|
previous topic :: next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Windian
Since 28 Apr 2008
901 Posts
Newport, OR
NEWPORT OG
|
 Thu Mar 29, 12 4:18 pm Very small leak |
 |
|
| My 6m leading edge bladder has got a very slight leak which amounts to about 1-2 psi lost in 8 hours. I am thinking it is probably one of the valves or manifolds. Does anyone have any ideas beyond sending in to the service guys for repair? I am considering putting some sticky surf wax on the valve closure plug and keeping my fingers crossed. It doesn't lose enough air to stop me from using the kite for a session as I went out yesterday in gale conditions at Agate Beach and it worked just fine during the 2 hours blast. |
|
|
dangler
Since 26 Feb 2006
1780 Posts
WINDY SPOTS
XTreme Poster
|
| Thu Mar 29, 12 4:50 pm leaky bladder |
|
|
Do you suffer from the embarassment of leaky bladder? Then read on...
Pump your kite up a little harder than normal and spray it down with a spray bottle of water with a squirt of dishwashing soap.
Use a gallon jug as well if you have trouble finding it, sometimes you have to really drench it.
Look for the little bubbles. Even a 3 hour leaker will give it up with this method.
I hate leaky bladders
P.S. also common, especially well used or older kites, small leaks around valves, one pump apparati, and other gizmos. These can be especially frustrating to find because they can be intermittant, only leaking under load, certain positions, etc.
Use the soapy water test on these as well, and manipulate them to check.
The inflate valve gradually widens from the hose nipple jammed in, if thats the case some pipe tape is a quick fix
_________________
Kite Repair? AND WINGS Call me.(509) six 37-four five 29 |
|
|
Inept_Fun
Since 14 Apr 2005
1417 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
|
| Thu Mar 29, 12 5:18 pm |
|
|
Yes what Dangler said is the best way, also if you know that its the leading edge bladder for sure than you can just pull the bladder out, pump it up not too hard though as it wont be very strong outside the kite, and submerge it in the bath tub and look for the bubbles. Just make sure to tie a line to one side of the bladder and pull it through the opposite end so that its easy to get back in.
_________________
I heart dangling |
|
|
SalmonSlayer
Since 27 Nov 2005
648 Posts
Addicted
CGKA Member
|
| Thu Mar 29, 12 7:09 pm |
|
|
This has worked of me every time I have a loose or leaky valve. It is simple method and I dont need to remove anything to make it work. You might want to try it before attempting a bladderendectomy.
Take a coffee cup of water and heat in in your microwave for ~ 1 minute.
Female end
1. Take a very small wire tie and put on the end near the opening (not the base) and pull it as tight as you can.
2. Stick the female end in the hot water until it is brought up near the water temp which is no more than 30 seconds.
3. Give the wire tie one more tug to make sure it is putting pressure on the valve.
4. Let the valve cool or dip it in cold water and you have a visibly tighter female end.
5. Using a small pair of dykes, I clip off the wire tie because the heads are sharp and could cause damage.
Male end
1. The Male plug should be hollow on the end that goes into the valve.
2. Using a heated cup of hot water, put it in the water and submerge for 30 seconds
3. Take a cheap straight plastic pen (This is the straight Bic type with the squared off end) and put the pen in the end hollow end of the male plug. this will slightly enlarge the circumference of the male plug while it is warm and more flexible.
4. Leave the pen in the plug until it cools.
You are done. Go kite |
|
|
chrissmack
Since 08 Jun 2005
526 Posts
portland
Addicted
|
| Thu Mar 29, 12 9:17 pm |
|
|
| what dangler said. he told me this technique a while back, have used it twice for just what you described. i thought it was valve, too, but was a tiny pinhole. i don't even use soap or spray bottle. on a sunny day, just pump the kite up, nice and solid, and drench it with the hose. you'll hear/see bubbles. |
|
|
consumer
Since 28 Nov 2010
406 Posts
banned
Obsessed
|
| Fri Mar 30, 12 7:02 am |
|
|
honestly what i've found most successful and easy is to just pump the LE up and submerge the thing bit by bit looking for leaks next time you go kiting. Try to find an area with little to no chop (like a boat ramp or something).
works well and it's quick for identifying leaks. |
|
|
Ryan
Since 14 Jul 2005
537 Posts
Oregon
Addicted
|
| Fri Mar 30, 12 7:26 am Check the hoses |
|
|
| Be sure to check the hoses. I have had a couple slow leaks that are just small holes in the hoses, which is an easy fix. |
|
|
Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2623 Posts
The 503
METAL
|
| Fri Mar 30, 12 8:01 am |
|
|
| consumer wrote: | | honestly what i've found most successful and easy is to just pump the LE up and submerge the thing |
I wouldn't have belieived this until I ran into it myself, but there are leaks so small that they will not show bubbles when submerged in water. You have to use the D's technique with soapy water...and they won't reveal right away! You have to leave it for and hour or two and when you come back there will be tiny clusters foam bubbles. This information would have saved me days of hunting.
I think these nano-leaks mainly plauge coastal kiters because of the beach grass. The tips of the grass have very fine points. Lately the beach grass has been taking over...don't let your kite anywhere near it!!  |
|
|
blowhard
Since 26 Dec 2005
2027 Posts
Windward
|
| Fri Mar 30, 12 10:14 am |
|
|
| Wind Slither wrote: | | consumer wrote: | | honestly what i've found most successful and easy is to just pump the LE up and submerge the thing |
I wouldn't have belieived this until I ran into it myself, but there are leaks so small that they will not show bubbles when submerged in water. You have to use the D's technique with soapy water...and they won't reveal right away! You have to leave it for and hour or two and when you come back there will be tiny clusters foam bubbles. This information would have saved me days of hunting.
I think these nano-leaks mainly plauge coastal kiters because of the beach grass. The tips of the grass have very fine points. Lately the beach grass has been taking over...don't let your kite anywhere near it!! |
ha ha ,
on one of the sojourns to Newport year before last ,I hindenburg'd my 10 coming over the dune at south beach from no wind/rotor condition,never had to do a one fill repair ,but after several attempts to repair found some points from beach grass embedded in my leading edge ,thought I had them all out ,but alas NO ,(super frustrating and I never cared for the 10s' performance)so it hangs in shed ,IF it quits raining I'm going to try the Dangler method
I'd never given up on a kite repair until then
thanks Danglr |
|
|
Windian
Since 28 Apr 2008
901 Posts
Newport, OR
NEWPORT OG
|
| Fri Mar 30, 12 2:02 pm |
|
|
Dangler, yu da man with your soapy spray bottle method! It ended up being the surgical tubing (manifold) connection at the leading edge going to the big center strut. I sprayed on the elixer and several minutes later the foamy bubbles started to grow at that spot, everywhere else the soapy elixer just dried up.
Ended up having to cut the little zip-tie, reseat the tubing and put on 2 new zips on the connection just to be safe. It appears to be holding air with no loss in pressure, I'm stoked!
Going to remember some of the other tips like Salmonslayer's hot water method for loose valve fittings. Thanks for all the input everyone, now let's bring on Spring/Summer and put this rainy, gray, cold crap behind us.
Last edited by Windian on Sat Mar 31, 12 11:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
blancoh2o
Since 15 Mar 2005
1154 Posts
Oregon
Phishy
|
| Sat Mar 31, 12 8:49 am |
|
|
| Inept_Fun wrote: | | Just make sure to tie a line to one side of the bladder and pull it through the opposite end so that its easy to get back in. |
I learned how to deal with this situation by mistake. To overcome it. Use a small amout of tape on a broom handle or piece of PVC pipe and tape a line to it. Insert the pole into the bladder sleeve and push the line all the way trough to the other end. grab the line and remove the pole. Now attach the blader to the pole and pull it back into place. Most kites have a bladder access somewhere near the center of the LE. You can use the same method from the access point.
_________________
KB4C!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://kb4c.rallyup.com/kb4c/286ef9/Member |
|
|
SalmonSlayer
Since 27 Nov 2005
648 Posts
Addicted
CGKA Member
|
| Sat Mar 31, 12 9:31 am |
|
|
| blancoh2o wrote: | | Inept_Fun wrote: | | Just make sure to tie a line to one side of the bladder and pull it through the opposite end so that its easy to get back in. |
I learned how to deal with this situation by mistake. To overcome it. Use a small amout of tape on a broom handle or piece of PVC pipe and tape a line to it. Insert the pole into the bladder sleeve and push the line all the way trough to the other end. grab the line and remove the pole. Now attach the blader to the pole and pull it back into place. Most kites have a bladder access somewhere near the center of the LE. You can use the same method from the access point. |
I stopped using the string method. I use a painters extension pole (the PVC pipe would work just as well) and just put it through the end of the kite to the access point in the middle, duct tape the end of the bladder to it and pull it out to the end. Then repeat on the other side. The key is to draw a permanent marker line down the length of the pole so I have a reference point to make sure I am not twisting the pole as a pull it out. This method seems better guarantee no twist in the bladder than the string method |
|
|
|
