

I think the brake lines Y in the center slot, its not a 3 liner.

No Ben. This is a 3 line kite by design. Really a 2 line kite with reverse launch and safety via the 3rd line. You are correct that the brake lines should come together in a Y then that 3rd line should run through the middle of the bar to a leash.

The big question is: did the previous owner completey remove the brake bridle?

If the brake bridle is removed you could possibly rig it so you have a leash on one line and the bar able to run up the line when let go. Flagging the kite. You will have issues relaunching but you will be safe?

Bladerunner, I think that's the problem here...no brake/leader bridle. Hard to make one without proper measurements. The kite was setup as a two line kite when I bought it.

I am in contact with Slingshot. They replied last night, looking for pictures. I sent many in, waiting for their reply. It would be great if I can buy it manufactured. That way, there are no mistakes. I guess another option is to send it away to someone more experienced to reconstruct the brake system.

Ok Blade thanks for setting that straight.

I read some older posts from various places on the net and it seems like a lot of the Bs were flown as 2 lines only
with the brake bridles removed.

I wasnt very fond of my 3m Rush Pro 3liner. If you didnt handle the 3rd line right the kite would blow inside out creating
a tangled mess. I really like 2 line kites and 4 liners, not the three so much. Im sure I was probably doing something wrong
with the Rush.

I have a Slingshot B3 and it will relaunch pretty easily if you make the right moves with it. It also has tabs sewn into the trailing edge which looks like if one knew what they were doing it could be converted to a 4 liner. A moot point now that I have a quiver of 4 line kites.

Sooooooooo, with a little bit of spare time this morning, we put a trench coat on the cat...



Put on some appropriate background music...



And proceeded to see if we could push back the mists of time to find any additional information about this kite which seems to have secured a place in history next to the Tasmanian Tiger. :wow:

After a couple of clues that ended in dead-ends and at least one good car chase




This is what was discovered....

Apparently, the Slingshot B-Six was sold at a time when large FB 2 line kites were a thing. Whooda thunk, but I guess the Peter Lynn Peel falls under the same category.

So the B-Six was available for purchase as a 2 liner right out of the box. Then when you decided that was more fun than you could stomach and about the same time as when you decided to upgrade your leather helmet.



you could order the <*gasp *> B Series Ready Relaunch Kit which consisted of:

• Instructions
  
• Brake line bridle lines
  
• Center flying line
  
• Ready Relaunch grabline and handle
  
• Velcro centerline bar attachment
  
• Bridle line pigtail

Looking at the instructions (which can be found > HERE <), the "brake line bridle" is very primitive. It basically has no "cascades." You have 6 lines attached to the trailing edge, collected together with a pigtail and then attached to a single brake line that passes through the a velcro attachment connected to the bar and terminating in a "handle strap".... not even a wrist strap.

It's basic enough that you could probably cobble together most of it with some patience. Once dialed in, you could probably mod it with a wrist strap and some additional niceties to bring it a little bit more inline with newer kites.

ATB,
Sam

This is exactly what I am looking for! Wow! Loved your story to bring it all together. Haha. So that sounds awesome...I'll just buy the kit, and install/adjust. I have the wrist strap, bungee. Well now, that makes me excited. Just need to find a place to order such thing now.

I want to say thank you to all the people who took the time to help me.
I'll keep yeas updated on the progress.

So upon further reading...that kit is for the b3/b4 kites...no mention of b6 in the instructions...probably not the same size?

Heck you can make that yourself.

Just tie the lines to the kite, bring them together equally tension wise in the middle at a length that is similar to the other bridles and tie off. Then just rig the "relaunch" line in a way that works for you.

Nice essay, let me add a photo after the helmet upgrade

Slingshot replied back saying the kite in question was no longer made for some time now...and there is no b6 bridle replacements available. The rep is going to reach out to the R&D crew, see if they have anything to say. They indicated this is the end of the road as far as help goes. Haha. I don't blame them.
Been doing a bunch of watching and reading, think I may create my own. I'll be sure to use light winds for initial testing.

If possible, have Slingshot get you the measurements and lengths. It isn't that difficult to make your own bridles.

I asked for those, but apparently the schematics don't exist.

It shouldn't be rocket science and as long as they are loose the 3rd line bridle should not effect flight characteristics beyond parasitic drag.

How fancy a bridle you can make depends on how many tabs are sewn on the trailing edge? Potentially you could do it with 3 - 5 ?

If you end it off with a wrist leash safety be forewarned. A big kite like that could rip your arm off if you let it go in the right gust. My 3m - 3 line tore my wrist leash apart it hit the brakes so hard so many times!

If this is anything like my Peel expect full power full time and very little wind range. My Peel is super slow turning even with the fancy cross bridle that is supposed to speed it up. Truth be told, I never fly it and only keep it since I got it signed by Peter Lynn Himself. Once you go depower you will never want to fly the B6 so don't spend too much on it.

Sounds like I'm in the market for a depower kite...