WA
1222 posts
sounds like the kite is stretched and flies to 1 side. could also be the piggy tails. if they have been replaced at some stage they might have been made to short or too long. get someone to have a look at it for u.
WA
2782 posts
Hey Ralf,
The origiunal batch of Aero 2 kites had factory defects in which some panels were sewn in wrongly which caused them to turn one direction (I think it was left). Pretty much all were recalled and replaced under warranty from the distributor.
If you bought it in Australia from a shop, then it has probably just stretched and depending upon how bad the turning to the left is, you can adjust some of it out with adjustments to the rigging on the lines. However, if it turns really strongly and cannot be adjusted out, then you may have to see if a kite repairer or sailmaker can fix it for you. It is very difficult to repair.
You are long out of recall date and I doubt very much whether the stores would take it back unless you recently bought it new as superceded stock.
Either way, it's not great options whichever you chose unless you can adjust the turn out of it.
Good luck
WA
463 posts
I had a kite that did that pretty bad. The best option is to go down the beach with someone and put the kite up. Then start adjusting your lines until it flies kind of straight. You just have to adjust and put it back in the air to see how it goes. In the end I found it easier to adjust from the pig tails, make them pretty long and you should be Ok. Mine were on the top knots on one side and a good 10cm lower on the other. It didnt fix it but I could handle flying the kite like that. Just dont be a prick and sell it on like someone did to me.
VIC
20 posts
thax u all for yrs advice,hopefully it will work!!!
WA
142 posts
Also check that the leading edge bladder is not twisted.
Check that the struts are holding pressure.
NSW
4382 posts
G'day Ralf
Was your kite flying ok for a while and then it developed this problem of steering one way?
As far as I know very few, if any, of the ones with faulty panels were sold in Oz.
The Aero kites LE and bladders were made out of a material called polyfuse, it is shiny on the inside, loook inside the LE to confirm that yours has a shiny clear coating on the cloth inside the leading edge.
Pretty sure it will. The material can warp, a bad launch, re-launch, packing it up wet, and a twisted bladder can all do it.
Pump up the kite indoors, struts first always.
Notice how it is sitting on the floor - there will be some asymetry, especially towards the tips.
Two people helps with the next bit.
You need to have one person hold LE Bladder near the centre and then you firmly twist the LE until you get the kite to look and sit symetrically.
Test fly, should be right.
If not try it again and see if the kite has become asymetric again, if it has then check the bladder is not twisted, if it is remove and refit with plenty of talc, and check for symetry again.
If you cannot get rid of the problem with the above method, then a kite repairer who kitesurfs will be able to fix the problem, contact me if you need the name of a good one who can fix your kite without too much hassle.
Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve McCormack
PS the above methode has worked for some dacron leading edge kites too, and as TL said always check the LE bladder is not twisted.
