Having trouble inserting le bladder! any tricks?

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sharkbait
sharkbait
VIC
134 posts
VIC, 134 posts
28 Oct 2006 8:33am
Dear fellow kite surfing dudes,
I just repaired my leading edge bladder and now need to put it back in! Sounds simple, but I found out its not….
after several attempts by using a coat hanger and sticky tape the bladder kept on twisting as I found out each time I pumped it up.

Now its reported to be a great day to have a session and I’m stuck with no kites!
Please help me pleeease! I’m having withdrawals...
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Always a pleasure.
Shark bait.
Oakie
Oakie
WA
268 posts
WA, 268 posts
28 Oct 2006 8:02am
Probably a bit late, but I always attach lines to the end of the bladder before I take it out, then use these as a draw to pull the bladder back in. Ive never had a twisted bladder yet, apart the time the pub dunnies were closed.

Use the coathanger and tape to pull some lines through, then use the lines to do the above. Watch that any sharp ends on the coat dont snag the dacron.
NorthSide
NorthSide
WA
238 posts
WA, 238 posts
28 Oct 2006 8:14am
Dust bladder with talcum powder (lightly) it helps it straighten as you inflate it. Only half to three quarter inflate it and try and gently manipulate the bladder. Someone bagged me for suggesting this on another post, saying it will turn to glue... that BS (I bet that person isn't off trainer wheels...LOL), it works and I've done it a few times since it was first suggested to me in 2001. I also do what oakie suggested and that is to tie a piece of string (or one end of your kite line to the end). I would be inclined to do this and pull bladder out, dust it and start again.
Hope this is of some help and you get back on the water soon
sunseeker
sunseeker
QLD
1203 posts
QLD, 1203 posts
28 Oct 2006 11:50am
This is the best method I have used and worked first time for me - no powder required...

Lay the leading edge flat on the ground with the opening facing upwards (you'll be seeing the side that's normally against the canopy). The canopy will probably be bunched up a bit to allow this. Just make sure that the leading edge is not twisted.

If you have not done so already, feed a long piece of string (kite line works well) through the leading edge.

Here's the part that makes the difference. Lay the bladder out flat with the inflation point facing up. Starting from one end start folding the bladder up in a zig zag fasion back and forth (i.e. not rolling it up) until you get to the middle. This makes sure that the bladder stays flat. Then do the other side.

Carefully place the folded up bladder next to the opening and attach the kite line to the end of the bladder. Slowly pull it through the leading edge and watch the bladder unravel.

Do the other side. Close off the ends.

Zip up the leading edge and pump it up about 70% to make sure that its not twisted. Then pump it up all the way.

Hope this helps. This worked for me first time round.
Surfrod66
Surfrod66
NSW
665 posts
NSW, 665 posts
28 Oct 2006 3:05pm
Big hint do not use string, Get an old sailboard battern a flat one tape the bladder to the battern and feed the battern through because the battern is flat you can feel if you are twisting it as it goes through just keep the flat side up.Use baby powder still. Rod
peter_w
peter_w
NSW
68 posts
NSW, 68 posts
28 Oct 2006 3:57pm
I second this method, works heaps better, still got to have someone else to make sure the bladder doesnt twist as it enters the kite. A ruler would do the trick as well if you arent an ex windsurfer
NorthSide
NorthSide
WA
238 posts
WA, 238 posts
28 Oct 2006 2:22pm
All great ideas, I should have of mentioned the important detail of straight feeding... I too used the zig zag folding method and also had some feeding properly. The talcum/baby powders main purpose is to help the bladder from 'sticking' in a slightly twisted manner as you finish inflating the leading edge.
windpig
windpig
QLD
113 posts
QLD, 113 posts
28 Oct 2006 6:06pm
watch the sharp edges of the zipper!! Have had a few things caught
in zippers over the years
NSW, 4382 posts
29 Oct 2006 8:47am
Even easire to get hold of and works better because it is more flexible is that yellow plastic strip that builders join flooring sheets with.

Just stick the bladder to one end with packing tape, and pull it in, you never get twists doing with a flat strip/batten because you can feel if you turn it, lay the kite LE out flat first, and always use talc.

When you do the ends, use something blunt to poke any excess bladder back into the LE, before you fold the ends and velcro them shut.

Inflate to only 60-70% and check that everthing is seated well and not showing signs of twists before inflating hard.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve
Marty Coffey
Marty Coffey
NSW
47 posts
NSW, 47 posts
4 Nov 2006 1:13pm
Stake the end of the kite into the ground with a screwdriver, and place another stake further down to act as a pulley for your string. That way you can feed the bladder into the zip with one hand and pull the bladder string with the other hand from the middle and you don't need two people. Note which end goes in up on the end of the bladder and if it doesnt come out up at the end of the kite, pull it out and do it again (only takes a minute). It will rarely rotate more than 180 to give you a false confirmation.
Macca Wollongong
Macca Wollongong
NSW
295 posts
NSW, 295 posts
5 Nov 2006 11:25pm
just use two people, one to feed it in flat and one to pull!
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