I have bought 2 second hand kites to get started....a2006 Liquid Force 12m Menace and a 5m M-80 kite...havin a real problem trying to blow up the struts(separate to the leading edge) and keep the air in them whilst trying to plug back up!? Can anyone help? Is there a certain method or technique!?..aprt from ditching and buying newer better designed gear?
You probably need to pinch the valve (like you do on a 2010 Naish Torch). If you pinch the base of the valve, the air doesn't come out and you can put the plug in (with the Torch, should apply to the LF).
BWD is right, those kites are 4-5 years old, not good kites to get started on. Improvements in design have made equipment safer and better and as a beginner the last thing you want is to fight against poor gear as well.
That's how most kites were at the time, few had one way valves. 2 ways you keep the air in - pinch the bottom whilst putting cap on, or put finger over top. If you are in Brisbane bring them to us and we will show you how, else hit your local instructors to give you a quick demo how its done.
Padi
If you still having problems. What I used to do back in the day, especially pumping the kite up in very cold weather when fingers where numb. I got a pair of long nose pliers, wrapped insulation tape around the tips so not damage the valves and used that to pinch the valves. Worked very well. But make sure you oil the pliers often, the salt air will seize them up pretty quick.
Cheers guys....I've pretty much mastered keeping the air in the struts when plugging. The problem is all the struts are linked by an "airline" that runs along the leading edge. The struts deflate somewhat when the plug's back in because air leaks into the noted "airline". I must be missing something here.....from what I can see unless you block that linked line its going to be impossible to keep the struts at the desired PSI.....Anyone got a solution?
The good ole 'Spider inflation system'. The system works, so there must be a small leak in one of the struts or hose connections, or the hose itself. Use a bit of washing up detergent in suspect areas to pinpoint the leak.
Very short depower throw on that generation of kite. If it's remotely gusty, dont take it out. One member on here discovered that the hard way. Hey, Steven "Menace"...that word still haunts him :)
It'll be like learning to drive in a FC Holden while everyone else is driving a BMW!!
The Menace was a menace back in 2005!!
The M80 was a good kite but 5m???
They'll test you. Be up to the challenge. If you can master them you will develop good skills.
You sound like a real donkey Kenny! Have you tried just using the main inflate line, most likely you have not seen it. Check around the leading edge in the centre area I am sure thats what it will be, don' touch the struts!
By the way you have just bought a kite for a real man not some girly kite with all the safety stuff. Safety is overated, its just the man trying to take the 'extreme' away from our sport. Stay true to yourself and I will see you on the water one day, most likely bleeding but thats ok you soon learn........ ; )
Hey mate, I have an '06 Menace 12m so I should be able to offer some help.
The two-pump type system they use isn't the best as the 'airline' you're referring to tends to kink between the main part of it and the connections to the struts. The main thing to check while inflating the struts is that once you have inflated your kite to the pressure needed check that all the struts are fully inflated. A kink in any of these connecting sections will leave a strut un/under inflated and then the air can slowly leak in causing the other struts to depressurise.
Let me know if you need any more help on this mate 
D
