So after my "Cant wait to get out" post, I f i n a l l y got around to finding out wtf is going on.

On both kites I replaced the original delaminating valves with u-stick valves, and now they are delaminating the same way.
Its not peeling off the kite from the sticky stuff, its peeling off from itself.

What is annoying is that the black valves from the bladder to the struts have never failed, its only the blue ones (inflate, deflate and dump) that fail. Manufacturers - Make the valves out of the black stuff FFS!!


So before I spring for another 6 valves and around $180 is there a better way???




(exact same issue as www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/flexifoil-leaky-valves/ )



...and before the "hot car blah bah blah" starts - I live in WA - it gets hot, unless I keep it in an esky, its gonna get hot at some point between my house and the beach.

a new bladder is generally cheaper than messing around with an old one and buying valves, also some brands have had problems for a while with delam valves, north had dramas up till 2011, flexifoil, blade, for example a new le bladder for my edges costs around $80 so go new, what brand of kite is it

cauncy said..

a new bladder is generally cheaper than messing around with an old one and buying valves, also some brands have had problems for a while with delam valves, north had dramas up till 2011, flexifoil, blade, for example a new le bladder for my edges costs around $80 so go new, what brand of kite is it

Problem is the bladder will come with the same fittings, blue valves. And the same laminating processs. Tarzan grip works, I wouldnt replace one spark plug, waiting for the next one to give way, Id just service the system.

Hey steve was on to it.... I didnt want to bag a brand on a public forum. tarzan grip works..

also worth checking the diameter of aftermarket valves as they can be a seriouse pain to feed through the opening, also if too slack you get the bladder pinching,

hey mate,

rod_bunny said..





So after my "Cant wait to get out" post, I f i n a l l y got around to finding out wtf is going on.

On both kites I replaced the original delaminating valves with u-stick valves, and now they are delaminating the same way.
Its not peeling off the kite from the sticky stuff, its peeling off from itself.

What is annoying is that the black valves from the bladder to the struts have never failed, its only the blue ones (inflate, deflate and dump) that fail. Manufacturers - Make the valves out of the black stuff FFS!!


So before I spring for another 6 valves and around $180 is there a better way???




(exact same issue as www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/flexifoil-leaky-valves/ )



...and before the "hot car blah bah blah" starts - I live in WA - it gets hot, unless I keep it in an esky, its gonna get hot at some point between my house and the beach.

mate most of the stick on valves will come off. additionally you have to use sallys pu glue on top to make them last.
we repair lots of valves and they never come off again after we put them back on.

www.intheloopkiteboarding.com/repairs

The valve trap looks like a good product... but then they all do. I had the same problem a few weeks ago. I just removed the ustick adhesive base and glued the remaining replacement valve collar with Stormsure glue (from Clarkes Rubber). I had seen Tarzans Grip being touted as usable along with Stormsure but I can tell you from my experience if you have to go with glue the Stormsusre is bulletproof. Professional kite repairers say never use glue if you can avoid it - for ease of removal. The easiest option is to get a kite shop to fix it.

Thanks for all the replies and PMs and advice (I do love this forum)

Appears to still be an issue and that some of the valve brands have had issues in the past as well.
To be fair, its the second time in over 6 years I've had to repair or replace anything on my Ion2s.


Very generous KPA , but I got them from a local shop over here. Nice to know your aftersales is spot on though


I'll be getting some sort of stickons to replace the ones that failed. I will ellicit more hands for keeping the wrinkles out

rod_bunny said...

cauncy said..

also worth checking the diameter of aftermarket valves as they can be a seriouse pain to feed through the opening, also if too slack you get the bladder pinching,

True dat.

When I did the last lot I cut a hole in the base of the flexi ones as they had a ridge on them to lock them to the leading edge material, then fed the new valves into the old ones. Stops the smaller diameter valves disappearing back into the leading edge when deflated.

A good tip is to use a small piece of broom handle which I taper off, pushing it into the valve opening stretches it a tad allowing it to position easier in the opening if it's a different diameter, also if replacing north valves with aftermarket valves the tube clip doesn't suit the aftermarket valves ,

coastflyer said..

I've repaired a few valves over the years on my North kites using Tarzan Grip and have never had one unstick again. Question though, why are valves not inserted from the INSIDE of the bladder? Would seem to make sense, to me anyway!?

because theyre made by factory workers not geinocologists

cauncy said..

rod_bunny said...

cauncy said..

also worth checking the diameter of aftermarket valves as they can be a seriouse pain to feed through the opening, also if too slack you get the bladder pinching,

True dat.

When I did the last lot I cut a hole in the base of the flexi ones as they had a ridge on them to lock them to the leading edge material, then fed the new valves into the old ones. Stops the smaller diameter valves disappearing back into the leading edge when deflated.

A good tip is to use a small piece of broom handle which I taper off, pushing it into the valve opening stretches it a tad allowing it to position easier in the opening if it's a different diameter, also if replacing north valves with aftermarket valves the tube clip doesn't suit the aftermarket valves ,

Use Valve traps and you can reuse the stock North valve that fell off.

dave...... said...

rod_bunny said..





So after my "Cant wait to get out" post, I f i n a l l y got around to finding out wtf is going on.

On both kites I replaced the original delaminating valves with u-stick valves, and now they are delaminating the same way.
Its not peeling off the kite from the sticky stuff, its peeling off from itself.

What is annoying is that the black valves from the bladder to the struts have never failed, its only the blue ones (inflate, deflate and dump) that fail. Manufacturers - Make the valves out of the black stuff FFS!!


So before I spring for another 6 valves and around $180 is there a better way???

Replying to the post, I advised on a cheap solution. it works. the rest is wank value.


(exact same issue as www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/flexifoil-leaky-valves/ )



...and before the "hot car blah bah blah" starts - I live in WA - it gets hot, unless I keep it in an esky, its gonna get hot at some point between my house and the beach.

Replying to the post, I advised on a cheap solution. it works. the rest is wank value. Me thinks he doesnt want to spend more money on a product that doesnt meet the intended need.

Dave are you sponsored by Tarzan grip?

I am not sure what glue seems to work for you guys, but I read somewhere that most bladders (I hope anyway!) are made from Polyutherane. So I looked around Bunnings and lo-and-behold Stikaflex which tradies use more for mortar filler or brick work is a Polyutherane based compound. I recently popped a valve on my kite (those cheapo glues just don't last) and simply gave the valve a good dose of Stikaflex (white or clear) and that valve ain't coming off. The other good thing about Stikaflex is that it's water proof and flexes which is what you need once the bladder is pumped and deflated hundreds of times.

ps. InTheLoop - what glue do you use or are you simply repairing people's kites with KiteFix valves? I have a KiteFix repair kit and I must say, that so called "strong bonding" glue they sell is total rubbish. Crumbles when dry and has very little hold on the valves. But then again I've never used it on the actual bladder for a normal bladder repair, so maybe KiteFix should consider supplying two glues - one for the bladder and one for valves (or double-adhesive rings for valves). Just saying.

Stikaflex has a cheap version which is like clag, make sure you invest in the more expensive tube.

yep. ^^^

coastflyer said..
I've repaired a few valves over the years on my North kites using Tarzan Grip and have never had one unstick again. Question though, why are valves not inserted from the INSIDE of the bladder? Would seem to make sense, to me anyway!?

To quote myself, which is kind of strange!! I have had to repair nearly every single valve on my old 2009 North Rebel and I have reused the original valves by folding the valve body and carefully inserting in through the bladder hole. Once inside the bladder, apply the glue (Tarzans Grip), and then on a hard flat surface, place the weights over the valve and let dry. The great thing about this method is that you can reuse the original valve and it gives the joint a mechanical advantage, as compared to attaching to the OUTSIDE of the bladder. The repaired valves have never leaked and with quick drying glue, could be done down at the beach, if you were really desperate!