Tips & Tricks

Kite Repair Kit Manual

IMPORTANT!   We advise you to be fully familiar with the repair procedures and prepare all materials and tools needed, before starting with the actual repair. Where areas are pre-sanded they need to be cleaned off well with alco swabs. The key to successful repairs is careful preparation. You may need help in some processes, like removing and inserting the bladders. Always do the repairs on a clean, dry surface away from the wind for best results.   WARNING!   The instructions in this manual must be followed strictly. By using this product you agree that you have read and understood the manual and you have the required DIY skills to use this product correctly. If you don’t have the required DIY skills to make the repair or if the damage is too big or on a high load area please get professional help. We are not responsible for any damage or expenses sustained as a direct or indirect consequence.   LEGEND       [icon name="icon-info-sign" size="32" color="" class="" /] Useful information that you should know.   [icon name="icon-warning-sign" size="32" color="" class="" /] A procedure/information that is crucial to follow.   [icon name="icon-lightbulb" size="32" color="" class="" /] Tips to make your repairs better.   CONTENTS OF THE KIT   Nylon Ripstop adhesive tape (1m)Dacron adhesive tape (1m)FiberFIX tape (1.5m)Bladder adhesive tape (6.5cm x 15cm)ValveFIX adhesive circles (3x)Kite repair Dots (10x)PU Glue 28g (1x)Glue applicatior (1x)Glue brush (1x)Gloves (1x)Tie-wraps (6x)Sanding paper (1x)Alcohol swabs (6x)Scissors (1x)Carry box (1x)Manual   The contents of the kit may be subject to change without prior notice.       KITE REPAIR KIT MANUAL       RIPSTOP NYLON TAPE     S1. Cut off any fabric threads from the damaged section (if any)S2. Clean the area with alcohol swabs and leave to air-dryS3. Cut the tape to desired length and round the edgesS4. Peel & stick the tape over the tear overlapping it by at least 2cmS5. Firmly press the tape and remove all air bubbles   [icon name="icon-info-sign" color="" class="" /]To repair small tears in the kite canopy.   {vimeo}51338471|640|360|0{/vimeo}   DACRON TAPE     S1. Cut off any fabric threads from the damaged section (if any)S2. Clean the area with alcohol swabs and leave to air-dryS3. Cut the tape to desired length and round the edgesS4. Peel & stick the tape over the tear overlapping it by at least 2cmS5. Firmly press the tape and remove all air bubbles   [icon name="icon-info-sign"] To repair tears in the kite canopy, on dacron areas and on smaller cuts on the kite structure.[icon name="icon-warning-sign"] Glue the tape edges with a thin layer of Dr.Tuba PU glue when working on uneven sections otherwise the tape can peel off.       FIBERFIX TAPE     S1. Cut off any fabric threads from the damaged section (if any)S2. Clean the area with alcohol swabs and leave to air-dryS3. Cut the mesh tape to desired length S4. Stick the tape over the tear overlapping it by at least 2cmS5. Evenly spread the thin layer of PU glue over the mesh tape with glue applicatorS6. Leave the glue to cure on a level surface   [icon name="icon-info-sign"] To repair larger tears in the kite canopy or structure. [icon name="icon-lightbulb"] You can limit glue over bleed by masking the edges of the repair with masking tape. Remove the tape after glue is applied before it cures.[icon name="icon-warning-sign"] Always apply the mesh tape on the bottom side of the canopy. Use protective gloves when handling PU glue. Work in well ventilated area. Leave the repair to dry at least overnight on a flat surface.   BLADDER TAPE     S1. Clean the area with alcohol swabs and leave to air-dryS2. Cut the tape to desired length and round the edgesS3. Peel & stick the tape over the tear overlapping it by at least 2cmS4. Firmly press the tape and remove all air bubbles   [icon name="icon-info-sign"] To repair tears on the inflatable bladders.[icon name="icon-lightbulb"] For a professional finish or if you have too many wrinkles in the patch then seal the edges of the patch with a thin line of Dr.Tuba PU glue.[icon name="icon-warning-sign"] If you have to cut out any stretched bladder material, place a piece of blank TPU film between the bladder walls to prevent you sticking the bladder together!   VALVEFIX CIRCLES     S1. Remove damaged material off the valve base (if any)S2. Pre-sand both valve base & valve area on the bladder with fine sand paperS3. Clean both base & area with alcohol swabs and leave to air-dryS4. Peel & Stick ValveFIX circle on valve baseS5. Peel & Stick valve back to original positionS6. Glue the valve edge to the bladder to make a permanent repair   [icon name="icon-info-sign"] To re-attach delaminating or peeled off old valves back to the bladder.[icon name="icon-warning-sign"] Mark orientation/closing direction of original valve BEFORE removing. Make sure that you cover any exposed bladder area with blank TPU so that the adhesive on the valve circle doesn’t stick the bladder together. Make sure that the layer of the Dr.Tuba PU glue covers both valve base and bladder for few millimeters.   * NOTE - big valve circles are not included in the kit   {vimeo}58394344|640|360|0{/vimeo}   KITE REPAIR DOTS     S1. Clean the damaged area with alcohol swabs and leave to air-dryS2. Peel & stick the dot over the tearS3. Firmly press the tape and remove all air bubbles   [icon name="icon-info-sign"] To repair pinholes and small cuts on the inflatable bladders, canopy and even dacron parts. [icon name="icon-lightbulb"] If you are repairing the canopy then place the dot on the inside of the kite.           TIPS & TRICKS       Kite Bladder Removal & Insertion   [icon name="icon-warning-sign"] It is much easier if two people change inflatable bladders to get them in the correct position. Check the bladder isn’t twisted or pulling on the valves prior to full inflation. Twisted or improperly installed bladders will cause damage to the bladder and even explosion of the kite!   STRUT REMOVAL   S1. Detach one pump tube from the valve (if any)S2. Connect a rope to the valve and push the valve into the kite’s dacron tubeS3. Open the strut’s end and pull the bladder out of the tube   STRUT INSERTION   S1. Fold front of the bladder inside itself and connect the rope to the valveS2. Start pulling the rope and push the valve into the bladderS3. Insert the bladder back to the tube carefully, do not twist it!S4. Pull the valve back thru the valve holeS5. Inflate the bladder to 1/3, tap on it to position itself correctlyS6. Align the rest of the bladder with the strut, push the excess bladder back in, do not twist it and close the strut endS7. Fully inflate the bladder watching carefully for twists.S8. Mount one pump system back (if any)   LEADING EDGE REMOVAL   S1. Open kite’s tip end and connect rope to the bladder endS2. Push all valves into the kite’s tubeS3. Pull the bladder out from the kite’s tube thru kite’s middle zipperS4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the other half of the kite’s tube   LEADING EDGE INSERTION   S1. Nicely lay kite flat down (valve holes facing up) and attach rope to the bladder endS2. Pull stacked bladder into the kite back thru middle zipperS3. Pull valves back thru the valve holesS4. Mount one pump system back (if any)S5. Detach the rope off the bladder, help the bladder to align itselfS6. Repeat steps 1-5 on the other half of the leading edgeS7. Close the tube’s middle zipperS8. Inflate the bladder to 1/3, tap on it to position itself correctlyS9. Align both tips of the bladder with the tube ends and close themS10. Fully inflate the bladder watching carefully for twists!   {vimeo}50467457|640|360|0{/vimeo}   How To Easily Unstick Kite Valve   S1. Sink the valve into almost boiled waterS2. Gently peel off the valveS3. Repeat Step 1 & 2 until the valve has peeled off the bladder   [icon name="icon-info-sign"] If the valve is stuck and after a period of time still won’t move, it’s better to cut the valve or a part of the valve from the bladder.   {vimeo}52870652|640|360|0{/vimeo}       GOOD TO KNOW...   [icon name="icon-lightbulb"] For better bonding results you can always pre-sand the damaged area with fine sand paper and then clean the area with alco-swabs before doing the repair. Preparation is the key to success.   [icon name="icon-lightbulb"] When the repair is done you can strengthen sticky back ripstop, dacron and bladder tape by heating up the adhesive with a hair dryer. NOTE - Using a hair drier on too high a temperature, too close or for too long may damage your kite!   [icon name="icon-lightbulb"] After inserting any bladder back into a kite make sure that the bladder material isn’t trapped between the valve and kite. You can repeat inflations and tapping several times by pumping the kite to 1/3, 1/2, 2/3,... and deflating it each time. If it is twisted, remove it and start again.   [icon name="icon-lightbulb"] Although the adhesive tapes have good initial tack, final bond is achieved after 24h. PU glue cure time is 10-14h, but leave it to cure overnight. Final bond is achieved after 24h.