I've had my kite killers on my 3.5 Blurr break two times...Flying in 18-22 or so...what good are kite killers if they break??

Which kind were they? The old HQ ones had pretty puny cords. The Lynns have a heavier looking kind of coiled bungee cord. The HQ Ultra Quad handles have an interesting enhancement to kite killers.

Flexifoil, and brand new.

They wearing through or is the stitching on the loops breaking? I've got FF and PL ones but haven't used yet either ...

wow, the newer flexi killers are pretty solid! was there wear at any point before the failure? Are you sure the killers did not touch a sharp rock or similar while you were using them?

personally, I think the bottom line is that no safety system is 100% reliable -- not meant as an argument for not using them, just that kiting at the level where kite killers come into play AND can get broken pretty much requires checking your gear fairly often... I'm surprised there's not more detail in your post... what exactly broke?

I have seen a few threads about this subject- brand X killer broke. Every time I fly, at the end of the session I go to my kite killer- yes I only use one connected to both handles. I have never even come close to what I would think is a breaking load and mine are pretty well worn Ozone's. The effect is instant, complete deflation and collapse of the kite with very little residual pull. The amount of force generated by the falling kite is no more than what it would take to grab a kite that was just blowing freely along the ground. I have even used the tiny little killers that came with my sting in some really heavy wind, and they worked just fine. Unless it is some sort of defect like maybe the rubber the bungee is made of dried out and got brittle, I would think that maybe you got a bad set or they became damaged some how.

I think it's very dificult to break a kite killer if you are using it right, I had to use mine once and I don´t know were wold my kite be now if not using those kite killers !!!
Maybe too flat break lines make the killers not work so well and not reduce the pull as you need on this situations.


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Beamer III 5.0
Pimenta do Reino 2.5

I'll replace them of course, but where did they break? That's a first to see for me too. Flexi had a problem with previous handles snapping, but never KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s. I have new ones arriving tomorrow if not today.

hello,Angus--i had one of the pairs of flexi kk break on me also--the bungee cord just snapped--i put on the new hq kks and NO PROBLEM--also the stitching pulls apart easily on these flexi killers--im sticking with the hq from now on

I'm surprised at this too. The current model kite killers that I have from Flexi, HQ, and Peter Lynn are all very robust, comfortable and well made kite killers. HQ gets the most improved award. The Peter Lynns are shorter corded and I've not proven to myself that they work like they should attached to the handle side of the brake leader. The Reactors like a little brake tension so it doesn't seem to be a problem for me to have them snug on the brake lines all the time. I have them attached in the middle of the brake leaders right now.

Angus's warranty is a step better than the Mfr warranty but those on Johnny's Blurr should still be covered by the Flexi mother ship. Either way, you're covered.

Can the Flexi Killers be comfortably attached further down the brake line attachments instead of the handles? It would be less snap.

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob I have them attached in the middle of the brake leaders right now.

I think this is a key "tips-n-tricks" that could stop a lot of these KK issues that we've hear about... I go as far as putting a knot behind the break leader knot where the line attaches and put my KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s there if I have long enough KK lines... This gives the most "kill" or depower if you will...

yeah, don't make the mistake I did and have the kite killer so that the brake line sliiiiiiiiides up the brake leader towards the handles when you go to kite killers. It will burn through the loop on your brake lines. I had my kite killers on the end of the brake leaders to be able to conveniently remove them if needed and this was the result. I now have two knots on each brake leader with about an inch between them. The brake line attachment and kite killers attach between the knots with the kite killer on the handle side. Live and learn. Always the student.

yikes, maybe they needed to break so you didn't

Wow - I thought that's the way killers were to be used - to tie a knot just behind the brakeline attachment and set the killer in just behind the flying line so that you get a complete depower when released. If the kite isn't fully depowering then of course it'd start wanting to snap bungee cords (or tear arms from sockets).




Now, that's not to say I've not seen killers break when attached in this manner as well....

I still like the idea of the slide-thru, bungee-style, brake leaders on the HQ Ultra Handles (OK, I'll get off my soapbox now).

BTW, the Radsail Killers look interesting, if not also pretty sturdy (yeah, I know, it's only Radsail!).

ive always attached mine according to those pics--its just when flying under a great load,something has to give and sometimes its the kite killers,i guess--better them than me.......

First break was at the larks head on the kk, the thread did not unravel, it snapped clean through the bungee...then I tied a knot, thinking it was a freak and one inch shorter would not be an issue...the next break was right there, the bungee cord just snapped clean through again.

Oh that's right - I forgot about the HQ Ultra handles.....my bad.

I guess the kite needs time enough to flop back on it's TE before the pull really diminishes so perhaps in really heavy winds there just isn't enough travel for the foil no matter what you do for it to ditch the power before you hit the extent of the bungee stretch.

Johnny has become the official Crash Test Dummy for Coastal Wind Sports (his words). He has broken more gear than I ever have and I have sent 2 kites to fixmykite.com in the last 2 months. He's a good flier but rides a lot and rides hard- more in a month than the average rider flies in a year. You go, guy.

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell He's a good flier but rides a lot and rides hard- more in a month than the average rider flies in a year. You go, guy.

Why does this sound like it has all the makings of a CoastalWindSports hosted blog?

All kidding aside, that would actually be cool.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by indigo_wolf Quote: Originally posted by acampbell He's a good flier but rides a lot and rides hard- more in a month than the average rider flies in a year. You go, guy. Why does this sound like it has all the makings of a CoastalWindSports hosted blog? All kidding aside, that would actually be cool. ATB, Sam

No way, bro. Tho I agree with you on the "would actually be cool" point.

love BB's mistake, done that myself in the early days with the ace. Nowadays I hardly ever use them.... But if i'm teaching somebody I get them to use the killers for their first flew flights with each step up in power... after that, depending on wind, room on the beach, and skill, folks often stop using them. But we tend to fly big kites in gentle winds where I am, the kite killers came out a lot lately while me and a mate were getting jumping winds for my crossfire 3.2, and they were vital to our safety at that time!

It's all about judgement in the end, not equipment... Tho good judgement generally leads to good equipment well kept.

with ref to johnny laing, tho, I think you get something else when you combine good judgement with going large: the equipment breaks a lot, the flyer doesn't get broken.

I think macboy is on to something...the 3.5 is fast, really fast in 20+, so by the time I realize I've bitten off too much, it stretches the bungee a split second before the power is dumped??

Also, our wind station (on the beach) read SE 18-20 today, measured at 53'. I had no trouble with that, and never thought about using kk.

The other day was NNE 21, which put the anemometer in somewhat of a wind shadow, so maybe I had 25+ ???

I also come from a windsurfing background, so I'm used to judging wind speed on the ground, and am surprised at times at the power 25 m up!!

Another four hours in the seat today....using the harness some, long runs now that we have some SE (onshore)

Having a blast...one bad note...jogger tripped on my lines...despite us watching him do it...we thought he motioned he saw them, then ran right into them! nasty spill, lots of cussing, would not let me apologize. I think I'll get some small cones for my water breaks...

Quote:

Originally posted by macboy Oh that's right - I forgot about the HQ Ultra handles.....my bad. I guess the kite needs time enough to flop back on it's TE before the pull really diminishes so perhaps in really heavy winds there just isn't enough travel for the foil no matter what you do for it to ditch the power before you hit the extent of the bungee stretch.

I think that happens with any application of the kite killers, there's always that sharp pop as the handles go from your hands and the kite falls back, the higher the wind the sharper the pop and the harder the pull when the the kite does take up full tension on the back lines. The looser your brakes are, the more the distance.... folks who fly on really tight brakes (buggiers) probably have less problem with this than those of us who fly static and keep our brakes a little looser.

Quote:

Originally posted by johnnylaing Having a blast...one bad note...jogger tripped on my lines...despite us watching him do it...we thought he motioned he saw them, then ran right into them! nasty spill, lots of cussing, would not let me apologize. I think I'll get some small cones for my water breaks...

Maybe it was avoidable... maybe not.

I've had people watching me set up kites from step one: staking out, deploying line, and laying out kite. Still they have walked into the lines.

Occassionally glaring at them as they walk into the proximity of the setup or yelling "Line" has worked.

<* rant *>
In another time and place, the situational awareness level of some pretty much guarantees they would have been sabretooth tiger fodder. Perhaps a blessing for the rest of the tribe. For them, I expect the cones would just be something else to trip over.
<* /rant *>

Sorry for the rant.... pet peeve

ATB,
Sam

I have to say I am totally baffled by the people who wander about so oblivious to what's going on around them ... I was flying on a beach on holidays overseas, and people just seemed to keep walking out their way to get under the kite and in my way - despite having a fellow kiter standing down-wind shouting at them to get out of the way :o

The 'rules' say "Safety is the responsibility of the pilot" but damn - I can't be expected to protect people from their own stupidity, surely! :dunno:

Quote:

Originally posted by furbowski folks who fly on really tight brakes (buggiers) probably have less problem with this than those of us who fly static and keep our brakes a little looser.

You're probably right, furbowski. I fly tight brake lines because I like the increased pull and speed, and even though I'm just static for the moment the buggy is built and will get run this weekend

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza I have to say I am totally baffled by the people who wander about so oblivious to what's going on around them ... I was flying on a beach on holidays overseas, and people just seemed to keep walking out their way to get under the kite and in my way - despite having a fellow kiter standing down-wind shouting at them to get out of the way :o The 'rules' say "Safety is the responsibility of the pilot" but damn - I can't be expected to protect people from their own stupidity, surely! :dunno:

People really have no clue that flying under your kite could be dangerous to them or inconvenient to you. Most people don't know about other peoples needs or how to be courteous to them. In water skiing, I can be standing on the rear platform of the boat in front of a cove with glassy water ahead, with jacket and gloves on easing into the water with my ski on. Almost on cue a pontoon boat, jetski, or fishing boat will just come cruising in right in front of me just to go do a few circles and then leave. They had no malice to me, they just have no idea that there are wakes coming off their boat and their actions took something precious away from me. They will usually wave as they head back out of the cove.

We are like the FCC warning on electronics. We must not cause any interference and must accept any interference caused by others.

Quote:

Originally posted by johnnylaing Having a blast...one bad note...jogger tripped on my lines...despite us watching him do it...we thought he motioned he saw them, then ran right into them! nasty spill, lots of cussing, would not let me apologize. I think I'll get some small cones for my water breaks...

I had a guy trip on lines while walking between my cones so don't think they will actually fix the problem. I guess everyone lets their defenses down on the beach thinking its just sand and they don't have to watch out for much.

KK snaps:
There was also discussion here about looping some of the KK line with rubber bands and such to cushion the snap.

Tripping on lines:
I've been experimenting with tying a little neon orange warning tape on my lines. It can serve as an air and ground safety warning and wind indicator. But it also complicates line twists and winding.

I also found cheap, little marker flags at the hardware store: 3" sq neon pink flags on 2' fiberglass sticks - maybe shorten the sticks a little and they'd be pretty portable and easy to carry.

I think a bright dye color on the lines would help, if it's practical for the manufacturers.