My better half will start kiting when the ice gets here. Here is my problem she has a new 9m T3 and I need to shorten up the chicken loop rope or something else. She is having trouble with pushing the bar up to the top. Never having this problem before I am not sure if just bringing the power ball down is the best way to get it to fit her. I just want to keep her safe as possable. ANY IDEAS?
Dave
Bar setup for a shorter person.
Moderator: MK
Re: Bar setup for a shorter person.
I noticed a huge difference in the reach between seat harnesses and waist harnesses...if she's new to kiting, perhaps a Dakine board short style harness will provide the comfort and reach without having to modify your bar setup.
Mark
Mark
Re: Bar setup for a shorter person.
She will be wearing a seat harness. Anybody have any other ideas.
Dave
Dave
Re: Bar setup for a shorter person.
If it were me and I didn't want to mod anything. I'd pull the depower in in quite a bit and bring the stopper ball down so it is within reach.
And/or... I think the T3 you can rig the bar with the 2:1 setting..? If it does set that up so you have more depower for less distance of the bar compared to the 1:1 setting.
And/or... I think the T3 you can rig the bar with the 2:1 setting..? If it does set that up so you have more depower for less distance of the bar compared to the 1:1 setting.
Re: Bar setup for a shorter person.
Don't all of the recent slingshot bars have the adjustable stopper ball? Just be sure to teach her how to adjust it out when she pulls the depower in (otherwise she will have too short of a depower throw).
Re: Bar setup for a shorter person.
If you pull the depower in to compensate, I think you will find the kite responds poorly to input...unless it is really windy, it may not respond as quick as you want. I did shorten the chicken loops on several of my bars, which brought the reach in a little...
Mark
Mark
Re: Bar setup for a shorter person.
SORRY, I CAN'T RESIST: Trade her in for a model with longer arms? I'm thinking Tyra Banks! 
WARNING:
I AM AN UNREFORMED SERIAL FLIRT!!
(please respond accordingly ;^{})
I AM AN UNREFORMED SERIAL FLIRT!!
(please respond accordingly ;^{})
-
steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
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Re: Bar setup for a shorter person.
Set the kite up so there's more tension on the back lines, that way the kite will depower more within the range of her arms. It's not really necessary for her to reach all the way out, just for the kite to have good depower within the range of her reach.
I don't have a lot of experience with slingshot, I don't know what the T3s like for stalling if there's a lot of back line tension.So you might have to experiment to find a setting that's a balance between depower and back stalling.
I'm sure Tighe could make a suggestion for which knot positions to try.
I don't have a lot of experience with slingshot, I don't know what the T3s like for stalling if there's a lot of back line tension.So you might have to experiment to find a setting that's a balance between depower and back stalling.
I'm sure Tighe could make a suggestion for which knot positions to try.
Regional Ozone Team rider
there's a slingshot pdf on how to shorten the chicken loop, i haven't found it, its easy to do, just take out the 2 phillips heat screws from the fixed side of the chicken loop and cut it, than re drill the tube and screw back in. than shorten the donkey dick . hope this helps, its also in some of the old owners manuals , i found it in my slingshot machine manual, it should have the same chicken loop.
Re: Bar setup for a shorter person.
Yes I would suggest many of the things that others have suggested.
The SS chicken loops are fully adjustable. That later generation T3s are a bit smaller than the first gen models. As suggested, just loosen the 2-3 screws on the one side and slide the chicken loop line through till you get the size you want. It may take a little work to push the line thru but it will go eventually. Once shortened I would cut off the tail sticking out the other side. This will give you a bit of shortening. You may also want to shorten the donkey stick a bit.
The T3s come stock 2:1. I would leave it in that mode. As Bryce mentioned, that will give you the most depowering for the least throw of the bar. (eg. 1" throw at the bar equals 2" of rear line extension).
Most kites have an ideal flying range along the Chicken loop line, I have found for T3s it's about 3-4 inches. So when flying within this range the kite flys best. On the outside of this range the rear lines are starting to go slack, on the inside of the range your starting to slow the kite speed down and loose power instead of gain power. Extending your arms beyond this cause less control since there is slack in the lines.
Where this range is on the Chicken loop line depends on the Kite size, body wt, wind strength equation. So as the wind comes up this range may move up the chicken loop line, ie. your arms may need to be more extended to fly with the same power. The adjustment strap moves this range up or down the chicken loop line ensuring that the range is always in a comfortable riding position.
So that's my depower lesson, how does that effect the question at hand? My suggestion is to ensure that the ideal range starts with the chicken loop against the bar. I'll do this if I'm trying unhooked moves, which would have the CL against the bar when unhooked and I still want the kite to fly well. Most likely you'll need to pull in the adjustment strap a few inches to get the range that low, then a bit more as the wind comes up. You'll know you have it too far in if you push the bar out less than 4 inches and the rear lines go slack. You'll know you have a bit more to pull in, if when you pull the bar all the way in, the kite gets doggy and slow or backs out of the sky. It's important to make the adjustments when riding not when the kite is just overhead. Make the correct adjustments and you should be good. I've done this for a few kids and it worked well.
hope that helps.
The SS chicken loops are fully adjustable. That later generation T3s are a bit smaller than the first gen models. As suggested, just loosen the 2-3 screws on the one side and slide the chicken loop line through till you get the size you want. It may take a little work to push the line thru but it will go eventually. Once shortened I would cut off the tail sticking out the other side. This will give you a bit of shortening. You may also want to shorten the donkey stick a bit.
The T3s come stock 2:1. I would leave it in that mode. As Bryce mentioned, that will give you the most depowering for the least throw of the bar. (eg. 1" throw at the bar equals 2" of rear line extension).
Most kites have an ideal flying range along the Chicken loop line, I have found for T3s it's about 3-4 inches. So when flying within this range the kite flys best. On the outside of this range the rear lines are starting to go slack, on the inside of the range your starting to slow the kite speed down and loose power instead of gain power. Extending your arms beyond this cause less control since there is slack in the lines.
Where this range is on the Chicken loop line depends on the Kite size, body wt, wind strength equation. So as the wind comes up this range may move up the chicken loop line, ie. your arms may need to be more extended to fly with the same power. The adjustment strap moves this range up or down the chicken loop line ensuring that the range is always in a comfortable riding position.
So that's my depower lesson, how does that effect the question at hand? My suggestion is to ensure that the ideal range starts with the chicken loop against the bar. I'll do this if I'm trying unhooked moves, which would have the CL against the bar when unhooked and I still want the kite to fly well. Most likely you'll need to pull in the adjustment strap a few inches to get the range that low, then a bit more as the wind comes up. You'll know you have it too far in if you push the bar out less than 4 inches and the rear lines go slack. You'll know you have a bit more to pull in, if when you pull the bar all the way in, the kite gets doggy and slow or backs out of the sky. It's important to make the adjustments when riding not when the kite is just overhead. Make the correct adjustments and you should be good. I've done this for a few kids and it worked well.
hope that helps.
Tighe
Re: Bar setup for a shorter person.
I sent a message to Slingshot and this is what they said to do. I am going to order some winter leader lines and use those to shorten the back lines and go from there.
Thanks everybody.
Dave & Laurie,
There are few ways you can do.
1. Shorten the Chicken Loop by taking 3 screws out and cut it shorter.
2. Shorten the Chicken rope/ trim rope by trimming in to desired length and cut the slacks. This would depowered the kite a bit. If you want full power, you can shorten the back/steering line to even out the front line.
3. Stopper ball.
Hope this helps and enjoy
Eric
Thanks everybody.
Dave & Laurie,
There are few ways you can do.
1. Shorten the Chicken Loop by taking 3 screws out and cut it shorter.
2. Shorten the Chicken rope/ trim rope by trimming in to desired length and cut the slacks. This would depowered the kite a bit. If you want full power, you can shorten the back/steering line to even out the front line.
3. Stopper ball.
Hope this helps and enjoy
Eric