Leading edge bladder repair
Tue, 11/22/2011 - 14:29
I have now entered the world of one-pumps. Can anyone offer advice on getting the nipple which connects to the strut to line up with the hole in the leading edge sleeve?
Tue, 11/22/2011 - 18:55
#1
make sure there is lots of
make sure there is lots of baby powder on the bladder so it slides easily and you wanna push it in a way that the connectors are facing the struts then you need to grab each connector and try to rotate for a perfect line up by putting ur fingers through the wholes and gently rotating them. before you even pump the kite make sure you seal the wind tips other wise the stupid thing would pop. it happend to me before while fixing a 15m kite with one pump system so I had to wait for a new bladder and do it all over again.
or
you can pay few $$ and send it to a shop and save your self time and headach because they are no easy task as a matter of fact they are a pain in the butt
good luck bro
Tue, 11/22/2011 - 23:31
#3
dont know if this helps at
dont know if this helps at all... bc i have only replaced struts on my one pumps... but a string when you pull the bladder out helps alot.. if you attach a string to the valve/nipple/whatever before you pull the bladder out, that way when you pull the bladder out there is a string now sitting in its place... then when you attach the new one to the the string where the old one was attached you can pull the bladder back through the kite and then the valve/nipple/whatever will be back at the hole.. be careful what knot you use because some will come loose and then you need to thread it through... pain in the ass...
hope this helps... if not i tried
Wed, 11/23/2011 - 16:36
#4
Different approach
Can't remember where I saw this but it works. Forget the string thing.
Here is a one-person approach. To put the bladder back in get a stiff piece of cardboard. Cut a rectangle that is just a little bit narrower than twice the width of the wing tip where you will be pulling out the tip of the bladder. Make the long end 8 to 12in. Fold the cardboard in half along its long axis. Take the tip of the bladder and put it inside the the folded cardboard and tape so the bladder won't pull out. Lay the bladder flat and folded on itself so the one-pump nipples line up with the leading edge. Thread the bladder in to the leading edge. Maintain the orientation of the carboard so that you don't get a twist in the bladder. Repeat for the other side of the bladder. I've done this without talcum powder.
Phil Mann uses hemostat clamps (I think that is what they are) to fish the one-pump nipples out through the canopy. The clamps making finding and pulling the nipples out a lot easier.
Wed, 11/23/2011 - 17:01
#5
That makes a lot of sense as
That makes a lot of sense as I think the issue is that the bladder twists as you thread it through.
Wed, 11/23/2011 - 20:05
#6
Keep the cardboard flat
The flat edge of the carboard mates up with the flat part of the leading edge. Keeps the risk of a bladder twist low. Haven't had a twist since I started using this method.
Wed, 11/23/2011 - 20:10
#7
Hemostat clamps
Thu, 11/24/2011 - 09:56
#8
Hemostat clamp aka roach clip
Hemostat clamp aka roach clip
Thu, 11/24/2011 - 10:00
#9
Bladder tool
[img_assist|nid=7892|title=bladder tool|desc=This is the bladder tool I use to keep the bladder from twisting as you pull it through the leading edge|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=150]
Thu, 11/24/2011 - 10:05
#10
bladder tool: This is the
[img_assist|nid=7892|title=bladder tool|desc=This is the bladder tool I use to keep the bladder from twisting as you pull it through the leading edge|link=none|align=left|width=480|height=360]
Thu, 11/24/2011 - 09:42
#11
my ocean rodeo Rise
I had a good size burst in my bladder and I thought it was going to be a pain in the A$$ to fix but I was pleasently suprised at how easy it actualy was. $10 far a patch kit from western merine. when putting the bladder back in the kite I had to snake a kite line from the wing tip to the zipper in the leading edge. I acoridianed the bladder with all the nipples up and tied the kite line to the tip of the bladder and slowly pulled it throu gh the leading edge. when I thought it was close to being lighned up I could minover the nipples to the holes in the leading edge. if the bladder goes in flat with no twists and the nipples all stay up right then it should be posible to menover the nipples to the holes. when I went to pump it up there was a small twilt in the tip of the bladder. I just deflated and repumped a few times and it straightened out. just pump it a little at a time untill you know everything is straight and purfectly aligned. I did not use any powder at all. I did not know I was supposed to.
Thu, 11/24/2011 - 09:42
#12
my ocean rodeo Rise
I had a good size burst in my bladder and I thought it was going to be a pain in the A$$ to fix but I was pleasently suprised at how easy it actualy was. $10 far a patch kit from western merine. when putting the bladder back in the kite I had to snake a kite line from the wing tip to the zipper in the leading edge. I acoridianed the bladder with all the nipples up and tied the kite line to the tip of the bladder and slowly pulled it throu gh the leading edge. when I thought it was close to being lighned up I could minover the nipples to the holes in the leading edge. if the bladder goes in flat with no twists and the nipples all stay up right then it should be posible to menover the nipples to the holes. when I went to pump it up there was a small twilt in the tip of the bladder. I just deflated and repumped a few times and it straightened out. just pump it a little at a time untill you know everything is straight and purfectly aligned. I did not use any powder at all. I did not know I was supposed to.
it seems the convenience of one pump is out weighed by the hassle of repairing. Plus it adds weight. not totally on board with that innovation.
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