Date: Tue, 22 Aug 1995 15:57:13 -1000 From: fsiegel@linet02.li.net (Frank Siegel) Message-Id: <41e1tp$493@linet02.li.net> Organization: LI Net (Long Island Network) Subject: Help with a Flexifoil My flying buddy has recently developed a problem with what is probably his favorite kite- a black, 10 foot Flexifoil. The kite used to develop enormous pull (I take his word for it- I see it dragging him around- I've found as I've gotten older things take longer to heal 8-) ). Anyway, recently, he replaced the little rubber grommets and tips on the spars (he lost one, replaced both). Starting around that time, his Flexi started developing less pull. Last night, in the aftermath of Felix, we had quite strong winds, and watched the Flexi carefully. It appears that the tips are bending too much, and the end cells are collapsing. The kite was not developing much pull. Our local dealer, from whom he bought the kite, looked quickly at it and said he could send it to Flexifoil, but indicated it could take many months before it was returned (something about them closing for 3 months). I don't know enough (actually, virtually nothing) about Flexis, but the logical part of me thinks that something is changed/different/wrong with the new grommets, or their positions (he assured me that they're the same- but sometimes our memories go South). Any information that may be helpful would be greatly appreciated. (he is using the standard spar). TIA- Frank (the other one, not nasty at all- but I hate to think of the potentially helpful people who will never see this due to 'kill' files) 8-) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 03:08:10 -1000 From: DHAXTON@SSSP.GSFC.NASA.GOV (Donovan Haxton) Message-Id: Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center -- Greenbelt, Maryland USA Subject: Re: Help with a Flexifoil In article <41e1tp$493@linet02.li.net>, fsiegel@newshost.li.net (Frank Siegel) wrote: > My flying buddy has recently developed a problem with what is probably > his favorite kite- a black, 10 foot Flexifoil. The kite used to develop > enormous pull (I take his word for it- I see it dragging him around- I've > found as I've gotten older things take longer to heal 8-) ). I have had the same problem with my Flexifoil. The first session it worked great, and then I put it away for a few months. When I took it out it never flew the same. It lost its power, just like you said. I thought that the fabric was wrinkled from storage, so I tried ironing it with a semi-warm iron. That helped some, but it is still not just the same as before. I examined the kite and could find nothing wrong. Maybe the fabric shrunk, but it doesn't' appear to be the type of fabric that can shrink. I don't know, sorry. Don Haxton = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 27 Aug 1995 10:52:20 -1000 From: mrkites@webcom.com (John Fraser) Message-Id: <41qlu4$muv@atheria.europa.com> Organization: Europa |||| Portland, OR Subject: Re: Help with a Flexifoil In article <41e1tp$493@linet02.li.net>, fsiegel@newshost.li.net says... > >My flying buddy has recently developed a problem with what is probably >his favorite kite- a black, 10 foot Flexifoil. The kite used to develop >enormous pull (I take his word for it- I see it dragging him around- - Without seeing the kite, check: - Sand in the cells (Been to the beach lately?) - Cells are torn loose from the top or bottom. Pull on top and bottom and see if they seperate - Flying lines not correctly attached to spar. -- Good Winds ! -- John Fraser Once upon a Breeze Kiteshop mrkites@webcom.com http://webcom.com/~mrkites/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 27 Aug 1995 13:03:46 -1000 From: bckites@i-2000.com (David Klein) Message-Id: Organization: Big City Kite Co. Subject: Re: Help with a Flexifoil In article <41e1tp$493@linet02.li.net>, fsiegel@newshost.li.net (Frank Siegel) wrote: It appears that the tips are bending too much, and the end cells are collapsing. The kite was not developing much pull. If the end cells are collapsing in a stong wind, the most likley reason is that the grommets are too close to the ends of the spars.What happens it this case is that the fabric is over streched, causing the end cells to collapse and flutter. Try moving the grommets incrementaly in towards the center of the kite a 1/2 inch at a time to see if it helps. You should not have to move them in more than a few inches I think. Flexifoil Int. has a great little leaflet on tuning flexifoils. If you e-mail me your fax number or snail mail address, I would be more than happy to forward a copy to you. Our local dealer, from whom he bought the kite, looked quickly at it and said he could send it to Flexifoil, but indicated it could take many months before it was returned (something about them closing for 3 months). The distributor (Ray and Jeanne Merry) will be on vacation from 9/2/95 to 9/25/95. Any information that may be helpful would be greatly appreciated. (he is using the standard spar). Hope this helps, Frank -- David Klein, E-Mail bckites@i-2000.com Big City Kite Co. 1210 Lexington Ave. New York, N.Y. 10028 212-472-2623 Fax 212-472-2998 AKA Member Merchant = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 27 Aug 1995 23:57:41 -1000 From: oakden@vo5.ph.liv.ac.uk (M.N.Oakden) Message-Id: Organization: nil Subject: Re: Help with a Flexifoil In article <41e1tp$493@linet02.li.net> fsiegel@newshost.li.net (Frank Siegel) writes: [...snip...] recently, he replaced the little rubber grommets and tips on the spars (he lost one, replaced both). Starting around that time, his Flexi started developing less pull. Last night, in the aftermath of Felix, we had quite strong winds, and watched the Flexi carefully. It appears that the tips are bending too much, and the end cells are collapsing. The kite was not developing much pull. [...snip...] It does sound like the grommets have been replaced a little too far apart (as you suggest in the snipped portion of your post), stretching the kite a bit too much (at least I think it's that way round, ... my memory goes south quite often too). I remember seeing this happen often with one of the flexis in my stack. Try moving the grommets in a little bit (go in small steps ... perhaps as little as 1/8th to 1/4 inch at a time, testing the flying characteristics between adjustments). Hope this helps (and is at least vaguely correct ;) Cheers, Mark. -- oakden@dice2.desy.de oakden@hep.ph.liv.ac.uk | Squid-seller, I'm not politically incorrect, | harping cuckoo - I'm just differently articulate. | one voice. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 27 Aug 1995 23:57:41 -1000 From: oakden@vo5.ph.liv.ac.uk (M.N.Oakden) Message-Id: Organization: nil Subject: Re: Help with a Flexifoil In article <41e1tp$493@linet02.li.net> fsiegel@newshost.li.net (Frank Siegel) writes: [...snip...] recently, he replaced the little rubber grommets and tips on the spars (he lost one, replaced both). Starting around that time, his Flexi started developing less pull. Last night, in the aftermath of Felix, we had quite strong winds, and watched the Flexi carefully. It appears that the tips are bending too much, and the end cells are collapsing. The kite was not developing much pull. [...snip...] It does sound like the grommets have been replaced a little too far apart (as you suggest in the snipped portion of your post), stretching the kite a bit too much (at least I think it's that way round, ... my memory goes south quite often too). I remember seeing this happen often with one of the flexis in my stack. Try moving the grommets in a little bit (go in small steps ... perhaps as little as 1/8th to 1/4 inch at a time, testing the flying characteristics between adjustments). Hope this helps (and is at least vaguely correct ;) Cheers, Mark. -- oakden@dice2.desy.de oakden@hep.ph.liv.ac.uk | Squid-seller, I'm not politically incorrect, | harping cuckoo - I'm just differently articulate. | one voice. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 11:38:44 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Help with a Flexifoil <41e1tp$493@linet02.li.net> fsiegel@newshost.li.net (Frank Siegel) writes: >My flying buddy has recently developed a problem with what is probably >his favorite kite- a black, 10 foot Flexifoil. The kite used to develop >enormous pull [but now] The kite was not developing much pull. I've noticed this too. First time I flew a 10' flexi, it pulled like crazy. Then I tried stacking them Lots of them Then I played with Peels Then the occasional parachute, octopus or silly Phrog These days, 10' flexies hardly pull at all... Andrew -- New to rec.kites? START HERE! | To: www@kfs.org send an email message like this->| Subject: service Skydiving is safe. Bungee is safe| http://www.kfs.org/kites/welcome/index.html Russian roulette is a calculated risk. Kite jumping is for morons = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =