Hi Guys

I went and sold my good kite and now waiting for my new FX to arrive, I pulled out my 2013 North Rebel, this was always my backup kite but never used.
Well now its been using and it now flying as it should, whenever I change direction to the left it almost stalls and falls of the sky, when I swing it right it is fine.
Must add the kite is not in the best condition but still fly's.
I checked the lines and they seem fine and thoughts on why this is happening?

Cheers

Check ya back line connection points are both on same knot setting.
Similar thing happened to me when i bought my Rebel 2nd hand.
Took me 3 sessions to realize the knots were uneven.

Stalling rebels are often caused by excessive tension on the 5th line. The quickest way to check this is, when you fly the kite, see if the 5th line ring (where you connect the leash) isn't pressed hard against the inner circle of the chicken loop. North bars have 5th line length adjustment knots just for that purpose. Ideally the 5th line's safety ring would hang loose behind the chicken loop.

The easiest way to rule out bar problems is to borrow a mate's 5 line North bar and test it on your kite.

If you still have the same issues then it's obviously an issue from the kite. Check the length of the kites lines and wing tip bungees as well. Comparing with another Rebel next to yours would help.

Christian

2013 was a dog of a year for the rebel. Chuck that and the bar in the bin

Double check your centre lines. One colour seems to change length more than the other. Get them spot on or one side (left/red on mine) will blow out under any kind of power. Could be your issue. 5th just as important, could be a bit of both.

Finally got my 14m dialled, strange beast, but it works.

Hey Guys
Thanks for the responses, Ok as the 9m in parked until I find out what is the issue, I tried the 12m vegas with the same bar and lines and it seems to be fine.



The above pic shows were I think may be the issue, I replaced the bungie cord (where the pointer points too in the pic) 2 years ago which non north bungie cord. Does anyknow the correct length that the bungie cord should be when not under tension?
Also I found a know on centre line bar, its pulled super tight and cannot undo it, surely this wouldnt be causing issues on my rebel and not vegas?

Is the rebel on pulleys or direct

You found a what on your centre line bar?

A knot in the line, its pulled supper tight and tried to untangle it with no joy, bar fly's fine for my 12m vegas.

... just to add a bit more info.

You might very well have a crook kite and I'm probably repeating info already mentioned but its worth double checking:

I noticed that the 2013 Rebel are very sensitive to any line or bar errors and in particular, the 9m. A mate had a 9m and when he was teaching on it in light winds, the kite always seemed to fly quite a bit off the centre line alot so when it was dived aggressively, would distort and behave weird. It didn't have any problems when flown in the correct wind range. I suspect that the Vegas you tested your bar on might not show any small errors as the Vegas is not as sensitive to any minor bar errors.

Firstly, as cbulota mentioned, check that the red line i.e. your safety line at the chicken loop end is not causing a problem. Easy to check. The red line has the ring at one end, and a red ball with a few knots at the other. Go to the knot end and adjust for the main front line stretch. A new or unused bar has 3 knots spare, but as they get used or older, the thicker white line stretches a bit, so you make the red line length is not too short, make it longer by moving the attached "5th" line along to say, the second or first knot. Move it to the end knot if your not sure, hopefully that's all you need.

The bungee shouldn't really affect the flying of the kite if you have put tension on the back lines during normal flight but that info also relies on the fact that the bungee isn't too tight and it can't do its job. The bungee is there mostly to help aid in relaunching the kite when or if you have dropped it on the LE facing you and the steering lines want to go over the top of the canopy instead of under. If in doubt, test fly the kite with both bungee's disconnected, see if you still have your problem and you think it might be the bungee's.

Make sure the "adaptive tip or steering" is mirror image for both left and right sides. The kite will fly but feel different and wrong. For example, check that its not on soft on the left side and hard on the right side.

Jamee mentioned to check your lines, good call. I recommend you run your bar out and double triple check your bar. Connect all the ends to a secure point, pull them on the bar making sure you have no depower pulled in, then check all lines are even,,, 10mm can make a difference. Now for the important bit, go to the Y point on the front lines, and grab the white thicker line just below the Y point ring making sure you don't grab the 5th line. Check that all the front lines, left right and centre are even with particular attention that the 5th line and its stopper ball is against the ring under even tension.

A less likely culprit to your problem but make you should make sure, make sure the pig tails on the kite are even and the same as each other. Just align both left and right pig tail lines when kite is deflated. A mystery knot in one of them will make a big difference.

By the way, I remember that North sent out a modification notice that we should put a knot in the red safety line, below the chicken loop to help and make sure the safety works freely due to the loop they made with its sewing was a tad too thick and was sticking inside the chickenloop. The knot you put in the red line, just above the ring you attach your safety too didn't slide into the chicken loop well. With modified knot, you then had to make sure you adjusted for the slightly shorter overall length but adjusting or moving the 5th line at the other end by using a different knot position.

Good luck and have fun.

Cheers,

Robbie :)

Cheers for feedback guys, I went out on my 2013 7m rebel last night with the same bar, I was having the exact same issue!!!

I am off today so going to pull out the bar and inspect lengths on the bar. Anywhere in Perth that can inspect? Just had a look at replacement lines and its not cheap for a full set. Better off buying a 2nd hand replacement bar.

Select to expand quote

touch107fm said...
Cheers for feedback guys, I went out on my 2013 7m rebel last night with the same bar, I was having the exact same issue!!!

I am off today so going to pull out the bar and inspect lengths on the bar. Anywhere in Perth that can inspect? Just had a look at replacement lines and its not cheap for a full set. Better off buying a 2nd hand replacement bar.

With possibly the same issue?
I'm not that clued up on rebels bridles but do they have pulleys/ rollers, as they can seize up giving a similar result, 2 locals with naish kites had similar problems including un matching bridal segment lengths

No bridals, no pulleys Mick. It's a rebel

Select to expand quote

eppo said...
No bridals, no pulleys Mick. It's a rebel

Cheers epps
i have flown one but didn't set it up,
Id also inflate kite, place on perfect flat ground,
Grab middle line and pull towards you approx 1 mtr, then look how the Le sits on the ground and if the kites looking symmetrical , ie no gaps or distortion, this can be a slight twist in the bladder which in turn distorts the Le , if all good then check line lengths and adjust at bar if different, as mentioned the elastic cord is there to take up backline tension but if it was an off the shelf one you bought or has been replaced I'd check the tension in it , as it might not be letting your steering line engage as its too taught

Yep agreed it could be a twisted bladder for sure.

Wouldn't have thought twisted bladder on both kites though?

Particularly if they are both stalling in the same direction. First suspicion would be the bar/lines. Possibly a twist where the Y splits. Wouldn't have thought the 5th line was the culprit unless it was stalling whilst parked at 12. Do you check trim for stalling before you go out each time? If not check the overall trim (can do this in light winds). It could highlight an issue

Was their two kites? I need to read more closely.

Me too