VERTICAL BLADDER REPAIRS
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:
•
Before attempting to repair one of your kite bladders, make sure
your kite is clean and dry. Always keep your kite pump, valves and
bladders free of sand, water and other things that will dirty them.
•
Make sure the bladders are deflated.
•
Avoid repairing your kite on the beach or in dirty, dusty, windy areas.
It is best to find a clean, dry spot out of the wind. A grassy spot is
ideal.
•
You will need a set of flying lines and a bladder repair kite before you
begin to repair the bladder.
REPAIRING VERTICAL BLADDERS:
•
First, lay the kite out with the struts facing up.
•
Detach the Velcro closure at the base of the damaged strut. This will
open up the sleeve of the strut and will allow you access to the blad-
der.
•
Next, separate the valve plug from the Velcro closure so that the noz-
zle is free from the strut’s sleeve. This will essentially disconnect the
bladder from the sleeve. Keep track of the valve plug for later use.
•
Tie one flying line around the valve nozzle. Cinch it down well on the
nozzle. Do not tie the knot through the hole on the valve nozzle or
you may damage it.
•
Gently insert the nozzle down into the strut sleeve.
•
Go to the base of the sleeve and gently pull the bladder out of the
sleeve, leaving the flying line through the sleeve. Having the flying line
through the sleeve will allow you to easily replace the bladder once it
is repaired.
•
Inflate the bladder and plug the valve so that it maintains air.
•
Submerge the bladder in water to locate the hole. A bathtub or large
sink full of water is best.
•
Look for bubbles to locate the hole.
REPAIRS
VERTICAL BLADDERS
CONT’
