I just bought an 07 Vegas 9m from a seller here on seabreeze. Had a good session on it today, but i crashed it and I couldn't relaunch it, because the kite wouldn't fill with air. Turns out the center and middle strut had deflated. Asked the local dealer here, and he said that the 07 north kites had a real problem with the T valves, and after further inspection, this is where the bladders have burst/cracked. The other struts haven't yet, but judging by what the locals down here were saying, it won't be long until they do.

Now, whats the best course of action here? Do I still have warranty even though I bought the kite second hand?
I have already emailed the seller asking him to contact where he bought the kite from to ask for a replacement bladder set, but still awaiting a reply.
Or will I have to buy a new set of bladders my self?

Still stoked with the kite, I just cant relaunch the bloody thing when I crash it. Should I keep flying it, just don't crash it?

Cheers for the help, Skiddz

Just contact nearest North dealer. You will get all new bladders.

WindsurfingPerth even did the replacement job for my 07 Rhino 9m and gave demo 08 Rebel for a week while waiting for the bladders.

So, bad quality control form North but exellent service...and 08 Rhino 12m is still on the top of my shoppinglist.

Mine is second hand too. Kites are numbered and they know it is 07 model which has manufacturing problems.

You don't have to pay.

i reckon North should really clean up their act and provide replacement nipples or something serious with the kite on this issues.
i have a 07 rebel and i had to reglue every single nipples on that kite. i though it would be history since this topic first popped on forums a few years ago. my 05 vegas did the same and my 05 toro too..... so no place for doubts here.
not even talking about the destinching of the leeding egde on a not even one year old kite.
lucky me i found the right glue for those nipples and all are ok now but do we need to endure such pain of loosing precious kiting time when these guys should only make a proper check of change the method they use ?????
next kite won't be a north for sure
marc-a.

I'd still strongly suggest that we consumers shouldn't have to do it ourselves or pay for labour. It's slow, fiddley, and almost impossible in cooler air temperatures because the T connectors and rubber hose become too stiff. Try and replace more than two in one hit and you've got serious finger cramp. I've had to replace 16 over the past year and I'm still feeling rather po-ed about it.

I guess the one positive is that North are still honouring their warranties for second-hand products that are more than a year old.

Simon