Grab a drink and get comfortable, this is a long one

Finally got around to releasing this video! I learned many new things since releasing my first line tuning video in 2013, I thought this would beneficial for everyone out there.



I hope your learned something new. Please share your thoughts, comments, questions.

Christian

280mm of stretch is surely abnormal? my Airush front lines stretched maybe 75mm after a season or so but 280mm is heaps

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doonut said..
280mm of stretch is surely abnormal? my Airush front lines stretched maybe 75mm after a season or so but 280mm is heaps

Not sure if you watched the video carefully. Lines are shrinking, not stretching. And yes, it's normal in our context (kite school using the same bar 6 hours per day in the hottest months of the year).

SHRINKING! Get outta here you think I come down in the last shower

... good work cbulota.

I kinda did the same experiment back in 2005, ie measuring lines, to try and understand why my kites would go out of tune quicker than others and its pretty linear, time on the water or rather time being used is huge factor,,,,, and surprise surprise lines shrunk, not stretched. And I found out, not just North lines but Ozone Core etc ect were all similar,,,,, they all shrink.

Oh and same thing can happen to bridles too, it's not as obvious so takes longer to effect the kite since bridles are much shorter but none the less it happens. I recommend, if the kite is still 'out of wack', check ya bridles too, if ya have a bridled kite of course.

Anyway, good video, well done!!

Robbie :)

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Puetz said..
... good work cbulota.

I kinda did the same experiment back in 2005, ie measuring lines, to try and understand why my kites would go out of tune quicker than others and its pretty linear, time on the water or rather time being used is huge factor,,,,, and surprise surprise lines shrunk, not stretched. And I found out, not just North lines but Ozone Core etc ect were all similar,,,,, they all shrink.

Oh and same thing can happen to bridles too, it's not as obvious so takes longer to effect the kite since bridles are much shorter but none the less it happens. I recommend, if the kite is still 'out of wack', check ya bridles too, if ya have a bridled kite of course.

Anyway, good video, well done!!

Robbie :)

I definitely remember your posts from a couple of years ago. It was good to see others measuring and monitoring the changes in lines lengths. Good point about the bridles shrinking as well!

Someone else mentioned in the YouTube comments that it's a good idea to check the tuning of brand new bars as they can sometimes be out of tune, even out of the box.

Hi christian can you do this with a hammer like your knot removal technique

Good video, I learnt a long time ago to check lines every now and then (esp no wind days), I was surprised that even a new set requires tuning after a month or so, also hard to get in your head they shrink (not stretch).

At least if they shrink I don't feel so bad about constantly lengthening pigtails, but when I run out of knots I usually think its time for a new set of lines.

I am also surprised by how few kiters (even quite experienced ones I know) take the time to check their lines (they probably don't notice it over time and then when kite is flying like a dog go and buy a new one).

No they stretch

Nope they shrink.

some stretch, some shrink, depending on stuff

... as far as I know, if you stretch dyneema (kite lines) more than 1 or 2 percent ( I think, can't remember the exact numbers now) when its new, it will break. But,,,,, you can get much more percentage in shrinkage over time so if you do stretch a line, it's more than likely that you've just taking it back to it's original manufactured length.

If you have lines that actually stretch then they are crappy and not kite lines.

I tried to find an alternative once, years ago, went to local yacht shop, bought the most expensive pre-stretch blah blah wiz-bang kevlar stuff and it stretched in minutes when used as kite lines,,,, totally useless and a waste of money,,, me experiment failed but lesson learned.

The proper kite lines don't stretch bugger all but if you try, you'll surely break them.

Cheers,

Robbie :)

Thanks for that video Christian. Very simple and informative. Any chance you'll do a common SLE kite bridle tune video? I guess the principles are the same. Check each bridle side for shrinkage or stretch and adjust accordingly. Can't imagine what foil kites would like!

Thanks it's a good video I'm about to change my bungee after I used another brand's has been under load