Blade 2013 LADY FAT, User Manual, Page: 14 / 19

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bladdeR RepaIR
If you experience air loss in your struts or Leading Edge, check the bladders for
punctures. Avoid repairing bladders on the beach or in dirty, windy, dusty conditions:
• Lay the kite with its struts facing up. Make sure all struts and Leading Edge
are deflated.
• In order to remove the damaged bladder, acquire a strong line roughly double
the length of the bladder.
• Remove the MAD2 tube from the valve by cutting off the cable tie (be sure not to
damage the valve and the tube). Disassemble the tube from the valve.
• Attach the line to the air valve and push the valve entirely into the strut. Open the
Velcro closure at the opposite side of the strut, and begin pulling the bladder out.
Once the bladder is out, the lineshould extend from each end. Untie the bladder from
the reinstall line, making sure that the line is secure.
• For Leading Edge repair, you will need 2 lines. Tie each line to the ends of the
bladder. You will also need to disassemble all MAD2 connections to the LE. Open the
zipper near the middle of the Leading Edge. Release valves’ plug from Velcro strap,
and push in the “deflate” and “inflate valves”. Pull each side of the bladder out from
the zipper opening. Once the bladder is out you hould have a line extending to each
side. Untie the bladder ends from the reinstall line.
• Inflate the punctured bladder, and insert the cap supplied with the repair Kit on the
valve head.
• Submerge the inflated bladder in a tub of water. Air bubbles indicate the location
of the hole. Be sure to check the bladder thoroughly, as there might be several
punctures.
WaRnInG:
Blade does its best to provide user friendly equipment that can be easily
maintained by the rider. Some of the repairs and part replacements are more
complicated than others and some can highly risk the safety of the rider if not
done properly. If you have any difficulty performing the following repairs and/or
replacements, it is critical you seek assistance from someone who does.
Also, all equipment leaving Blade’s factories undergo high quality control. It is
important you perform similar, periodic equipment checks after all repairs and
replacements.
RepaIRs RepaIRs
• Once you discovered the holes, mark them with a permanent marker or pen, and let
the bladder dry. Deflate the bladder.
• Lightly roughen the area of the puncture with sand paper from the repair kit.
• Peel off the backing from the patch, and place on the puncture.
• Once again inflate the bladder and let it sit to make sure air does not escape.
• Lightly coat the entire bladder in talcum powder.
• To begin the insertion process for struts, lay the bladder flat at the end of the strut
and tie back the insertion line to the valve.For the Leading Edge you will need to lay
the bladder in the middle and tie the insertion lines to the end of the bladder.
Insert one side at a time.
• Get a partner to help and pull the opposite side of the line while you make sure
that the bladder slides back in straight. A twisted bladder will be damaged if
completely inflated. For strut insertion, insert the top part inside the strut until
the valve attachment, this allows for easier insertion. (See Picture)
• Once the bladder is back in place, pull the valve through its hole and insert
the tube on the valve. The valve has a slot that should fit properly in the hole.
Make sure the tube is inserted all the way over the valve.
• Partially inflate the bladder and check that it is inserted
correctly with no folds in the bladder. If there is a misalignment
or crimp in the bladder, reinsert again. Again, a fold/twist may
cause damage to the bladder once completely inflated.
• Deflate bladder and store kite properly until next inflation.