Slingshot bar setup?

Macboy · Since 28 May 2011 32 Posts Edmonton, AB, Canada

Rumor has it there are a couple Slingshot fliers on this forum. I have a question for you. I've just received my new-to-me SS T3 11m and I believe what I have with it is a Slingshot Fullstroke Bar. It has short floats and pulleys on the bar ends but has been upgraded to CSS.

I'm setting the kite and bar up for 1:1 flying (as it was during my lessons...just to keep apples apples for now - I'll try the 2:1 later) and in doing so need to bypass the pulleys on the bar. All that was explained well in the instructions. The question I have is concerning the stopper ball (not the active stopper that runs on both lines, the one SS calls the "Power Ball").

What's the purpose of this ball and how does one set it (how do I determine where to set it)?

Note, the previous owner has done some creative ropery perhaps to save wear form the set screw or perhaps because he lost the set screw and needed a good fix. One may never know. I'm going to disassemble this and install a new adjustable stopper ball I have here ("power ball"). Just need to know if I should put it back where this one was or if it depends on the day, the winds, the sun, the moon etc.

Anything else I should check before flight? Leader lengths?

I think the T3 I flew during my lessons had been updated to a Direct Drive bar - seemed to be a bit thicker and more contoured right at the middle of the bar which I quite liked. May upgrade.

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

You are right on to question that. Not familiar with that setup,but to my naked eye it looks sketchy.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1860 Posts XTreme Poster

Looks to me like someone threaded that purple line through to prevent the small black stopper from sliding up when pushed from below by the sliding stopper. There is a hex screw that you can tighten, but if it's not tight, or stripped--or you lose it--strong cord would do the same.

Eric

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

I would like to know the answer to the stopper ball placement as well. I have a T2 and mine is set such that I can't really sheet in as much as I would like. I almost always fly with mine sheeted in to the ball.

After some recent issues I have been having I would say that unless they fixed the bridle in the T3 you don't want to sheet in too much because you risk the kite bowting if the lines go slack. Pappas has a 20 for me if I can manage a session without having to self rescue and so far that money is safe lol. To be fair though I'm trying tricks just outside my skill level. Under normal flying conditions that's not an issue.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1860 Posts XTreme Poster

Sorry, I just now read your entire post.

As for where the set stopper should go, what I do is adjust it such that when I let go of the bar the kite can ALMOST fly, but eventually--3-5 seconds--luffs and falls out of the sky. With this setting it gives you a little time to get your act together if you try a trick and let go of the bar, etc. You really have to find that spot at the beach. Loosen/remove, the stopper and take a sharpie to the beach and use your sliding stopper to find the location that you are most comfortable with. Mark the line, reinstall and there you go.

Eric

Macboy · Since 28 May 2011 32 Posts Edmonton, AB, Canada

Yeah, it appears to me that the set screw has gone MIA judging by the empty threaded hole in the ball.

Just to be sure I understand then - the "Power Ball" - the fixed stopper that's only on the one line - is set to the point where at max sheet in on the cam cleat (the power ball will then be touching the little ring) the kite JUST barely luffs (overflies) with the bar fully sheeted out. The sliding stopper then is set during any given session to stop the bar from getting out of reach on me or to set it at the nice cruising sheet point.

If this is the case, let's say I have the kite fully powered up (let out completely on the cam cleat)....if I drop the bar does the kite flop out of the sky as it did during my lessons? Seems to me it wouldn't.

Am I thinking too much? Should I just get out flying it and experiment? I'm no noob when it comes to kiting but it's foils that I've been flying for the past 6 years up until now.

Out of curiosity, why on the '08 Direct Drive bar does this ball move to the other side of the depower rope assembly?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1860 Posts XTreme Poster

You have the basic idea. The small stopper is there to prevent the kite getting overly sheeted which can lead to inversions. The sliding stopper is there for on the fly adjustments. I mostly use the slider when I want to lay in the water for awhile and rest, or adjust footstraps. By sliding it closer the kite will park at 12. It's also useful if you want to try unhooking. Those kites have a lot of depower so the margin for error is large. You might want to take it out and fly it on a lightish day. It may be just fine as is

Eric

Nak · Wed Jul 06, 11 8:16 am

Power Ball=Fixed yellow ball
Stopper Ball=sliding black stopper.

I've heard that it limits the total depower to prevent inversions. I'm not sure that makes sense though, because if you pull in the trim rope till the power ball is at the "pulley", you've effectively negated the power ball. The other possible use is to limit how far out of reach the bar can get.

I redo all of my bars as soon as I get them. I've always just removed the power ball and have never had a problem because of it. ( That's not to say you won't. ) If the bar is out of reach after a crash, I just grab the center rope and pull it down to get at the bar. I ditch the stock trim rope and use dual layer amsteel in it's place with a Naish sliding stopper. (I use the stopper primarily to prevent the bar sliding out of reach. ) The dual layer amsteel I make out of 1/8" line fed into itself to make 3/16" line. It wears FAR better and if the outer layer goes you still have the inner layer. I have never had one of these lines wear out, even after several seasons of hard use.

I wouldn't recommend going to a direct drive setup with a T3. Unless you re-rig a really long depower line, you won't have full depower available. Turning will be slow, even with a 23" bar. Before you go to the hassle, borrow a Rev bar and see how you like the way the T3 flies. Bear in mind that your depower will be quite limited. If you rely on full depower, you could get hurt...

If you want a direct drive bar, your best option is just change kites, IMHO.

Nak · Wed Jul 06, 11 8:19 am

scottm · Since 12 Jun 2006 108 Posts Stoked

I had an 11m T3, and would definitely leave it at 2:1. As Nak mentioned, you get more depower and faster turning (and the 11m is not a fast turning kite). Still the best light-wind kite I've flown, tons of low-end grunt, though I've heard the new Turbine is unreal and you can sucker others onto the water with it...

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

My 11m T2 is a pretty good low wind kite. If there's enough wind that I'm not afraid it's going to fall out of the sky at any moment then I can get a plane going on it.

Macboy · Since 28 May 2011 32 Posts Edmonton, AB, Canada

......guess I didn't need the 14 then...... Laughing

Thanks for the info. I re-checked the diagrams on the SS website and I was wrong on a couple points. The diagrams DO show the fixed stopper on the fixed side of the "pulley" - it's just not clear on the '07 diagram which side it's on. Good to know. I was really confusing myself trying to figure out why they would move it to the other side (so you don't sheet out so much you backstall was all I could come up with : )

It looks like I'm the proud owner of an '08 Fullstroke, not an upgraded '07. Didn't even catch that there were two models. Lucky me...maybe it means my kite is a year newer and has that much life left in it (though I can hardly tell it's been flown).

Should I not even bother "trying it" at 1:1 if that's what I am going to be expecting from the 9m I flew? Sounds to me like the 14 will DEFINITELY be best at 2:1.

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

DownStream · Since 18 Apr 2007 381 Posts Obsessed

u know u dont need that stopper. works fine without it, just run the active stopper or no stopper at all, no problem

captain crusty · Since 30 Aug 2005 92 Posts PDX

send it back while you still can
they shouldnt be selling wacked out bars like that anymore

Macboy · Since 28 May 2011 32 Posts Edmonton, AB, Canada

Update: got out today finally. Rigged 2:1 and it seemed really nonresponsive. Granted, I had chickened in on the knots but it just seemed off to me. Landed, powered up on front and back line attachments and though better, it still seemed too disconnected for my flying. Perhaps it was just too much depower as the tips would kinda flap like a ragdoll if I dove it hard. Decided to land and check to be sure it was pumped up enough (it was).

Rerigged at 1:1 and it was perfect for me. Seemed way more responsive, way more stable in the air and the ragdoll went away. Love the way you can spill all the power out of the sail so easily in our 17 gusting to 30 wind today. DEFINITELY feel it in my arms but I'm ok with that. For now Smile