Slingshot REV Line / Bar / Kite set up question

Deapblu · Since 23 Jun 2008 27 Posts Portland

Hey all,

I picked up a REV 9m last year with bar and this year I picked up a REV2 7m for those windy days at HR. The 7m was just the kite and I assumed that I could use the same bar that I got with the 9m. I had my first opportunity to fly the 7m yesterday and had a bit of a problem. When pulled in on the bar the kite flew "backwards" (unfortunately right into the power zone). After a rather dramatic launch from the event site, I moved over the sandbar. With a little cautious experimentation, I found that the kite would fly more or less normally with about 16" of depower on the power lines.

I really don't like the idea of flying a kite that will do reverse if the depower slips out. I brought the kite in and pulled out the 9m and it flew fine on the bar. And yes, I had all the lines on the same knot on the bridal.

Does anyone have any insight to this situation? Do I need a different bar? Extensions on the steering lines?

Blu

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

Wow, 16" of depower to normalize things?!?! Something is wrong with that kite. You should check the bridles to make sure they are not stretched or were not repaired/replaced with the wrong lengths. I think SS used to have a diagram they could give you with the correct lengths for all bridle lines. Call them.

I had a 7M REV2 (it was a fantastic kite, wish i hadn't sold it) and it did have a smaller bar than my 11M REV2, but I'm not sure what bar the 9 used. Shouldn't make a difference, though. If the 9M bar is longer, it'll just have the 7 turning a little faster. And mixing REV and REV2 bars should not be a problem.

Make sure all the lines on your bar are the same length as well.

I could see fixing some oversheeting by tuning the kite (pulling in some depower) but if you are pulling in 16 inches, that's a bit much...

Good luck. Post what you find.

Nak · Thu May 10, 12 7:52 am

Everything toddjb said is correct. Now, if the wind is a bit light for the 7m you do have to push the bar out to get it to climb. The Event site has some weird wind conditions, and even if it was blowing 20 knots I could see where you might have to push the bar out to get it to climb while launching at the Event Site. Pulling 16" of depower rope is equivalent to pushing the bar out 8". A bar a bit out of tune would make things even worse.

First, and everyone should do this every ten sessions or so, check the tune of your bar:
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-10679.html

Second: Flight test your kite again after re-tuning your bar. Remember, it's totally normal--and necessary--to have to push the bar way out while launching in light or weird wind conditions like the Event Site or Stevenson. Maybe have someone very familiar with the REVs fly it for you?

That will probably get you sorted out, assuming nobody modded your kite. If the kite is still flying wrong, something is most likely wrong with your bridle. Maybe it's stretched, maybe somebody replaced it with the wrong year or size bridle. Maybe somebody modded it.

Even if the kite is now flying OK, the bridle probably could use replacing if the kite has been used a lot. Bridles stretch over time and that makes the kite fly worse. A new bridle can make an old REV fly like new.

I hope that helps. Let us know how it goes! It's always good to add to the knowledge base for the next guy.

Deapblu · Since 23 Jun 2008 27 Posts Portland

Thank you for the ideas.

I took a look at the bridal and it seems to be stock, thought it is hard to tell without measuring each section. Nak, I checked out your post on tuning the bar and I'll do that next week. Thank you for the detailed instructions.

As far as sheeting out, I was sheeted out and at almost 12 o'clock after launching. I was strapping on the board and pulled in on the bar to create a bit of force to get in and that is when the kite backed down into the power zone...bit of a surprise and made for a good jerk down wind.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for an easy solution.

Blu

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

sounds like you're missing the pigtail extensions on the steering lines.