maintaining gear

> 10 years ago
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mrfunk
mrfunk
3 posts
3 posts
7 Mar 2010 5:04pm
Hi all

I am quite certain that this particular information has probably been covered in detail elsewhere on the site. But regardless I'm going to ask again. Can anyone give me a run down on routine maintenance of equipment. Alternatively just a simple link to another site or forum discussion that gives some tips would be good. Routine stuff you do to look after your gear after going kiting.

Thanks for your help.
tobes
tobes
NSW
1000 posts
NSW, 1000 posts
7 Mar 2010 10:12pm
Rinse out your wetsuit, harness, and maybe bar and lines in fresh water and hang em up to dry in the shade.
If your kite is dry, just fold it up and put it in it's bag. Don't leave it anywhere hot, like the boot of your car in the sun.
If you have pulleys, check them often. Sand can clog them, a seized pulley can rapidly eat through a bridle line. Some guys use a silicone lube on their pulleys.
Check your lines as you set up your kite.
Check your safety releases as often as you like.

That's about all I can think of, a lot less complicated than my mountain bikes.
suface2air
suface2air
QLD
701 posts
QLD, 701 posts
7 Mar 2010 9:57pm
Dont forget that salt water dosnt get mould fresh water can so the most important as above . Is pack kite if dry ... dont if it isnt that mould is a kites bigest killer
eightfootplus
eightfootplus
NSW
298 posts
NSW, 298 posts
22 Mar 2010 11:04pm
And if you have zippers your kite bag then use some vasso and loob them up in the off season so you can open your kite bag the next summer!
harry potter
harry potter
VIC
2777 posts
VIC, 2777 posts
31 Mar 2010 5:42pm
You will probably find like most of us that you dont end up really doing much with your gear (aside from the usual safety checks ) I find it very hard to justify rinsing or drying a kite when they are just going to be used again in the next few days.
Hot cars are generally not a problem as long as your kite is deflated, dont leave it in the car with the struts inflated.

IMO the only thing you really need to rinse is your wetsuit if you dont it will probably last about 3 years if you do it will probably last about 10..... I have noticed that it is not really the rubber that suffers but the stitching and the salt crystals dont get along also it is always so much easier to put on and feels far more supple after a decent rinse as opposed to the stiff salty wetsuit.

Kite bag zips do corrode and can be a pain to get open use a bit of lanolin spray once a year. Or be preparede to tear into your bag in a frenzy once on the beach
sorse
sorse
NSW
509 posts
NSW, 509 posts
9 Apr 2010 12:40am
One other thing if your kite gets rinsed in the shore break or is regularly ending up full of sand.
Ocassionally when deflating run your hand up between the leading edge and the canopy and remove any sand caught there.. Can wear the kite faster. PLus check if your tips wear from self launching on beach.. any holes patch them straight away ..
harry potter
harry potter
VIC
2777 posts
VIC, 2777 posts
9 Apr 2010 2:50am
sorse said...

One other thing if your kite gets rinsed in the shore break or is regularly ending up full of sand.
Ocassionally when deflating run your hand up between the leading edge and the canopy and remove any sand caught there.. Can wear the kite faster. PLus check if your tips wear from self launching on beach.. any holes patch them straight away ..


Excellent point .. And very often overlooked by most kiters. The sand and even shells that get wedged between the canopy and leading edge can very quickly wear through the canopy.
DrP00b
DrP00b
NSW
55 posts
NSW, 55 posts
9 Apr 2010 9:22pm
Would you guys recommend a vacuum in between the leading edge & canopy when it's in the garage?
sorse
sorse
NSW
509 posts
NSW, 509 posts
10 Apr 2010 9:01am
Hmm not sure about a vaccum worried I'd keep getting the kite stuck in it, guess you could see how you go.
I recommend making sure it's dry and use a brushand it should pretty much fall away.
DrP00b
DrP00b
NSW
55 posts
NSW, 55 posts
10 Apr 2010 9:54am
Ahhh huh - thanks big man. You were the bloke who sold it to me
foundharness
foundharness
8 posts
8 posts
11 Apr 2010 2:19pm
What sort of wear on the lines should you look for?
harry potter
harry potter
VIC
2777 posts
VIC, 2777 posts
12 Apr 2010 2:46pm
that can be a difficult one...........

Check where your front lines cross ie: after a back roll your front lines will cross check this area for wear. also where the pigtails attach. You will find that the first sign of wear will be a slight freying of the outer sleeve dyneema.

Most lines seem to have an inner core usually white with an outer sleeve ( red, grey yellow etc..... often the outer part can look very worn but the inner ( strength section ) will be uncompromised.

Many lines that look like they are finished will end up lasting another season, but it can be risky and it depends on how you load the lines ie : jumping and kiting generally will not put too much strain on them but looping or shock loading the lines can very quickly bring them to the end of their life.

Skock loading occurs most often after you swing under the kite and it backstalls ( drifts back ) before powering up again whilst the lines are slack. hope that makes sense.

If in any doubt replace them as you dont want to spend each session worrying about it ( buy a roll of the line stuff ......its much cheaper ).
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