help to relaunch Blade with x-over

[Cahliss]

I have a Blade 4.9 on Bar and with a x-over kit. Is there an easy way to re-launch it after landing usually upside down without having to do it manually? Or will a system like the VPS help to do this? Fed up running back and forth to catch it before it self launches after setting up.

[Lil Dick]

I see what u mean but i don't think that a VPS system would help very much in that sort of problem.I Can't think of anyway to help u relaunch it when wrong way round as u say the only way i can think of is by doing it manually.

[Ri chie]

yeah you can do it i have a cross over kit on my firebee!

you need to put in 2 extra lines or a single line and a little extra bridle on to the brake lines! (also works as a safety!)

 

basically put two extra bits of bridle line on the brakes so it comes to the same distance from the kite as the line end of the cross over kit!

attatch a third line to this and bring it down to the bar!

you then have an effective safety, and a way to reverse launch your kite!

 

if none of that makes any sense just ask!

 

Frenchie

[ned1710]

just repeating what has just been said really.

 

 

I fly a blade II 4.9 and have just put on a x-over kit. I used my old brake lines, which are attached to the brake bridle along with the cross over lines. Just make sure the brake lines run underneath the x-over kit. The brake lines are then attached to my harness so i can ditch the bar if i need to. If the kite is leading edge down, just pull the brake line and the kite will reverse. turning the bar will then flip the kite over and off you go!!

If you put a knot in the single line that goes through the bar (see pic), it will limit how much the breaks are applied then you let go of the bar. If too much break is applied i find the kite folds up sometimes tangles its self up. If not enough brake is applied it is hard to stake the kite out. needs tuning but it is worth getting it right.

 

hope it helps

 

Ned

[Adrena1in]

Or, more easily, (and this has been covered a few times lately), connect the cross-over kit between the bar leaders and the four main flying lines, rather than between the two main flying lines and the four bridles. This way you'll only need a short chickenloop line running from the bar centre, up to a strop line connected between the brakes.

[HORLEY_KITE_NUT]

for a short term fix do this if you are using 2 lines...

 

if you want to launch walk up to the kite and turn it right way up so the vents are up top as per normall , and try and do this directly down wind as this will help stop thee kite rolling over (as i have foen some times happens if slightly corss wind) .reach down to the bottom of the kite and pull it out so the bottom of the kite is flat on the gound (as if you have pulled the brakes on a 4 line) - this should now sit there ok (but keep an eye on it as it won't be as secure as a 4 line ) - now walk up to where the brake connectors corss on the x-over kit , and pull them ,where they cross, towards the kite so they pull the bottom of the kite further out from the kite , try and do this evenly , and not so far that the whole kite is lying flat on its back , and that the vents are still up top and open with the top (1/3 to a 1/4 ) part of the kite is still inflated - other wise the air flow will get under the kite and maycause it to self launch or roll over)

 

walk back to the bar (fast as you can ) and you should be ok to launch - remember the kite is directly down wind , so as the kite starts to launch and raise up, bring it to the side of the window...

 

HTH

[Cahliss]

That works in a light wind as I have tried that. When she's a blowin I can't run fast enough(got little legs). I will probably go for the extra line off the brake lines but will think of a way to make it so I can maintain a little brake when flying in higher winds(see if it dosn't spoil the performance) unless someone out there has tried it and failed.

[ned1710]

I will probably go for the extra line off the brake lines but will think of a way to make it so I can maintain a little brake when flying in higher winds(see if it dosn't spoil the performance) unless someone out there has tried it and failed.

I have been thinking about that too, just to see if it makes any difference. i need to find an adjustable stop of some kind because it is a pain to keep moving the knot on the single line that goes through the bar.

[Cahliss]

Probably one of those sailing cleats would do the job. My bro did his own for his flysurfer maniac when he Wac'd it. You would need some kind of webbing to attach it too as well.

[needakite mike]

speak to comedown on this forum he has done it

[kiting mad]

just pull the bar the other way

[HORLEY_KITE_NUT]

That works in a light wind as I have tried that. When she's a blowin I can't run fast enough(got little legs). I will probably go for the extra line off the brake lines but will think of a way to make it so I can maintain a little brake when flying in higher winds(see if it dosn't spoil the performance) unless someone out there has tried it and failed.

 

i normally find heavy winds ain't to bad - the problems i get is when its gusty

 

what i have done some times is after i have done what i stated before - i put some wieght on the middle bottom of the kite where i have pulled it forward (like sand, a small sand bag or one of my kite bags - but place it carefully so it don't snag on the briddles or damages the kite ) so when i launch the kite i try and raise it slowly as possible so the wieght (bag) rolls off the kite...

[lenze]

Good that I found this thread before I posted my own question about the same thing...

 

I used to have Blade II 4.9 without x-over. There I just attached a y-line to the brake-bridles and a third line from that to the bar. This third relaunch/safety line I attached to my harness with a Wichard. It worked really well.

 

Now I have a Blade II 6.4 which I bought second hand just a while ago. It came with a x-over kit (with one broken line which I fixed with a knot). The brake bridles of the kite have also been fixed on two different points with knots. Now that I attached the x-over kit there I was wondering where to attach the third line.

 

I wouldn't want to go to the "four lines and x-over kit at the bar end" -approach, since I only have two flying lines at the moment. Also, the less lines, the better.

 

I think I'll do what was suggested earlier in this thread, but a y-line from the brake bridles to the point where x-over kit ends and flying lines start and take the third line from there to the bar just as it was in my 4.9.

 

I'm just afraid of the possible tangles should I drop the kite in gusty conditions. Specially as there are few extra knots at the kite-end...

 

Btw. the x-over kit really works well! I didn't believe it at first. But I tried the kite first without x-over and turning was reeeallllyyy slow. Then attached x-over kit and the kite turns faster than my 4.9 did

 

_____

Lenze

[Cahliss]

Was out today in these lovely gusty conditions with the 4.9 using third line connected at the kite end to the brake lines. I have put a knot in the line that goes through the bar to limit the amount of brakes when killing the kite and it works well. Kite didn't get tangled and was easy to right when upside. Also used a pulley at the top to allow even pull and less wear.(had a ring before but gust pulled it out) Having a ball, skudding on the wet grass till the rain came. Bit tooooo gusty for the board as dumped several times when the wind dropped. Hopeing for calmer conditions as a bit rusty after a month at work.