im a kiting greenhorn having trouble with valves coming off L/E bladder on naish 16m torch.2007..would like to sort the problem once and for all..dont mind if i have to buy a new bladder cept i dont want to be ripped off.. was quoted $260 which seems a lot for a plastic bag...I know im trying to make a silk purse out of a dinasaurs ear.. can anybody help,with either buying a new bladder or a sensible way to fix the problem.? . the octopus system seems like a freakin drama.. am I better off replacing bladders as individuals or what? some people might say just do what the model name says and just torch it, , but the rest of the kite is in good nic, and cant afford a new one yet... also is selleys urethane bond any good for gluing the valves on???
Firstly you will need to look at which valves are peeling off. I doubt it will be the Octopus valves as I have only ever seen one come off.
So most likely it will be the 9mm valves on the struts which can be glued back on by somebody who knows what they are doing.
Otherwise you could use the self adhesive valves like Fixmykite or Ustick.
Your struts will have a zip near the leading edge and I can always replace these valves without even disconnecting the Octopus system.
Give it a go pulling your bladder out and check its condition, the Naish website has a good demo to watch that goes through all the stages of this.
If there is a lot of holes, there is sure to be more in the near future and you just end up checking again and again. If this is the case just get a new bladder, I paid $250 had a great result.
I used Bostic Pool Repair glue on 1 of my valves ( I needed it fixed asap ) on my Naish Boxer and it is still going strong,
Remove the old valve with some hot water and then apply some glue to both surfaces and leave it for a minute then glue them together but remember to leave pressure applied to the valve overnight ( I used a 3/4 inch socket over the valve and 2 rolls of Elec tape over the socket to apply pressure to the entire sealing surface of the valve and then placed a couple of phone books on top and leave overnight
Make sure this is done on a clean flat hard surface ( I used the kitchen bench )
If it works well then sweet and if not buy a new Bladder which it sounds like you were planing on doing anyways
Good Luck
If you are sure its the LE bladder valves, then either choose to contact naish and be prepared to wait a while for a new bladder, hopefully they will at least help you out with a low cost replacement of they will give you a new one.
Valves coming off just should not happen and its 100% a faulty method thats used to attach the valves by the manufacturer.
Just ignore the bleating from dealers that you've done something wrong or that all kites do this - most kites don't. Many brands replace the bladders if they do get a batch that peel.
Or choose to fix, personally I'd choose the fix it myself option and steer clear of kites that use that inflation system in future, you are right it is a total PITA.
If you have found that it is the LE bladder pull it out, watch the video on the naish website. Peel the old valve off completely and re-glue it with either sikaflex polyurethane glue or kitefix valve glue or the one we get who's name escapes me right now doh, use weights to hold the glued valve in place overnight until the glue is fully cured.
If its a strut deflate valve replace it with a kitefix or fixmykite stick on valve.
Or send the bladder to Moti, or Kitepower Sydney.
not sure how the octopus system works on these kites, never had one...
however... if you can pull the valves out thru their holes, do this. saves pulling the whole bladder. remove old valve, replace with north stick on. these valves are good... north has had a lot of practise getting them right[}:)]. push valve back thru the hole, reconnect octo setup and away u go. takes about 4 or 5 mins per valve, just not sure whether they will work with the naish octo system. worst case replace the strut valves as well... good luck with it, its a pain in the ass when they fail!
