Make Your Old Foil Kite Fly Like New

[@michelcote]

Even better than to original Flysurfer tuning video, congratulations !

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks!

[@MacPotato73]

Hands down the most useful vid ever for FS owners. I was seriously thinking of selling my old speed 3 15m, but now I'm going to squeeze a couple more seasons out of it.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks, that’s great! Let us know how it goes :)

[@yalinsahinn]

Hi Martin I have speed 3 15m too. I'm thinking about to do mixer test but one of my friend told me that after doing short mixer test his kite get worse. I have some questions about mixer test. If you answer I appreciate. Did you do mixer test to your kite? How is the result? So do you suggest to do short mixer test?

[@zackherer]

Not gonna lie, I had to watch the video like 20 times but in the end I actually done it. Thanks for sharing this!!!

[@manfredanderson2080]

I know this is an older video but boy did it help me today. I was always too lazy and afraid to do the long mixer test alone. Felt it was way to technical. Had to watch it numerous times to figure it out. Very proud of my self and completed the test on my soul 10m and 12m. The first test took a long time, but then it all clicked and I felt I knew what I was doing. The 12m was pulling very hard to the left last week. Checked the bar. It was OK. Both kites were very out of tune, but now perfect! Have not had a chance to see if they actually fly better. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks Yuri and Laurie!

[@OurKiteLife]

Nice! Sounds like your kites are ready for Hatty :D

[@kinouillek]

Are you guys kidding me? I was just looking for a video like this as I'm getting ready for Cuba!!!! Timing couldn't be better.

[@OurKiteLife]

Haha sounds like perfect timing! Have fun in Cuba! We're in Cuba right now :)

[@kinouillek]

@@OurKiteLife Oh nice, will you be around Cayo Guillermo in 10 days ish?

[@collider4378]

This is fantastic information to have all in one place. Would have loved this video a couple years ago when I started with foil kites, but the screwdriver alignment alone was worth watching this. Always something new to learn from the guy that built my awesome kites :D. Great video as always, thanks OKL!

[@OurKiteLife]

Glad you enjoyed it! We learned a lot from Armin, happy to share the info :)

[@ABESuperKiteDay]

I wish Armin could maintenance all my kites 😎👍 Thanks for making this video.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@irf888]

Brilliant video, Armin is awesome and this was a great idea for content. I will happily buy Flysurfer kites again! Thanks.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks :)

[@siddallj]

Super helpful, I understand how to adjust mixers now. Just bought a 13m ozone Chrono v2 for foiling. You guys make great new content. Thank you so much, love your channel 🏄🤙

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! Happy to hear this was helpful for you :)

[@normsbigwindow9379]

Well done. Extremely comprehensive and a very useful reference vid.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@TylerKaraszewski]

I haven’t even watched this yet but already saved it! Gonna watch this again with my 10m Soul laid out on the lawn before next season. Thanks!

[@OurKiteLife]

Awesome :)

[@johnded8813]

Excellent tuning video. I'd like to add that u can stretch ur lines to match. I had one line shorter and hooked it in a carabiner to my car stretched it to match with my body weight....it works. U can buy line wax for ur main line and coat ur lines..especially ur bar line and pulley lines. I have a speed 2 19m that lost air tightness and coated it with clear silicone that u use for caulking. I thinned the caulking with mineral spirits and brushed it on. Lasted a couple of years and did fairly well at the red bull kite farm race. Good job on videos.

[@k57k5]

Hi John, what were the products you used to improve air tightness?

[@almirmisimovic956]

Hi. What about if A is longer than Z line?

[@buczu83]

Might be a bit late to the party but this video seemed as a good place to post my question. Great instructional video. I really appreciate all the information about foil kites. As much as I have good understanding of most aspects of foil kite specific techniques, there is one thing that I would like to hear your opinion at. This applies to Flysurfer Speed 5 and also some of the previous versions of their lineup. So, FDS or FLS? I have used both on my Speed5's and FDS seems to be less "violent" on the kite, especially in larger sizes, 15-21m after pulling the safety, (infamous loops smacking kite on the ground in high winds), also less tangles imo and easier re-launch. Also FDS connects directly to canopy, separate bridle for 5th line, so main bridles are not getting stretched. After three years of flying foils, only reason to pull safety for me was to land when wind picked up to the point where self landing was really sketchy and no one around to help. Only once safety was deployed on water. FLS on 8m Speed- when main line snapped but that was a full packdown, no re-launch. I have tried FDS on water in ultra low wind with 21m Speed5 and it was really smooth incl re-launch but conditions were ideal so this is not a real life test. What are your thoughts on this matter? Would you install FDS on Seed5's?

[@OurKiteLife]

last time we used FDS (5th line) was on Speed 1 I believe or maybe Pulse. Honestly we never had any issues with FLS. If you are worried about bridles stretching on one side, just rotate the the FLS line from one side to another. The only downside of FLS that we can think of is that when you do more rotations (backrolls/frontrolls) in one direction than other, the FLS line twists up and shrinks the front line. For that reason we prefer new force bar, which comes with micro safety line. Hope this helps.

[@gastonbarouille767]

Hey you guy! What are you doing here?! You must be training on your windsurfing gear!!!! LOL

[@jwinders3376]

So wonderful! Thank you for this!!

[@AdrianKerr]

Interesting and slightly daunting

[@vincentguelon5987]

Hello to all the Our Kite Life team ;-) I was so glad to see that you had another thought for people flying Flysurfer older kites ! (I perform all my sessions with 2 SPEED 3 and a PSYCHO 3) Congratulations for your guest, Armin Harich. Couldn't find better expert to explain to us mixer tests and fabric air tightness test :-) I was very interested by the long mixer test, including the briddles, which is the one to do on SOUL kites ; Would you know if there is a mean to check if the length of the briddles is correct on older kites ? Thank you very much again, for all your videos !!! Vincent from France

[@vincentguelon5987]

I saw that you did already answer to this question to Aero Venus, and that Armin did too, to Dincer Aydin... Thank you again, enjoy Cuba and take care :-)

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks 🙂

[@marcin221178]

Thank you for your tips it's great. Can ask you to do video how to change lines to 14 m length on peak 4?.. and what is the good and bad side of it . Thanks again

[@dinceraydin40]

Nice video, but wish Armin demonstrated his way of long mixer tuning on older flysurfers. On an old kite the short mixer test does not really make the kite fly better because of the bridle shrinkage/stretch. Also wonder if shrunken sparepart lines have an effect on kite performance (considering the mixer is even). They are shrunken even when brand new. Also, why two screwdrivers? Was fixing all pigtails to a single point not good enough?

[@komarzoltan]

By doing the short mixer test and fix on an old kite you are fixing the problem of the shortening mixer lines. If you change the mixer test back to the original setting then this case an older mixer line is just as good as a brand new one. I dont think you can call your brand new spare parts mixer line shrunken. :) Just change them and do the short mixer test.

[@kasparoit2609]

A is 7cm longer than z both left and right side how would you comment this?(measuring long distance) What should be done?

[@TakaRJ2007]

good! more videos like this!!!

[@yalinsahinn]

Thanks for the informative video. I would like to ask a question about tuning. I have a speed 3 15m and I noticed that my kite isn't flying what it is supposed to fly, it's flying a little bit down even sometimes it backstalls. I've checked my bar and its perfectly trimmed. I'm thinking about doing mixer test but one of my friend told me that after doing a short mixer test his kite get worse. If you answer I appreciate it. In conclusion, Do you suggest doing short mixer test?

[@ChrisWernerCGHORIZON]

Thanks for sharing this helpful info! I am watching again since 2019...so, which is the best way to tune a Sonic 2? Just the Long Mixer Test? Or, can you do a short mixer test on the Sonic 2?

[@awaitingthetrumpetcall4529]

With your knowledge of kite lines you would be an excellent paramotor pilot.

[@canolando3499]

Good content, but what do you do for a non flysurfer foil kite when checking mixer lines? I don't have marks like the soul? Also I've had a Core xr4 wear out after 150 hours on the canopy. I sent it in to a shop they sent it back saying material is weak. I should have listened to them, it ripped too to bottom while out kiting after a slight kite fallout while foiling.

[@OurKiteLife]

What we would do get a line plan and check each individual bridle, if some shrank more then others you may need to replace them, also check the manual of the kite brand you bought, but in the end of the day the basics are the same for most kites minus the soul with long mixer test

[@canolando3499]

@@OurKiteLife thanks

[@benmaz]

Great video as usual guys 👍. I have Sonic 3a 9m / 13m / 18m. Is the long mixer test the same as the souls?

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! Yes it’s the same

[@nicolasboudet9302]

I did my Soul 15 mixer test following your (Armin) recommendations but I am now unsure: I put the 2 screw drivers at the same distance from the kite at the line ring connection and did the long mixer test as shown: A & Z were 10cm far from each other’s and were not changing that much when moving aside🥴. So I get to the bar and realized that from the same screwdrivers the front and back lines were not equal. Instead of adjusting the lines at the bar, I added 1 more screw drivers, attaching both front lines to the center one, and I moved the front line screw driver until the bar lines under tension will be equal, then I kept this 3 screw drivers position to make again the long mixer test, according your video, but with screw drivers far of approx 10cm from the kite (I your vid the seems to be perfectly at the same distance) Due to so A &Z became nearly equal length both side, and just did a little adjustment to B or C. I am not sure of this, as next flying test was with very light wind and I had to trim quite a lot to avoid back stall. When wind picked up a bit I seemed ok but I am not fully sure of it (I was so excited to come back to water as we had one month of lockout🤗...) I would appreciate your analysis of my process and advices😎

[@OurKiteLife]

If you put two screw drivers about 15 cm apart, at the connection points to the lines (front and rear bridles ends). Then you go to the kite and grab A and Z and you may need to walk few meters side to side untill they are even. When they are even you can Begin adjusting C and then B. Hope this helps

[@nicolasboudet9302]

In my case when I did that way first with 2 screw drivers 15cm on the same perpendicular line...moving even 5m each side was without any effect (possibly moving A/Z distance between 9 to 12cm)🥴. It is why I included the bar lines length differences and then A/Z became equal. In reality I used the 3 screw drivers to do it by myself without bothering to much my wife😇, but I would probably do the same with someone pulling the bar and another checking A/Z at the kite as you recommended. Hope it is the right way??

[@OurKiteLife]

@@nicolasboudet9302 something sounds fishy, i mean bar length in theory sounds ok but it is unnecessary, you have no pigtails on the bridles?

[@gastonbarouille767]

@@OurKiteLife How about the difference between A and Z? There isn't necessary that A and Z are equal or centered between both screwdrivers? Do the diff between A and Z has to be the same in both mixers (left and right) ?

[@k57k5]

My 15mtr Speed 3 wants to pull left so rather than having the bar horizontal I have to pull the right hand side down to keep the kite stationary at the zenith. The steering and power lines are level from the bar up to the kite. What adjustments should I make at the mixer? I was thinking of lengthening the lhs by 15 to 20mm. What else could I do?

[@normanfreund]

and here I was hoping for the magic fix for older kites with increased porosity ... as expected, no magic, buy a new kite with silicon coating instead of PU coating. Thanks for the life comparison in hours PU versus silicon. Also the advice on don’t bother recoating - gold.

[@unihenke8913]

Thanks

[@OurKiteLife]

🙂

[@svabis]

Thanks heaps guys! Can I do long mixer test on Sonic 2 ? 🤙

[@OurKiteLife]

Glad you found the video helpful :) unfortunately you can’t do the long mixer on the Sonic 2

[@maximilianrodliff]

My z line is way shorter than the a on my flysurfer soul long mixer. A b c and z are perfect for short mixer and front and back lines are adjusted perfectly ? Is there any way of adjusting the z or a bridles ? What’s happening is the right hand side trailing edge is pinching and there is much more bar pressure on my right hand. I’m a bit lost 😬

[@OurKiteLife]

Z line, is basically steering lines, so when you let go of the bar, you are shortening the z line. Make sure you are measuring correctly, as often times people are not

[@antoniomahoney2842]

That was good

[@thomaslindberg8250]

On long mixer test I’m able to get my A,B, C equal BUT my Z line is short by an inch and on the other side a half inch short. At this point I have to unequally lengthen the Z lines at the bar???

[@OurKiteLife]

When you put two screw drivers in you have to walk either left or right so a and z are equal

[@crocodile172]

My 1 spare part line snapped at 130 hours and second one at 140 hours. They must be saving on the quality of parts now...

[@miguelreinfeld1133]

Thanks for sharing such helpful tips! keep them coming, please. I am experiencing a problem when doing transitions with the Soul 15m. (only during transitions) When the kite moves from one side of the window to the next it tends to travel past the window and collapses. Otherwise, I love the kite Is this due to tuning, bar? or just doing something wrong? using a large Ozone Bar 15m lines

[@Rababski]

I had three fly surfers, after a couple of years, they all had the same issues symptoms; they started stalling if the kite is depowered and when they’re depowered their power zone is awkward and around 12 only. Where should I start? Thanks

[@OurKiteLife]

what model kites are those? usually the kite would start to stall when you power it up, not when you depower it, never had this happen, elaborate more please

[@Rababski]

Hey, thank you for your prompt answer. They’re all older models from 2012 and 2014. Also, everyone around me, this is what happened to their kites as well. Yes, you are right, kites stall when they’re depowered usually. It’s really off, when flying the kite there’s no power in it unless it is at 11 or 1, and then at 11 or 1 it also has the tendency to go to 12 and then the power is neutralized. The temperature here gets up to 50 degrees. But I have to say that one of my kites was used and the seller wasn’t honest about it and it had this issue already. One of the kiters contacted Flysurfer and he got new lines and tried to recollaborate the kite setup with no luck either. I really enjoy the flying of Flysurfer, but this issue is a turnoff.

[@OurKiteLife]

@@Rababski how many hours do you have on a kite? also did you check the lines being equal length? we had issues before and one of the center lines was 30 cm shorter then other one. Mixer test, maybe put B-1 and C-1? But honestly, all the backstalling can usually be traced to lines being uneven, let us know how it goes

[@Mossy5150]

The simplest test is to make sure your front and rear lines are the same length when the chicken loop is touching the bar and the trimmer is fully released (full power). If they're perfect, the next easiest check is to inspect the spare part lines that the pulleys run through. If those are worn, or severely flattened from passing over the pulley, they can cause what you're describing. From there, the final check is to do the 'short' mixer test and try to lengthen C by a few centimeters to reduce backstall. If none of that works, something else is wrong and the next place to look is to measure individual bridle lines.

[@Rababski]

Timothy Mossholder we give that a shot. Many thanks 🙏🏽

[@gastonbarouille767]

What he says at 7:52 ????

[@kenstastny3561]

Hello my name is Ken if any of you from our kite life would like to visit San Diego and kite on mission Bay you guys are always welcome that would be great to hook up with you guys and do some sailing

[@OurKiteLife]

Hey Ken, thanks so much! If you’re ever in Toronto, let us know :)