I change my lines annually. I'm told that this is not necessary but lines wear and can break as well as stretch. If you don't know the history of your lines, if it was me and I have 12 years experience, I would change them. Also, too many settings on a kite can be confusing for the new kiter. Get a more experienced mate to have a look at your set up.

Newer kites do not have as many variables ( knots) because they don't need them to fly optimally. I fly Ozones - no pulleys, no elastic bits, one line length and all the setting is done at the trim line as you ride. Keeping it simple, is my first rule.

flyingcab said..

1950 said..
Hi all, i have old Bandit DOS 7m. There are four knots to adjust power. On furthest knot from bar i can over sheet it and i felt that first time just recently. I got in bit underpowered situation so tried with that setup.. Well it was interesting..

My level is that i can barley ride upwind, so i have kind of feeling how kite should fly and be tuned. Also understand that lines on that old kite got stretched.

Is this kind of normal or this means that front lines got so stretched that i need to loose rear lines or adjust to second or third knot for max power every time.

What i found is that is interesting to have such a lot of control over kite so in second you can pull it right into the middle of the power zone and avoid get sinking Also on my other kites (they are current models) this is not possible..

Lay you lines out on the grass with the bar fully in and no depower. Your lines should all be of equal length.
If they aren't, adjust the knots so that they are. There are a few videos of how to do this, I find the easiest is to just stick a screwdriver in the ground behind each side of the bar, then run your lines out. This will keep the bar pulled in when you pull all the lines and check the length.

Bandit dos does not have equal length.

Equal length became a F one standard from the Bandit 3 or 4, can't remember.

1950 said..
Hi all, i have old Bandit DOS 7m. There are four knots to adjust power. On furthest knot from bar i can over sheet it and i felt that first time just recently. I got in bit underpowered situation so tried with that setup.. Well it was interesting..

My level is that i can barley ride upwind, so i have kind of feeling how kite should fly and be tuned. Also understand that lines on that old kite got stretched.

Is this kind of normal or this means that front lines got so stretched that i need to loose rear lines or adjust to second or third knot for max power every time.

What i found is that is interesting to have such a lot of control over kite so in second you can pull it right into the middle of the power zone and avoid get sinking Also on my other kites (they are current models) this is not possible..

Lines don't stretch, they shrink over time: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Lines-dont-stretch-they-shrink/

You have to find a way to lengthen your back lines until your kite stops stalling. Just get some short line extensions from a kite shop/school. After all this time I may be time to change your lines, especially if they shown signs of weakness (fraying).

How much do you weight? 7m kite needs heaps of wind sounds like your just to underpowered and that would result in your kite wanting to stall out all the time due to lack of wind not the line lengths . I'm 70kg and my 7m comes out in +25knots .
-25knots I'm on my 10.5m .

1950 said...

stuntnaz said..
How much do you weight? 7m kite needs heaps of wind sounds like your just to underpowered and that would result in your kite wanting to stall out all the time due to lack of wind not the line lengths . I'm 70kg and my 7m comes out in +25knots .
-25knots I'm on my 10.5m .

65kg. and yes i was underpowered back then. it was low 20kts, and wind was dropping. But as for safety (still beginner) i rigged smaller kite first. While i set up 9m wind so dropped that i had problems with 9m..

But interesting question? I should try sheet it in fully, from the edge of wind window in proper 25kts and then see how it performs. It should not back stall fully i suppose, just go bit back in power zone but stay there.

When using the right size kite for the wind you will be able to park the kite in the window and ride with out much kite movement. When your kite is to small for the wind (underpowered)
You have to continuously keep your kite moving through the window to generate power to keep you up and riding .
Try using the the right kite for the wind on the day and just be ready to use your safety if you get into trouble . Being able to stay on the water while underpowered is a skill that comes with time .

Thanks guys, small update.

Again, yes then i was quite underpowered back then when it flew backwards. But found at last session that old DOS still flies quite good. Yes, lines got a bit stretched/shrink-ed but it can be tuned in second using knots and deepower trim.

So, last session, 25-35kts.. At 35 i tried, got wiped out, could not get back, could not hold edge, had to eject and roll it up and wait for wind to back off a bit. (still kind beginner)
Then guy, having 30 kilos more asks me can he try with 7m, cause wind is too much for his 9. Sure. I explained him what is on about, we launch it and about half of hour he was up and going.

Wind dropped to 30, low 30. I give one more try, and perfect ride for about hour. Then wind dropped, i rigged 9m and continue to ride.
I did not try it on most power knot, further from the bar, maybe next session. Having it on second most power knot, on about 25kts i did not feel any back stall.