Howdy all.

Can anybody give me some info or an explanation about the problems with NORTH VALVES.
I know they are really good kites, but there seems to be a 'ship load' for sale with valve problems.

Is this why they changed the inflate valve on the 2014 models?

Or is it a problem with valves from LE to strut?

Do NORTH , wholesalers, distrubuters, suppliers etc know of this problem, and give help with rectifying ei: repairs , spare parts??

Is it still a problem with current models?

What year / models have the most problems ??

I don't have a bad word to say about NORTH gear, I'm just curious because I am on the market to buy, and I have seen 4 different kites with the same problem.

Thanks
R

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Ragzilla said...

I know they are really good kites, but there seems to be a 'ship load' for sale with valve problems.

Where is this ship load? How cheap are they? I could change a valve on a new kite for the right price

Repaired a few north bladders, but these have been on 2010& 2011 models, recently replaced a full valve set on a 6 and 9 rebels, that delaminates at the same time after years of use, all the valves just peeled away when replacing , but the wingtip dump valves on both were firmly stuck , I haven't heard of many dramas after this ,, the new models have gone with the big valves but are a bit fiddly compared to other brands, just a personal thing, build quality of the kites though are generally up there,

North valve leak??? No way!
From memory, all the valves fell off the 2011s and some fell off the 2012s... I may have it a year out, as i am old and its friday night.... Have not had any valve issues with 2013's /14's that i am aware of. No doubt Puetz or Morgs will weigh in and correct the dates if i have them wrong...
Its actually really easy to change the valves once you have done it 50 or so times.... think our record for a 14m rebel (12valves from mem), is about 45 mins....
And no.... Im not bitter.... ride edges now
Sorry couldnt resist....

^^^^ cauncy's prob right, 2010/2011 sounds like it... Like i said, its late and im old.....

There's a bit of a knack to changing the north valves if you don't get the exact diameter, use a piece of smooth tapered dowl or broom handle, to slightly stretch the openings in the le or struts, makes feeding the valves through much easier, also I've found replacement valves with tearaid type a are the best bonding valves to a properly preped bladder, generally if ones gone the rest are on their way, multiple valve replacements are more costly money and time wise than buying new complete bladders, golden rule is not doing it when the winds cranking and your itching for a session, it goes to ****

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Where is this ship load? How cheap are they? I could change a valve on a new kite for the right price

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Spark said..

Ragzilla said...

I know they are really good kites, but there seems to be a 'ship load' for sale with valve problems.

Where is this ship load? How cheap are they? I could change a valve on a new kite for the right price

Found four separate NORTH kites all with the same problem.
But my ship is very small !!

I don't want to replace anything. I'm on the market for ex-demo or excellent condition 2nd's gear.
Was wondering if it was still a problem with the '13 + '14 models.
I have had bad luck with 2nd hand gear, so I'm staying away from anything problematic, or older then 2012. regardless if it's simple and cheap to replace.

NOTE FOR ANYBODY WITHOUT CHILDREN - enjoy your new kites, because someday, you will have to buy 2nd hand too!!

Thanks for all your help people.

Just done a quick search, north kites uk le 2011 any north kite 69 Gbp struts 12 gbp , I've replaced bladders in a few kites that have been in pristine condition due to the previous owner thinking it wasn't repairable, meaning less use

Mate I have a swag of north rebels. 2007 16m - bought crispy for $300, used it heaps and fixed the dump valve once. 2008 14m - bought new in 2007 learnt on this kite and still lend to friends in need, never had a problem. 2010 9 m fuse - cost $600 my high wind kite, most strut valves and dump valves delaminated, moto Levi replaced all for $167 going well now. 2011 11m rebel - no problems ever. 2012 11m rebel - my main kite now, never an issue. The 2011 rebel is still my favourite and in use at a second location, gets flogged but is a real battle axe. Keep your eye out, there are still some bargains around.

... 2010 and older were the problem years. 2011 to current are fine!

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Puetz said..

... 2010 and older were the problem years. 2011 to current are fine!

We have SO many North kites from years 2009-current in for delamed valves. Yes many were the 2010-2012 ones but still plenty are current models. It's a known North issue. Nice flying kites but the valves are shyt.

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T one said..

^^^^ cauncy's prob right, 2010/2011 sounds like it... Like i said, its late and im old.....

And had a few bourbons ? Cause its Friday night and you're old

Not as old as me though . No bourbons here but have found a source of Johnny Walker - hmmm maybe he has bourbon too ....

Same as Puetz said .

I don't know of any problems after 2010 but could be wrong . Darwin seems to expose those sort of problems quickly .
The new pump valve can be a bit fiddly and lose air if you don't get it right but OK once I got the hang of it . Seems a bit over engineered to me rather than just a simple one way valve .

Build is fine

Never had a drama with rebels or the new dice. Maybe its beginners inflating them to 6 psi and doing mega crashes on the beach or water.

To be fair, there is not one single brand that has not had an issue with valves, but some had issues much worse or widespread than others. Have not seen any North kites with valve issues from 2013 onwards. From 2008/09 to 2011 every valve on every North kite would come off eventually, this happened to Slingshot a few years earlier and spread over a similar time period.
Why it took so long to remedy is a bit of as mystery, and in the meantime the valve replacement industry sprang up. Not seeing any of the top brands valves delam now.

Replacement bladders for even the top brands is an issue that will continue to haunt owners of older kites. Most brands seem to keep bladders on hand for a few years, but we have noticed that after 4-5 years they are unobtanium. There are a few exceptions, like Ozone, who still supply parts even for their first models.

Replacement bladders are pretty easy to source though and generally fit ok and work just as well as an original if its fitted by an experienced repairer. If you try this job yourself and have never done anything like it before, prepare for a mental meltdown!!

Powerkiteshop will through the north factory in Austria? (Can't remember exactly) will get made up the correct bladder for any Earlier model north kite (I had a center 2011 north bladder made), although prepare to wait a while for it. However I just got Jason from Westoz to send it to his guy to fix the original bladder (which I busted by the way, was not a fault of the bladder). Damo from WA surf was telling me the technology for fixing bladder and valves has got so good now you can cut a bladder in half and fix the thing no problems. Valves...don't know a whole lot about them, but thought I'd chip in on replacement bladders. I have two north 2011 dynos (well used) which have no valve issues.

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pgc said..

Never had a drama with rebels or the new dice. Maybe its beginners inflating them to 6 psi and doing mega crashes on the beach or water.

I doubt crashing the kite has anything to do with it and I am pretty sure puetz who seemed to be replacing them constantly would put more than 6psi in his kites. Maybe the actual reason is he lives in darwin and your down in vic. (hint; valves peel off in heat)

Wet kite in a bag that does not breathe kept in a hot car, will cause any kite that has the vulnerable valve issue to worsen/hasten the delam process. I know you all do it, but you just need to avoid it if you want your kites to last, hot days, even hotter cars and damp, humid hot sea water = kite disasterhell.

There is almost nothing I can't fix as far as blowouts and valve delams except when someone has had a go at it with some sort of weird glue and patch material.

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TurtleHunter said..

pgc said..

Never had a drama with rebels or the new dice. Maybe its beginners inflating them to 6 psi and doing mega crashes on the beach or water.

I doubt crashing the kite has anything to do with it and I am pretty sure puetz who seemed to be replacing them constantly would put more than 6psi in his kites. Maybe the actual reason is he lives in darwin and your down in vic. (hint; valves peel off in heat)

Have kited an awful lot with Puetz and he is always mega careful not exceed psi limits set by North because of these issues and the problems were not due to his treatment of the kite . He is the only person I know know who actually checks the accuracy of the supplied pressure gauge with North pumps .
He is ultra careful with his gear - far more than me .
The problems were endemic and definitely a problem with manufacture at that time .

As before , no problems 2011 and since . Great kites

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pgc said..

Never had a drama with rebels or the new dice. Maybe its beginners inflating them to 6 psi and doing mega crashes on the beach or water.

get off your high horse idiot

I put in 9psi.

Never has a valve issue.

6psi and your kite is limp.

Its a known fact that north kites before 2012 had faulty valves/ glue. North made a crap bar last year . Fell apart on me in less than 12 months. I think they used the same glue to stick the grip on as they did on the valves in 2010!

Never had a valve come of on any of my north kites. 2007. But I don't keep them longer than a year , upgrade to a new model each year ,. And if you leave it in your car in the heat ,well the valves will peal away .

thanks to everybody with their info.LOVE ALL YOUR WORK.

Until you all had given me this info, i had pretty much taken a pass on all NORTH kites. Do you blame me ?But now, my view has totally changed.

I'm buying my second kite, after my first kite has been…. lets say…THRASHED !! ( too much selleys all clear stopping leaks ) i usually get out on my own, so a newby has to learn to launch and land on his own somehow, right ?? Just another reason why 5 lines are so important for all beginners.

inspecting a 2012 REBEL on thursday, and so long as I'm not being Bulls!@#ted about the condition, its pretty much sold.
so again. THANKS ALL !

For the price of a second hand north you can get a brand new Switch Nitro 3. Just saying... (and I've got no affiliation whatsoever)