Did you leave the kite in the sun or on the sand for a long time?

I had the LE explode on a seam, after (uncharactersitically) waiting on the beach for the breeze to switch on, with my kite pumped up for 40 mins or so. My kite was a few seasons old so I was asking for trouble.

Under extra pressure the seams will usually become a weak point apparently.

The good news is it wasn't very expensive to fix and flies as good as ever.

Good luck.

walshd said...

How old is the kite?

My 'BEST' guess is this may be an old common problem to that particular kite brand.

Without naming anyone specific of course

From looking at the pics I'd say it's an RRD actually.

To answer the question Mick, I can't see how an improperly fitted bladder could possibly cause the LE to burst. Over-inflation and age/kite condition are more likely to be contibuting factors than anything else.

D

I've seen kites rip along the seam like that due to poor seam construction and nothing to do with the bladder being twisted.

If all is as you describe mick then the replacement should be a 99/1 ratio.

Personally I can't see how a twisted bladder would pop the LE - just the bladder?

Can't see how a kite can pop in the air (maybe right after an impact... maybe?) unless it is a very dodgy sewing job.

just wondering did just the leading edge break or did the bladder burst aswell usually if its the material stiching problem then its a slow process that you would notice over the first few times you flew it and faulty material can break suddenly but the bladder can pop out and sometimes not break. just after the fine details as who ever the kite company in question is would proble be asking you the same thing maybe?

Inflato kites are strange animals.
I've had leading-edges go BANG for no apparent reason.
And I'm not talking about ripping along the seam either.
When they exploded, they tore longitudinally along the pocket thru cleanskin cloth for at least half a metre in length.
Inflatos are ticking hand-bombs.
lol.

I had a similar issue with stitching too close to edge of the material on a chicken loop, plus a leaking valve on the kite. The seller wasn't interested, which to me, reflected on the brand. I mentioned it to KitePower and even though i hadn't bought it from them, they sorted it all out for me with a new chicken loop and repair to the valve under warranty.

Maybe try another store that cares for its customers!

tatkins said...

I had a similar issue with stitching too close to edge of the material on a chicken loop, plus a leaking valve on the kite. The seller wasn't interested, which to me, reflected on the brand. I mentioned it to KitePower and even though i hadn't bought it from them, they sorted it all out for me with a new chicken loop and repair to the valve under warranty.

Maybe try another store that cares for its customers!

Wow, now that says a lot for Kitepower doesn't it.

Good to see there are still shops in the industry doing what they can to make sure the right thing happens. Keep the good karma flowing.

D

arsa said...

In regards to this. The kite is clearly not a Best, And if it was a Best kite, then it would be replaced under warranty, no questions asked. Im not sure why you are so against the Best brand. Have we done something wrong to you in the past??

regards
Joe Millen

Sorry man, only joking around. I actually like best kites. Just thought it might be an old flogged out early 07

Anyway, Best reinforce the inside and outside of their LE stitching. This thing is only reinforced on the outside where it does next to nothing.


Did anyone else notice that from the pictures, the rip looks like it started from the zip.

This bloke may not have zipped the LE up properly after installing the bladder.

Maybe check the zip to see if any teeth got ripped off.

OK.. There seems to be a bit of correspondence "omitted" in Danny's response below.. I have not "sledged" the brand or the person I am dealing with..and I have already said that I am the 1st to admit that maybe "I got a dodgy 1 of thousands of good ones".. I am mealy voicing my frustration, with having worked in other industries where clear issues surrounding faulty manufacture would be a swift replacement process.. Maybe the kiting industry is a little different..

But.. to clear a few things up..

1. Yes the kite was bought as part of a run-out sale.. What valid point is this? Does that mean when you buy a car that is on the verge of a model change, do you only get 20 days warrantly until the new model comes out ?

2. An offer to fit the replacement bladder was never made.. But yes, they are not in my state.. However, the bladder was replaced with the help and support of several people all with shop &/or 5-10 years experience kiting..

3. A replacement of the same year in a 12m was never offered, but it was 'talked' about.. Yet it was also agreed that the 2008 model was significantly low in bottom-end power.. and was agreed that a 12 meter of the same year would not be a suitable replacement due to the loss in power

4. Please feel free to make your own judgement on the re-sale value of a 2nd hand kite, let alone one that’s had a major repair?

5. It was only this morning the plan has changed to now send the kite back for the importer to have a look at

6. As above..

7. I was offered to buy a 2009 model for $800 as a discount price.. I have put it to the importer that in the lack of them having stock of 14m in either 2008 or 2009 models, (& agreeing with them that the 2008 12m model doesn’t have enough bottom end) that the 2009 12m with its “major improvement in bottom-end power” would be a more suitable replacement and one that is more closely matched to the required power of my 14m


To sum it up.. Danny is the person I purchased it from and is a proxy with the importer.. I believe Danny is trying to get things sorted but is also at the mercy of the importer.. And as I have already stated.. I do not want to sledge the brand or a person.. That’s not why I started this topic.. It was started to find out if other people reckon what the importer is telling me “happens all the time” of twisted bladders causing LE’s to pop.. (But again.. I still have 3 people backing me up on the bladder NOT being twisted and being installed correctly)