line length Question

[Ray]

Hi,

I am a new thunderfoil 1.7 owner and new kiter. I enjoy the kite quite a bit and have gotten fairly confident with it. I did notice that my flying stance gets a little uncomfortable because the left line is about 8 inches shorter than the right. I hate to do any cutting or messing around with the otherwise nicely made line set but I would like to get the lengths even. Is there a way to do this without cutting up my right line? I looked around the forum and didn't see anything particular to this. Any help from the kiters out there?

Thanks,

Ray

[John Barresi]

Hi Ray, I put this together for quad lines, but you can apply it to dual lines as well.

[Ray]

Hi Ray, I put this together for quad lines, but you can apply it to dual lines as well.

Thanks! This was extremely helpful. I guess I am retying that line because it is way out.

Ray

[Jeepster]

Ray,

I'll bet you're right handed!

The line set was probably made without being adequately pre-stretched and you're seeing the results. Because your right hand/arm is stronger than your left, you're pulling harder and stretching the right line more than the left. Before you even up the lines, you might try stretching both lines evenly to about half of breaking strength. Then switch the lines right-to-left and fly for a session or two. Then compare the lengths ... they should be closer than the eight inches you have right now. Now adjust the lines to equalize them.

When new, spectra line will creep about 2 to 3% until it takes a set ... that's 20 to 30 inches for a 90 foot line set. On quad kites it's the top lines that stretch the most because they take more of a load than the bottom lines. Thus, most fliers rotate the top and bottom lines for the first few flights. Hardly anyone bothers with keeping left and right the same on quads, so that gets evened out without anyone the wiser. With dual line kites, you should rotate the left and right hand lines during the first dozen or so flights to even out the creep.

Even if you even out the lines right now, you should still rotate them to even out the creep. That will help to keep them even over time.

Cheers,

Tom

[John Barresi]

Good tip Tom.

Also, on non "pro" line sets, it might be useful to stake off one end very securely and gently lean back (pull) on the other end to put in a little extra stretch... Be careful not to stress them too much, you'll feel them give a little, but you don't want to break them.

Once they're stretched out, they won't go too much further... However, lower quality lines will stretch more than higher quality lines (like LaserPro Gold).

[Ray]

Ray,

I'll bet you're right handed!

The line set was probably made without being adequately pre-stretched and you're seeing the results. Because your right hand/arm is stronger than your left, you're pulling harder and stretching the right line more than the left. Before you even up the lines, you might try stretching both lines evenly to about half of breaking strength. Then switch the lines right-to-left and fly for a session or two. Then compare the lengths ... they should be closer than the eight inches you have right now. Now adjust the lines to equalize them.

When new, spectra line will creep about 2 to 3% until it takes a set ... that's 20 to 30 inches for a 90 foot line set. On quad kites it's the top lines that stretch the most because they take more of a load than the bottom lines. Thus, most fliers rotate the top and bottom lines for the first few flights. Hardly anyone bothers with keeping left and right the same on quads, so that gets evened out without anyone the wiser. With dual line kites, you should rotate the left and right hand lines during the first dozen or so flights to even out the creep.

Even if you even out the lines right now, you should still rotate them to even out the creep. That will help to keep them even over time.

Cheers,

Tom

Thanks Tom,

I am right handed. Of course the lines started out with this disparity in length. It was very disconcerting on my first flight. The line is 200# and about 85' long. My first flight was in 20 mph beach wind so it was pretty fast and I crashed a bit until I got used to the length difference. I just feel like it would be more comfortable if they were more even. Thanks for the tips!

Ray

[Ray]

Ok John,

I pulled my lines out stretched them and then checked length. The picture shows the length difference in the lines(about 6 inches). The problem with using your evening method is that there is no little tuft of Spectra sticking out to hang on to. Your video mentions needing a sleeving tool if the lines goes inside the sleeve. I would dearly love to shorten the "RED" line to match the other but I am loathe to try to unknot it with no line hanging out to pull through. Any suggestions?

Ray

[John Barresi]

Here is a reference that might help...

http://www.thegreedybrain.com/StuntKiteTips/sleeve.htm

I use piano wire for my sleeving tools, you can also buy one...

http://www.amazon.com/Kite-Sleeving-Tool-Lengths-Braided/dp/B001S4RO8I

[Ray]

Here is a reference that might help...

http://www.thegreedybrain.com/StuntKiteTips/sleeve.htm

I use piano wire for my sleeving tools, you can also buy one...

http://www.amazon.com/Kite-Sleeving-Tool-Lengths-Braided/dp/B001S4RO8I

Thanks for the fast reply. I just so happen to have some old guitar strings that might work as well. Looks simple enough!

Ray

[Ray]

Here is a reference that might help...

http://www.thegreedybrain.com/StuntKiteTips/sleeve.htm

I use piano wire for my sleeving tools, you can also buy one...

http://www.amazon.com/Kite-Sleeving-Tool-Lengths-Braided/dp/B001S4RO8I

Thanks for the fast reply. I just so happen to have some old guitar strings that might work as well. Looks simple enough!

Ray

I took an old D string from my electric guitar and doubled it and crimped the end. Using the instructions you provided, I was able to get this done! The picture shows the result and the homemade sleeving tool. The longest and hardest part was getting the knots in the sleeve loose enough to undo. Thanks again for your help!

Ray

[Baloo]

Glad you got it sorted out. You will find it is much more fun now you have even lines.

Just in case you do not know, dont forget to trim the long bit of line, best to leave a little tag as John mentioned, and you probably need to heat the end to seal the fibres from fraying.

[Ray]

Glad you got it sorted out. You will find it is much more fun now you have even lines.

Just in case you do not know, dont forget to trim the long bit of line, best to leave a little tag as John mentioned, and you probably need to heat the end to seal the fibres from fraying.

Thanks Baloo,

I have to be led around by the nose at first but I catch on quick. I did that right after taking that picture. I left 1/4" hanging out and applied a small amount of flame. I am looking forward to this weekend!

Ray

[Jeepster]

Just to add to the discussion on rotating lines. I've got one set of Shanti lines that have seen extensive use over the last year-and-a-half ... 80 feet of 90#. About a month ago I adjusted the lines to equalize all four of them - within 1/4 inch of each other. Since then, they've stayed even during several trips out to the flying field.

Yesterday the weather site I watch listed the winds as 26 mph with gusts to 36 mph. My measurements yielded essentially the same results ... with a few gusts to +40 mph. For yesterday's winds, I have a homemade Rev like kite with double the venting of a full vent Rev. It will handle 20~25 mph winds with a reasonable pull on the lines. Over 30 mph it starts to jerk me around. I decided to switch the top and bottom lines just for the heck of it. When I checked the lines after flying for a couple of hours, I found the bottom lines (which I had placed on top) were about 2 inches longer. Hmmm. Lots of use on that line set, and still, it's showing creep when subjected to extra pull.

Shanti line doesn't have the coating that LPG has. Don't know if LPG will yield the same results.

Cheers,

Tom

[Reef Runner]

Hang in there Ray..............this ain't exactly "rocket science", or maybe it is? Think about the flight line, as your finger, and the sleeving, as Chinese Handcuffs. Hope you know what they are.

There's tons of help here. Just ask.............John's tutorials are great, man knows what he's talking about...........just apply it to two lines......................Ask and you shall receive...................

[John Barresi]

You'll notice one heck of a difference in flying, nothing like having even length lines.

[Ray]

I am going to try the lines out today!

Heading out to galveston west beach now. Weather is a little iffy but I have another new kite (skydog thunderstruck) that I want to try out as well as a nice work out with the thunderfoil. Thanks for the help guys. Now if only I can win the Cherry Bomb Stack today! LOL

Ray