Hi guys,

I have a 2006 Cabrinha Xbow kite. When inflating the struts it has popped the little valve ball clean out of the valve.
I have 3 questions from this:
1. Can I replace the valves?
2. If the little ball is gone for good is the squeeze & plug the best method to keep that air where it should be?
3. Does this mean I'm over doing it on the struts? I just go by feel when pumping up the struts (the pump suddenly feels like it doesn't want to go down any more).
Are the struts supposed to be pumped up as much as the LE?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
CJ

Select to expand quote

general_dude said...

Hi guys,

I have a 2006 Cabrinha Xbow kite. When inflating the struts it has popped the little valve ball clean out of the valve.
I have 3 questions from this:
1. Can I replace the valves?
2. If the little ball is gone for good is the squeeze & plug the best method to keep that air where it should be?
3. Does this mean I'm over doing it on the struts? I just go by feel when pumping up the struts (the pump suddenly feels like it doesn't want to go down any more).
Are the struts supposed to be pumped up as much as the LE?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
CJ

1 Yes - Airtime make replacement valves, but they don't have balls in them
2 yes - squeeze and plug you get better at it, pinching you girlfriend is good practice, the harder the better (post results!)
3 -Maybe? they need to be firm, bit like my bulging biceps. Sounds like you are pumping them a bit too much.

Are you sure the ball has not fallen into the strut, you should be able to hear it rolling around in there? You could squeeze it back in place when the strut is deflated.

Find a bead approx the right size and squeeze it in the valve, maybe one of the GF's pearls?

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

I had a problem of somewhat related nature. I have the Fuel Slingshot with the leading edge air bridges to each strut, so you can pump the whole lot using single main valve. The problem is that the plastic holding the valve and the lid/cap got broken, and furthermore when i pump it up and put the lid in, if i touch the valve a bit or if not at a specific angle, somehow the air escapes. Basically the lid does not seal well. For the time being i've placed a bit of duct tape around the cap/lid cylinder to make it a bit thicker, and that sort of worked, but i'm not sure if this is a good long term solution.
Any ideas? I'm not sure how you would replace the whole valve, when it's built into the kite bladder material?

Select to expand quote

superlizard said...

I had a problem of somewhat related nature. I have the Fuel Slingshot with the leading edge air bridges to each strut, so you can pump the whole lot using single main valve. The problem is that the plastic holding the valve and the lid/cap got broken, and furthermore when i pump it up and put the lid in, if i touch the valve a bit or if not at a specific angle, somehow the air escapes. Basically the lid does not seal well. For the time being i've placed a bit of duct tape around the cap/lid cylinder to make it a bit thicker, and that sort of worked, but i'm not sure if this is a good long term solution.
Any ideas? I'm not sure how you would replace the whole valve, when it's built into the kite bladder material?

If its the filler valve (not the dump valve) then you can "expand" the lid a bit by soaking it in hot water and then poking a cone shape into the inside of the cap, then dunk it into cold water. You will feel immediately if you have managed to "expand" the valve cap.
Another option is to get an new valve cap, we have heaps of them, most good shops should have spares.

Airtime do make a replacement filler valve and dump valve, but I would try the "expansion" option first.

You can tie the valve cap on with some thin line, so that you cannot lose it.

These problems are a sign of old age in a kite and it will be time soon to send kitey to the old folks home, so budget on getting a replacement toy.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Hi guys,

Thanks for the info.
I'm kicking myself, but I just let the first little ball that popped out go. I didn't even try to find it - figuring that was the end of that. The 2nd time it happened I shoved it back in.
Anyway, I guess I'll have to practice the my nipple squeezing.

Thanks,
CJ