Booooing goes the upper spreader...in comes the bamboo one

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[Scott Blake]

Hi all,

Finally got some wind, the first in a couple weeks.  Dutifully got out my Micron and got to work.  A couple inadvertent landings later, I notice the kite is a bit more floppy than usual after resetting the lower spreader.  Thats when I see the problem...no upper spreader.  This is the first time it came completely out - normally it hangs on one side or the other.  It wasn't near the 'landing' site so I can only assume it came out when I yanked on the line to try and get an axel going; popping out somewhere 50 feet up in the air and landing goodness knows where.  30 minutes of searching later, I had to give up.

However, I am down but not defeated.  I go home and shave the ends of a bamboo bbq skewer and voila, an almost good as new Micron!

Check out my impressive (if I do say so myself) construction work...



Unfortunately by the time all this was done the day was over.  I will be ordering some spares of the graphite variety shortly hehe.

And so, there was my kiting day.

edit - and you can see my new addition to the lower one - neon yellow paint on the tips to try and make these dang things easier to see.

[tempest]

Good idea painting the spars so you can find them if they pop out, or a little tape on the ends will help keep them snug and tight in their connectors.

[Scott Blake]

The paint alone makes them stick a bit better - it makes them a bit wider and the texture also seems to hold them in a bit better.  I will definitely be doing it with the replacement spreaders.  I was so enjoying the sound of that little thing buzzing through the sky - but with the bamboo trick I should be good to go until the replacement shows up (along with a new 4d and a acrobatx and a spare micron  ).

The good news is we should have some wind for the next few days...a 'super typhoon' is coming our way.  Methinks maybe a bit too much wind hehe.

[tempest]

 we should have some wind for the next few days...a 'super typhoon' is coming our way.  Methinks maybe a bit too much wind hehe.
[/quote]



Good time to study trick tutorials on Randy's blog or Mama74 .............

[Old Greebo]

My little mass-produced Yukon also has an upper spreader that could easily fall out if it somehow became detached.
Why isn't the upper spreader anchored with a fitment similar to the one that holds the main spreader in place?

[freecheese]

I used to put a bit of tape on my spreaders to help me find them in the grass. I haven't done it for a few years now, and I'm really regretting it. I was distracted by a couple of whales swimming by while I was packing up a kite, I guess I didn't put the upper spreader away properly... Hopefully one of the other regulars found it, because I couldn't spot it the next day.

PS - They say yellow is the most visible colour, but on dry grass, it really doesn't show up at all.

[sbrown]

holographic stickers work very well- they'll often sparkle enough to be able to spot them, are inexpensive and almost weightless. Almost any dollar store has them.

[freecheese]

Good idea Steve! Hey, if you happen to spot a spreader down at the point...

[Scott Blake]

Well I will get to test out the theory...when the sun comes out.

I went out and flew until after sunset (but still enough light to see the kite);  you gotta fly when you got wind right?

Anyhoo, I 'landed' the kite hard and was able to relaunch it when I could tell something was loose so relanded immediately.  I said, well, its too dark anyway now, I might as well pack up.  So I go up to the kite and....boooooing, the rear spreader is gone.  Of course, its dark and I don't have my Quark flashlight with me so I only give a cursory look around to no avail.  I will see if those yellow tips help next bit of daylight we get (I am assuming rain tomorrow as the typhoon gets closer).

I did get an absolutely stunning 5 minutes of flying in there though (well I was out for about 2.5 hours).  As the sun was setting it was lighting up a pile of clouds in my wind window and made some beautiful orange/red combos - perfect for the orange and red of the kite flying in there as well.  It was awesome; alas I didn't have my little camera/videocam to have got some video of it.

Ah well, wish me luck finding the bottom one; I have ordered a spare from Steve as I am sure even if I don't lose them I might very well break one at some point.

edit - neon yellow tips ftw, found it in about 2 minutes!

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