I'm replacing the bridles on one of my older Cab kites. These are the thicker braided types.

The stitched loop at the end of the bridle line won't fit through the pulley.

Is there any trick or procedure to remove and install these bridles?

Wrap a fine, strong piece of line through the loop of the bridle, then pull through the pulley.

Select to expand quote

Kamikuza said..
Wrap a fine, strong piece of line through the loop of the bridle, then pull through the pulley.

I can get the tip of the loop of the bridle through, but the stitched part is too thick and it feels like if I force it the pulley will break apart.

Get rid of the pulleys and replace with ronstan shock blocks, can be easily retrofitted using the same pulley pig tails

Kami is on the money - just use 50lb fishing line or even dental floss and pull it through - if the pulley breaks then it was time to replace that also !
Ronstan blocks work with some kites to replace the pullies - but why?? they still need to slide and wear out the bridal lines even faster ....

Select to expand quote

Lambie said..
Kami is on the money - just use 50lb fishing line or even dental floss and pull it through - if the pulley breaks then it was time to replace that also !
Ronstan blocks work with some kites to replace the pullies - but why?? they still need to slide and wear out the bridal lines even faster ....

Why because the pulleys can eventually fail As you said in your post. The ronstan block don't seem to wear the lines at all from my experience. The friction of the block is probably less than that of a pulley wheel that stopped rolling due to clogging with sand. I have heard of problems of wear from other brands of block due to casting imperfections.

Select to expand quote

Smithy said..

Lambie said..
Kami is on the money - just use 50lb fishing line or even dental floss and pull it through - if the pulley breaks then it was time to replace that also !
Ronstan blocks work with some kites to replace the pullies - but why?? they still need to slide and wear out the bridal lines even faster ....

Why because the pulleys can eventually fail As you said in your post. The ronstan block don't seem to wear the lines at all from my experience. The friction of the block is probably less than that of a pulley wheel that stopped rolling due to clogging with sand. I have heard of problems of wear from other brands of block due to casting imperfections.

Depends on how much the bridles need to slide in normal riding, or if they're just there to allow full rollover...

IIRC the Block-type things are designed for situation requiring less than 90 degrees of bend in the rope...