knots in the lines

wink · #1 02-23-2007, 06:24 AM

quick question. I have one knot in one of my outside lines that is so tight i cant get it out, could the cause a trouble later on or should i be fine with it.

bryanleighty · #2 02-23-2007, 07:01 AM

w/ regular flying lines.. you need to get this out. weakens the lines .. it will break at that point.

w/ q-line you can leave it.

to work out a knot that seems un-workable.. you can try getting the line wet by soaking that section in water for a while and then GENTLY tap the know with a hammer to flatten it out.. it works .. done it a few times.. seems impossible at first but by gently working it, it will relax enough to work out.. be careful not to ruin the fibers.

check out www.kiteforum.com and do a search on knots.. some good tips..

BigR · #3 02-23-2007, 08:37 AM

Quote:

w/ q-line you can leave it.

I wouldn't believe that for one minute! get all knots out or your line will break unexpectedly

If you want a demonstration of this, next time we are at the beach, I'll put 25 knots on each of Bryan's kite lines and we'll see which breaks first!

bryanleighty · #4 02-23-2007, 08:52 AM

i fly w/ reg lines..
please dont knot my lines. i will be sad.

i thought that one of the benefits of q-lines was its ability to be tied in a knot if there was a break w/o having to cut and re-sleave..

i might be 100% wrong.

BTW.... anyone ever had a line break in mid-jump?? its my biggest fear..

loop break, at least kite can be flown.. line break and its gotta be spiral city..

i think i am going to order new lines right now.

toby wilson · #5 02-23-2007, 08:57 AM

Amber had a pigtail go on my old 2002 16M Fuel in very light wind. The kite did start to loop, I'd hate to see what would happen if you were in mid-air...

#6 02-23-2007, 09:07 AM

I think I have an idea of what a front line breaking during a jump will do to you.

I was at EB when my pulley bar broke as I was rising on a jump on a 12m kite. With the sudden absence of lift, I did a lawn dart into three feet of water and literally had mud in my ears. No injuries, luckily, but it seems like you could break your neck doing that.

Jayson was laughing at me as I staggered out of the drink with my face and head covered with mud.

#7 02-23-2007, 10:20 AM

Get it wet and tap it with a hammer to flatten it as B said.. then use the rounded point of a wine opener to pry the knot open. Don't use anything sharp.

BigR · #8 02-25-2007, 03:36 AM

Quote:

BTW.... anyone ever had a line break in mid-jump?? its my biggest fear..

In 1999 I was @skyway on a 5m Fone in 30-40kts and during my biggest jump , my line broke 2/3rds up. Randy saw me, he was windsuffering back then. He tought I was crazy. Anyways, I dropped outta da' sky like a brick bag...... into 10 inches of water. No big deal, I got that trick nailed now

#9 02-25-2007, 06:50 AM

Bryan is right, you really can leave the knot if it's q-line.

It's sleeved. Yes any knot weakens the line, but my q-lines have 10 knots in them (one on each end of each line) and I have not broken them, ever. I did wear through one that was my 5th line once tough.

Scott has even joined two shorter pieces to make a replacement line. I know this because I have one of his old bars. Q-Line is good stuff if you can deal with the sound it makes.