Hello all. Got my Argo in the mail a few days ago. Had the chance to test fly it today for about an hour. I have a few questions. Let me say that this is my first lei kite and I'm gonna compare everything to my 8m hq neo 2 because that's all I know.

First I'll give the conditions.
Wind: 10 mph gusting up to 12. Pretty steady.
I weigh 180 lbs and I've got a good understanding of flying.
I left it on factory settings just so I had something to go off of for next flight.

First question. Can I convert this to a pulley less bridle? My neo has pulleys and I've heard different things about them. I've never flown without pulleys so I'm not saying I wish it didn't have them, I'd just like to try it out. If so how much will it change the characteristics?

2. I inflated the kite pretty well, I didn't want to over inflate it in anticipation of bombing it into the grass and bursting the bladder. So let's just say I inflated with user error in mind.

3. When flying through the top half of the window, the kite fluttered a bit and the leading edge started to bend and the panels started to flutter. Almost as if when I should have the most response in the bar I started to lose it. When I came towards the edge of the window, it popped back to its shape and I regained good pressure on the bar. From my experience with the closed cell kite, it would luff at the edge an obviously inflate in the window.

Is there supposed to be a 1 way inflate and deflate valve? Both valves look to be deflate valves.


Let me say I did fly it cautiously for its first flight, it is powerfull as all hell even in light winds. It blew my little 8m out of the water in turning speed even though like I said, factory settings.

I think my first mistake was under inflation. It started to rain, and under dressed for the occasion I had to pack it up. I did change the settings to 2 C for its next flight.

Would any of you guys help me out? Like I said its my first adjustable Lei kite- thanks!

By the way, construction is awesome, set up was easy and I had to do NOTHING for relaunch compared to wrestling and messing with the bar like on my old kite. Once I figure this thing out I can feel I'm gonna progress quick and have lots of fun!

Hi mate!

Firstly it sounds like a serious lack I inflation. If you have a pump with a psi gauge aim for 6 or I you don't always make sure that it's very firm, you should be able to tap it with a nail and it should make a good hollow ting sound back. The Argo is a fantastic kite very sturdy and strong.

As far as I know I shouldn't matter which valve u use to pump it up I always use the right one and use It to pump to 100% never had any issues!! Also don't take the pulleys off they are your control and enable the kite to sit smoothly in the window and allow the kite to also perform on wake style and surf conditions!

Where are u located??

If u have any other questions hit me up here!

Hi, I am presuming you have a 9 or 7 m as you are comparing with an 8m. I agree it sounds like you need more air in the kite. I pump mine up solid and check by folding the outer most tip of the wing or struts to see a good sharp snap back into place. Great kite you have there and once you get it worked out you will have a ball on it. good luck.

Definitely just unrolled the kite and pumped it up a bit and tested both valves. None of them are 1 way. When standing above the kite leading edge at your feat trail away from you, there is a zipper to the left of the left valve. What is this for? Sorry for all the questions, this is really helping me out though

Mrawesome said...

Definitely just unrolled the kite and pumped it up a bit and tested both valves. None of them are 1 way. When standing above the kite leading edge at your feat trail away from you, there is a zipper to the left of the left valve. What is this for? Sorry for all the questions, this is really helping me out though

The zipper is for access to the LE bladder. You only need to use this if the bladder gets burst.

For the valves, one of them should have a small White round ball inside. This is the one way valve. As with most LEI kites that use a one way ball valve it can leak a little when you take the pump hose out, however when you close the valve lid and place the velcro over it will be fine

swinginginthewind said...

Mrawesome said...

Definitely just unrolled the kite and pumped it up a bit and tested both valves. None of them are 1 way. When standing above the kite leading edge at your feat trail away from you, there is a zipper to the left of the left valve. What is this for? Sorry for all the questions, this is really helping me out though

The zipper is for access to the LE bladder. You only need to use this if the bladder gets burst.

For the valves, one of them should have a small White round ball inside. This is the one way valve. As with most LEI kites that use a one way ball valve it can leak a little when you take the pump hose out, however when you close the valve lid and place the velcro over it will be fine

There is no ball. I can see into the bladder through the hole. I'm not worried about in flight but I would like the option of pumping 90% through the deflate valve and then pumping to proper size with the one way and not worrying about losing air.

I only use my deflate valve as the air goes in quicker and when the kite is pumped enough I slip my finger over the valve, maybe lose pfft. Then using my free hand I slide the plug in the valve, gently removing my figer, maybe lose pffft. Overall isn't a big loss of air pfffft.

Caney said...
you should be able to tap it with a nail and it should make a good hollow ting sound back.

he did mean the nail that is on the end of ya finger

Sweet. Thanks. Just making sure I wasn't the only one. Unfortunately I don't have a gauge on my pump but I'm gonna look into one. Thanks.

Im wondering if I got an older 2012 model? I don't know.

I don't have an issue with the kite, before contacting and making an issue out of nothing, I wanted to see if it was normal or not. I sent him a pm, I'm sure he'll get back to me when he has a chance. I'm not trying to bash griffin kites. I hope it doesn't seem that way. There isnt a huge griffin following here and we have 1 kitesurfing shop in about a 150 mile radius, so I came here to compare my problem with other people.

Hi, a few things:

1) The 13.5 Argos don't flutter, I have had no reports of Argos fluttering in normal winds and they are one of the least fluttering kites around.

2) 10mph = 8 knots, the 13.5 is designed for 12-13 plus knots.

3) The Argo is designed for maximum depower saftey invisible 5th line so has pulleys. If you want pully-less look into to a TRX out shortly.

The 13.5 has 2 inflate valves.

Did you get this kite 2nd hand or new?

Please email a photo of the serial number on the kite so I can check this is legit.

I have not heard of this happening to any other Argos ever so something is not right, contact me with the details and I will sort it out.

Let me just say that Chris at griffin kites has sent me multiple pms' with sincere interest in helping me figure this out. He has in the past responded to other questions I had pertaining to this kite quickly, willingly and an honest interest in helping me out. I will also say that the performance of my kite was due to my lack of knowledge on lei kites. Even though I was flying it in 10mph and under inflated, it was tearing me across the field so I am willing to say that it will most definitely pull me up under its advertised wind range. The one true mistake I made was not contacting Chris myself and addressing the issue. After all it is the main reason I chose to purchase this kite because I can contact the designer and not some random "contact us" block in a web page and hope to get somebody knowledgable on the issue.

radman and mrawesome both have faulty inflate oneway valves that dont seal?
so have to use the deflate valve and quickly stick your finger over it to try and not lose air?
A production fault maybe.
Subculture is right, its good to hear regular punters problems instead of the usual
"our kites never have any faults,made rock solid,crank upwind,boost higher than other kites,have better low end than any other kite, can be flowen easily in 10 to 30 knots, 100% depower, bla bla bla.

Most brands have a fault here and there,
Its just how it is, but its wheather they own up and do a recall to replace the kite or not is what makes the difference.

lotofwind said...

radman and mrawesome both have faulty inflate oneway valves that dont seal?
so have to use the deflate valve and quickly stick your finger over it to try and not lose air?
A production fault maybe.
Subculture is right, its good to hear regular punters problems instead of the usual
"our kites never have any faults,made rock solid,crank upwind,boost higher than other kites,have better low end than any other kite, can be flowen easily in 10 to 30 knots, 100% depower, bla bla bla.

Most brands have a fault here and there,
Its just how it is, but its wheather they own up and do a recall to replace the kite or not is what makes the difference.

Hey loto read my post as stated i choose not to use the ball valve as its quicker to inflate through the deflate ,nothin wrong with my kites,also dont like one way screw valves as it negates the pump gauge so will continue to pump up the way i'm happy with unless you have an issue with that

radman4 said...
Blah blah blah "pull your head in"

Next time you get up to Perth, come look me up and tell me that to my face brave boy! Go bully someone who's gonna take it u fck!!

I knew you'd not be able to take the FACTS I wrote on your chin.

Pull your own fkn head in you pimpin tool!!!