Need some tuning advice for my 7m Octane.

In stronger winds (25knots) the kite seems to fall out of the sky a lot more than I would subscribe to user error...

Behavior: in a gust, the kite lurches forward and then changes the angle of attack slightly at the edge of th e window, stalls and starts flying backwards (that impossible angle where the kite just hangs in the sky slowly traveling backwards)... very frustrating. based on 3 separate sessions in stronger wind.

I am an intermediate kiter (many years). Had a 7m Rev and did not have this problem. Also have 9m Octane; don't have the problem (although I don't ride it in stronger winds, as I logically tend to take out the 7m).

Any tuning advice would be appreciated. In the WA redkite downwinder today, I had 7 or 8 unexpected kite stalls -- one close to the city beach groin which is not where you want to have it happen!

Thx

(Pigtail extensions still on kite, but I don't recon that to be the issue as I did not de-power on bar at all)

is it back stalling or just falling out of the sky backwards?

If it's backstalling than you've just got the bar in too far (or your unhooked and haven't pulled that crucial bit of depower on) The Octane is more prone to back stall than the Rev2's.

If it's falling out of the sky then i've got no idea what's going on - have a chat to the Slingshot riders and see if they can help.

I also have the Octane 7, 9 & 11. I have had no problems with the 9 or 11 but have experienced the 7 falling out of the sky on both occasions above 25 knots. Extremely frustrating as it is unpredictable and have no control at all. It will generally happen a few times in quick succession, and does not seem to matter whether you are flying the kite hard or have it parked???? I have tried depowering incrementally and also riding completely powered up, however the kite continues to fall out of the sky without warning.

Have not flow any of the kites without the pigtails yet, but does not feel like sheeting?? I am glad I am not the only one to experience this as the 9 and 11 have flown well even when over powered.

Any other advice out there? Anyone from slingshot have a suggestion???

Robo

Sounds like a bridle problem. Just with that size lucky.

Reminds me of a SS link i had.

Rob S said...

Which pigtales will you take off? If I have it wrong could someone explain please.

The SS Ocatanes have a "pigtail extension" - about 5cm - on the rear lines. Many riders have removed this extension to get "true" bottom end of the kite.

Just further to the above I have been very surprised with the lack of power in the octane in general. Previously had the Rev and Rev2 9m and 13m and the new Octane 9m is really lacking in bottom end grunt. It also suffers from the same lack of rigidly that the Rev and Rev 2 had when you load it up for powered moves and can fold up when really loaded even at 8 BAR. Has anyone else felt the same lack of power. It is really noticeable in these kites in all sizes and other guys with these kites have experienced the same.

Would appreciate any feedback form others as to their thoughts and any possible solution (other than buying an 11). If you are considering these kites definitely organise a test fly first or step up a size. I am yet to be overpowered on the 9 in any wind range which is not a bad thing but there is a big difference between the Rev / Rev and the Octane in terms of bottom end power and pull. Octane also turns slower than the REV out of the bag without tuning.


Cheers

Southy

Hi, had the same feeling about this kite but have had more time on it and have it worked out a bit.

The Octane behaves like the RPM- in that if you pull on the bar for power too much you can stall it, this kite really loves board speed and have been out in low wind doing better than some 12m kites.
Pull on the bar for too long and this will happen even in strong winds, stop driving with the handbrake on, let the bar out a little flatten the board get speed then out point most on the water.

On settings did remove the rear pigtail extensions and found that the bottom end did come alive but you can't just grab it ya have to work for it. be judicious on the bar and the kite will work for you.

Cant work out brucex tuning because if you shorten the back lines at the kite and then shorten the front lines at the bar the same amount (80mm and 1 to 3 knot is the same length??) you get no change in the set up- it does not matter which end of the lines that you shorten the effect is the same.

luv
istt

the truth said...

....
The Octane behaves like the RPM- in that if you pull on the bar for power too much you can stall it....

I appear to have a different problem.

On my 7m it is not a "Stall and fly backwards" or simple trim setup issue... In some sense it feels like my old 2001 C-kite that over-flew in gusts and then fell out of the sky before you had sufficient line tension to steer the kite...

I'll measure my line lengths tomorrow and check... be surprised if they stretched a lot so quickly.

happens to me every session i have on my 7 in 20+ knts, mostly on the beach, gust will come and there goes the kite and soon after there goes me flying down the beach.

Sounds more like people who have no clue how to fly a kite! [}:)]
We basically have the whole octane range covered in our area and every octane has flown perfectly out the bag with the an exception. All have removed the pigtail on the smaller sizes, and a disclaimer none are sponsored riders.
Constant winds,
Baz.
PS Not everyone who drives a Ferrari is Micheal Schumacher.

Baz said...

Sounds more like people who have no clue how to fly a kite! [}:)]
We basically have the whole octane range covered in our area and every octane has flown perfectly out the bag with the an exception. All have removed the pigtail on the smaller sizes, and a disclaimer none are sponsored riders.
Constant winds,
Baz.
PS Not everyone who drives a Ferrari is Micheal Schumacher.

I wouldnt call the octane a Ferrari by any stretch, but you are right in saying that people dont have a clue how to fly the kite as obviously there is a problem with the 7m that only a highly paid profesional like Micheal schumacher could handle. But arent these kites designed for your average kitter? These kites are nowhere near high performance in any area they are just ment to be a good all round kite.

I think allso that SS need to make some changes to there bridles to give the option to make it go up wind a lot easier as there has allways been some technique to getting the best out of them they seem to sit way to far back in the window. Not a lot of R&D going on at SS at the moment, i think they need to start putting more efort in before they have no one ridding there gear. appart from the Fuel ridders,the fuel is one great kite.

pfr said...

its a 2010 kite. If you buy a new kite and you have problems with the way it flies straight out of the bag, you either just spent $1500 on a dud or the design is flawed. Coming from slingshot why am i not surprised. Really it should fly properly on all settings. they wouldn't have made the pigtails a specific length if all attatchment points were not to be used. This is a 2002 problem.

I've seen plenty of other kites do the same and Slingshot is not the first brand to have a flaw on an 09 or 10 kite. Bandit 2's fell out the sky, 09 cab's needed replacement IDS replacement lines. No brand is immune to this, it happens.

What godlike brand do you fly that has never experienced problems with one size or model?

Check out this link for tuning the Octane.