Guys,

I was hoping for some advice on the 09 12m rebel.

Whenever i send the kite for a jump it 'shudders' if that is able to describe it, as if it was luffing in the wind. I basically get stuff all lift and no float.

Also, whenever the kite is sheeted out a bit, you can see two crease marks on the canopy appear right where the 5th line 'Y' attaches. Is it possible this is too tight?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Kitehard said...
Biggest problem is the front lines stretching into shape faster than the 5th line, creating undue tension in the 5th. This distorts the canopy and could effect the kite in the ways you describe.

Had and issue with our 08 12m rebel where the y-bridal didn't stretch out with the flying lines and we were getting really distorted flying shapes. Ended up adding 4cm between the upper and lower section of the bridal and it flies heaps better now. I've got a click of it at home.

As for jumping the north kites reward you with good jumps if you have good edging and pop in jumps. You can park the rebel around 11:00ish, load and pop and you'll go flying with "hang time" even with out sending the kite. If you "pull the trigger" and "hop" off the water like a lot of people do with bow kites (cab owners seem to have the market cornered on this) your not going to go anywhere.

Please don't take that the wrong way as I have no idea who you are, just pointing out something that doesn't work with these kites.

Hey Omega,

Stoked to have been able to help. Easiest way to lengthen a line, it to add a pigtail. Super easy and costs you stuff all. This sort of thing wouldn't be covered by warrranty as it would be deemed as fair wear and tear I'd think.

It's an easy fix at any rate. Good to hear of a favourable outcome.

Good winds,

Paul1 said...

omega said...

Thanks for the tips kitehard and Canuk, i have just measured the nose line length of the 12m and they are about 4cm too short! Whats the best way to add length to the nose line bridal? Or is it something i should the hit the warranty up for? I think once this is sorted the kite will fly terrific.

I took your advice kitehard for my 9m and now the thing flies like a dream (nose line length is correct as well).

I would take it back to where you bought it from and get them to fix it. When you pay over $2000 for a kite, it should fly perfectly, straight out of the bag.

Omega - all I did was put a pig tail in for the tiem being, the one I put in was a little long so I tied a knot in the middle (I don't recomend this, it's just what I did) till I can make one the proper length.

Paul1 - The rebels fly damn well out of the bag. But for those of us that can't replace them every year or get a lot of use out of them, the lines will stretching which has cause the above problems. This is true on any kite

Paul1 said...

cRAZY Canuk said...

Paul1 said...

omega said...

Thanks for the tips kitehard and Canuk, i have just measured the nose line length of the 12m and they are about 4cm too short! Whats the best way to add length to the nose line bridal? Or is it something i should the hit the warranty up for? I think once this is sorted the kite will fly terrific.

I took your advice kitehard for my 9m and now the thing flies like a dream (nose line length is correct as well).

I would take it back to where you bought it from and get them to fix it. When you pay over $2000 for a kite, it should fly perfectly, straight out of the bag.

Omega - all I did was put a pig tail in for the tiem being, the one I put in was a little long so I tied a knot in the middle (I don't recomend this, it's just what I did) till I can make one the proper length.

Paul1 - The rebels fly damn well out of the bag. But for those of us that can't replace them every year or get a lot of use out of them, the lines will stretching which has cause the above problems. This is true on any kite

Not sure what your going on about mate, the thread is about an 09 Rebel so I presume it is new????????? Obviously you can have problems with used kites, my comments are specifically aimed at paying $2400 for a kite that doesnt fly properly straight out of the bag. If you buy something from a shop and it doesnt work, take it back. If the kite was bought privatley then thats life.

You missed the point and went directly to the offensive when you saw your name.

I'm guessing (educated) that Omegas kite is around 2.5 months old, I'm also guessing that he's getting out 5-6 times a month in 15 - 22 knots. Regardless of if the kite is new or not the lines will stretch.

If omega adds 4cm to the bridal it means that the lines have stretched or are stretching 0.16% (assuming 25m lines, 0.15% for 27m lines) a 1-2mm Dynema blend should have a elastic elongation of around 0.4% at 10% of breakload. As lines get used this elastic elongation stops being elastic and they stretch. Lines generally set (depending on usage) over 2 months of kiting, I don't know the exact number that line will stretch but I'd wager a bet its somewhere around 0.2% which is about 5.5cm (which over 25m or 2500cm isn't that much in the grand scheme) though that's a guess, someone in the industry might have a better number than that.

Due to the way the flying lines, bridal and 5th line are set up some parts will stretch at different times and lengths do to loading, unloading and load paths (more important in the streatching of bridals). As previosly pointed out they do work quite well out of the bag (at least mine did) but over time a kite needs to be trimed and that is true of all kites and all brands.

Techniclly speaking lines (and bridals) should be replaced every 1 - 1.5 years at a minimum if you get a lot of use out of your kit.

i'm with take it back to north camp, but other forums say wont that wont be much help

i've had problems with my 09 9m (another post)

what i think north are trying to do is use the 5th line (and front line) tension to hold a flatter arc in the kite, rather than maybe structural strength in the LE itself

found mucking around with the 9m line lengths that making the 5th too long led to the kite looking very C shaped (more curved) and lost a lot of its depower, and would stall horribly in lighter winds.

Dwight from kiteforum says lengthening 5th line worsens the oversheeting, which i found to to true, but with the 5th line tight as, seem to lose bottom end of the kite and i found the kite was still over sheeted

have had plenty of kites including 07 08 rebels which i loved and they flew perfectly with out touching a thing

my personal feeling 09 rebels ( 9m particularly) arent sorted properly, other would argue differently but there are a few threads here and there on the same topic through different forums to suggest a few issues. i have a 7m 09 which seems fine but has had a real tst i must say, have an 11m too unused as yet....... might be for sale soon

seems change for change sake has been a backward step,

i heading back to 08's

Only got experience with the 2007 rebel. The 5th line should not be too tight. If it looks as if the 5th line has more tension than the two LE lines I would say you need to trim the kite. In the 2007 model the depower adjustment can shorten the LE lines but does not affect the 5th line. If the 5th line is too short also the general power and steering feel is not good. Would be good to have something that keeps the same ratio of 5th line tension and LE line tension indpendent of the depower setting.