Merry Christmas folks. Not sure how it came off, but I dont seem to be able to push this hard sleeve back over the hose to secure it on to the little nozzle. Any tips?
Slide the clamp up the tube away from the valve then -
Push sleeve while pulling the rubber hose to stretch it and make it thinner
- should be able to get it right to the end.
Select to expand quoteFlyByKite said...
Slide the clamp up the tube away from the valve then -
Push sleeve while pulling the rubber hose to stretch it and make it thinner
- should be able to get it right to the end.
I tried that but I still don't seem to be able to force it over. I'm obviously lacking either the dexterity or the patience. I'll have another go tomorrow.
Select to expand quoteEricson said..
Merry Christmas folks. Not sure how it came off, but I dont seem to be able to push this hard sleeve back over the hose to secure it on to the little nozzle. Any tips?
Lube it up mate, either spit or soapy water will work
or take if off and use a zip tie 
You don't really need to put it back on as I just left mine off, I was able to get them back on by pulling the rubber one way while pushing the plastic tube the other, seemed to make the rubber just a tad bit thinner to make the plastic tube slide down.
Check out this Ozone vid on strut bladder replacement.
Oh for crying out loud. Just insert the rubber tube over the tip of the nozzel, and pull or push the plastic ring cover down WITH the rubber tube over the nozzle. Yes, a little lube goes a long way too, if you must.
ps. the plastic cover btw has two ends, one with a lip and the other without. The without side is the one that should be pointing towards the base of the valve.
If one was to replace the little rubber tubes what would one use? I know the kite shops would sell but after alternatives and ideas.
Select to expand quoteajs18s said..
If one was to replace the little rubber tubes what would one use? I know the kite shops would sell but after alternatives and ideas.
Dive shops have that tubing by the meter, as it's the same tube used for spear guns. 3mm and 5mm are common. The clips by the way can be sought from a medical centre. The clips are used for drip tubes
Select to expand quoteEricson said...
Success. Thanks gang.
Well tell us. What did you do?
Select to expand quotesirstomp said..
Check out this Ozone vid on strut bladder replacement.
Go to 3:50 to see the technique to get the PU retainers back over the tube and strut valve/nozzle.
This vid shows it perfectly.
If you put the PU retainers in a mug of hot/boiling water they become much more flexible, of course.
Got to love these instructional videos using brand new undamaged gear. It looks so damn easy. Then when you go to do it on your old gear that's been through the rinse cycle and is covered in sand and plastic parts are old and stiff and hard and don't want to come apart and the bladder never slips in easily and It magically gets twisted even though you pulled it straight
****ers should use and old ****ed kite and show a real world bladder replacement on a used old piece of **** kite.
Rant over.
Select to expand quoteDylanJamo said...Ericson said...
Success. Thanks gang.
Well tell us. What did you do?
Persisted, and managed to force it MOST of the way on. There was still a little bit of the tube pinched in the small gap that remained, but I had said "f#$%" enough times so near enough hopefully is good enough.
I did try the boiling water, but by the time i slid it onto the tube and slid the tube onto the nozzle, it had hardened again. The ozone video helped, at least I knew I was doing it the right way, but it was nowhere near as easy as the video made it look.
Hopefully it holds.
Select to expand quoteEricson said..DylanJamo said...Ericson said...
Success. Thanks gang.
Well tell us. What did you do?
I did try the boiling water, but by the time i slid it onto the tube and slid the tube onto the nozzle, it had hardened again.
Hopefully it holds.
Next time get a little glass fill it with the boiling water. Dunk the hose in there for maybe 1 min. Yourl then have a good minute to push it on before it goes hard again.
Select to expand quoteEricson said..DylanJamo said...Ericson said...
Success. Thanks gang.
Well tell us. What did you do?
Persisted, and managed to force it MOST of the way on. There was still a little bit of the tube pinched in the small gap that remained, but I had said "f#$%" enough times so near enough hopefully is good enough.
I did try the boiling water, but by the time i slid it onto the tube and slid the tube onto the nozzle, it had hardened again. The ozone video helped, at least I knew I was doing it the right way, but it was nowhere near as easy as the video made it look.
Hopefully it holds.
The video does make it look deceptively easy! Hot water does not work well because to get it hot enough to make a difference means you will burn your hand trying to push it on.
I've found this technique to help a lot. Get 2 screwdrivers that fit inside the black retainer piece of black PU tube, just. Then push the screwdrivers in opposite directions to stretch the black tube, then quickly reassemble and push hard while stretching the inflation tube, spit helps. The retainer piece does not need to go right to the valve a gap of 1-2mm is fine. The flexible inflation tube is extremely strong and stretchy, you can pull on it really hard.
I've seen them pulled off a kite by accident when people grab them to assist with launching or landing.
Select to expand quoteAnthony66 said..
Just get a small cable tie, cut off tthe excess once secured around the hose.
+1 make sure you file it a bit too after cutting, the cut cable tie can be quite sharp and tear the canopy when packed.
Fk me! This happened to me today. Googled it and stumbled upon this thread.
Except on mine the little black plastic sleeve, ring thing has disappeared! I tried looking for it but no go. Anyway lucky it happened at the carpark on packdown and not out in the surf. Now to find either a cable tie or ring clamp supplier in Byron at this time of year....
