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Kite pulling to one side

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Created by riprop > 9 months ago, 28 Dec 2016
riprop
2 posts
28 Dec 2016 2:38AM
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Hi,
my kite is pulling to right side, kite transition from left to right of wind window is faster than other directions, always have to pull bar to the left with more power (my left arm is more tired at the end of session).
Kite is North Rebel 12 m2 year 2012.
Bar and lines has been trimmed (and it works OK on other kite), length of lines and pigtails are also correct.
I noticed kite is asymmetric when lying on flat surface, leading edge is few centimeters above surface just on one side, as can be seen on the pictures.
I've checked bladder also, it seems little stretched on exact same place (shown on pictures), but it is same on both sides, so I thing the bladder is not source of problems.

Anyone have experience or idea how to check what is the reason for pulling to the right and/or how to correct it? How can I found out is this asymmetry real cause, is it bladder, canopy stretched or something else ?

(I have no wind to fly / test kite now)

Thank you !



















doonut
WA, 251 posts
28 Dec 2016 12:41PM
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I had a problem similar to this, never did figure it out , Good luck

SaltySinus
VIC, 960 posts
29 Dec 2016 9:56AM
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It could be a. different line lengths, b. different bridle lengths (stretch on the lines on the actual kite) c. different arm lengths d. kite stretch or e. other!

Start with checking the lines on your bar, then your kite?

Gilly3
QLD, 794 posts
29 Dec 2016 6:47PM
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Select to expand quote
riprop said..
Hi,
my kite is pulling to right side, kite transition from left to right of wind window is faster than other directions, always have to pull bar to the left with more power (my left arm is more tired at the end of session).





I'm going with c. salty....

NickT
WA, 1094 posts
3 Jan 2017 7:59PM
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Had a fuse same year and front bridal was out about 10mm between sides. Weird thing was it was it was pulling to the longer side.

Check bridal lengths at the kite and also for a bladder twist. Swap bars with someone else to see if its the bar instead.

KiteBud
WA, 1515 posts
4 Jan 2017 9:43AM
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Select to expand quote
NickT said..
Had a fuse same year and front bridal was out about 10mm between sides. Weird thing was it was it was pulling to the longer side.

Check bridal lengths at the kite and also for a bladder twist. Swap bars with someone else to see if its the bar instead.


Rebel doesn't have bridles Nick. Yes, if one of your front lines is shorter than the other, the kite will turn to the opposite side of the shorter line.

In this case, I'd say the deformed leading edge is causing the problem. Wouldn't be an easy fix, but pumping the kite at half pressure and trying to twist the LE back in place is what I would try first.

good luck

Christian


Puetz
NT, 2172 posts
5 Jan 2017 1:57PM
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... ha, funny as but I had the same thing happen to me recently, 2 days ago,,,, kite pulled to one side,,,, same kite too, a 12m Rebel 2012 with exact same colours,,,, anyway,,,, I worked out why and it was simple.

I discovered it was the steering bridle or adaptive tip had wrapped the back part of itself around the tip of the kites leading edge. While flying it looks normal but when your close enough, you can see its not normal.

The exact cause was my bungie that keeps the adaptive tip or steering bridle close to the kite is getting loose and wore out and at one point or another, it wrapped itself over the tip, probably when I was self launching the kite.

Anyway, check this out.

Cheers,

Robbie :)

riprop
2 posts
8 Feb 2017 11:53PM
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Hi,
thank you for ideas. Till now I didn't find the cause with manual inspection, will try some tips in summer when I can fly kite.

BR

Greenarrowz
NSW, 301 posts
10 Feb 2017 2:34PM
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Be sure all your struts are straight when fully inflated.
The centre strut especially can act like a rudder if it has a slightly twisted bladder or if the actual strut is stretched out of shape from long service life etc
It is easy to spot and will curve left or right
I had this happen one time ...kite pulling left....
when i worked the bladder in the centre strut back to what looked straight ....baam....the kite was back to balance.. it was a real eye opener for me at that time.



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"Kite pulling to one side" started by riprop