So, after properly tuning up my lines/calibrating my bar (not more than two fingers space between the bar and chicken loop), when attached to the kite (even to the highest possible knot), the back lines are slack and the kite does not respond well to the bar. It is even hard to launch. No one at the beach, even the most experienced guys, could explain this. The kite is 13.5 m 2014 Best Kahoona+ and the bar is 57cm Best RP 2014 bar. Maybe there are some people here, who deal with these kites and bars on a regular basis and know more about them. Maybe the lines for this kite have to be adjusted in some special way. Please help, I am totally lost.
And another question. With the same bar (Best RP) I often become accidentally unhooked, which never happens to me when I use my Liquid Force bar. Are these Best RP bars known to have this issue, or it is just my bad luck? If this is the bar issue, then how to fix it?
Thanks.
Accidental unhooking?
check that your 'donkey dick' is stiff enough to not be bent when you pull the bar down.
you can beef it up by squirting silicone up the hollow tube .
Very similar thing happened to me with a naish bar and a 4line bridle Cabrinha.
i quickly realised that the 'one adjustment fits all' videos on line adjustments are not for every kite.
is your V point on the two centre lines way up closer to the kite than the bar? These bars are more specific to their original kite and were designed for that purpose. Using them on kites that require the V point much lower and closer to the bar, can cause major disruption issues with the kite once in the air. And vice versa.
basically what I did was adjust the lines whilst the kite was powered up but lying it on its LE on the beach down wind. Of course do this as the winds are dying off or are lighter than usual.
I had to, because tying the lines to a post or piece of rope and pulling as per the videos does not quite mimic the way the lines are connected to the kite, as not all kites have the same equal length steering bridles compared with the centre bridles.
If it is a new kite and it doesn't fly properly take it back to the retailer. You shouldn't have to go fiddling around with your bar and lines on a new kite.
Hi hippo,
Not sure if this is relevant or helpful but it's an experience I've had: (can't help with the lines)
My chicken loop was coming off my harness even with the donkey dick in place, a mate who is experienced saw it a couple of times and said that ain't right!
Told a guy who owns the kite shop in rosebud (Trent), what a helpful guy, came to where we were working (about half an hour out of his way) to have a look at my set up. Went through it all with me, asked the right questions of me and bingo!!!
He figured out that it was only happening to me in light/borderline winds for the kite when I was probably trying to work the kite beyond what it should be worked combined with the seat harness I use with the spreader bar pointing just that tiny bit upwards.
The loop would edge it's way on the side of the spreader bar and when I pulled power on it took enough tension off the loop to come off the spreader bar and then it was holding on by the donkey dick which was only a matter of time before it bent and let the loop off.
Thanks to an awesome kite shop owner that values helping people in the sport the problem was solved! It hasn't happened since and although it was (in my case) inexperience it may or may not have some relevance to you!
Select to expand quotedaggy said..
Accidental unhooking?
check that your 'donkey dick' is stiff enough to not be bent when you pull the bar down.
you can beef it up by squirting silicone up the hollow tube .
Looks stiff enough to me. In fact, the stick on my other bar, which never unhooks, is even more flexible.Select to expand quoteLoftywinds said..
Very similar thing happened to me with a naish bar and a 4line bridle Cabrinha.
i quickly realised that the 'one adjustment fits all' videos on line adjustments are not for every kite.
is your V point on the two centre lines way up closer to the kite than the bar? These bars are more specific to their original kite and were designed for that purpose. Using them on kites that require the V point much lower and closer to the bar, can cause major disruption issues with the kite once in the air. And vice versa.
basically what I did was adjust the lines whilst the kite was powered up but lying it on its LE on the beach down wind. Of course do this as the winds are dying off or are lighter than usual.
I had to, because tying the lines to a post or piece of rope and pulling as per the videos does not quite mimic the way the lines are connected to the kite, as not all kites have the same equal length steering bridles compared with the centre bridles.
The problem is that the RP bar that I use is the "original" bar for this kite. It is not a "mix & match" case.Select to expand quoteKiterBen said..
If it is a new kite and it doesn't fly properly take it back to the retailer. You shouldn't have to go fiddling around with your bar and lines on a new kite.
Well, I bought it last fall and had quite a few sessions on it through last winter. It was flying perfectly then. I might call the retailer and ask them the same questions I asked here.Select to expand quoteDaniel1973 said..
Hi hippo,
Not sure if this is relevant or helpful but it's an experience I've had: (can't help with the lines)
My chicken loop was coming off my harness even with the donkey dick in place, a mate who is experienced saw it a couple of times and said that ain't right!
Told a guy who owns the kite shop in rosebud (Trent), what a helpful guy, came to where we were working (about half an hour out of his way) to have a look at my set up. Went through it all with me, asked the right questions of me and bingo!!!
He figured out that it was only happening to me in light/borderline winds for the kite when I was probably trying to work the kite beyond what it should be worked combined with the seat harness I use with the spreader bar pointing just that tiny bit upwards.
The loop would edge it's way on the side of the spreader bar and when I pulled power on it took enough tension off the loop to come off the spreader bar and then it was holding on by the donkey dick which was only a matter of time before it bent and let the loop off.
Thanks to an awesome kite shop owner that values helping people in the sport the problem was solved! It hasn't happened since and although it was (in my case) inexperience it may or may not have some relevance to you!
This makes sense and might well be my case too. So, Dan, what was a proposed solution for you? Just stop working your kite that hard, or something else?
Million thanks for all your replies and suggestions, folks!
Your not gunna like the solution to my light wind, overworking the kite, unhooking problem!
It was a 11m kite.......
Now I have an 8, 11 & 14
Not very helpful really! But hey at least I know what the problem was now 
Although I did read about a dude who replaced his chicken loop with a carabao a while still obviously keeping the safety release.
Not sure that sounds so great to me!
yu may find that if your back lines are too long you are constantly pulling the bar hard against the chicken loop to gain power and steering and this can cause your chicken loop to unhook.
I had a fuel that was 100 mm too long on the fronts but I just made new pigtails, now it's awesome.
Check this past thread out about chicken loop problems especially Kitepowers product link...
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Chicken-loop-popping-off-harness/?SearchTerms=chicken,loop
