Help from those FW Soul experts...

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[NormP]

Shot in the dark: I have no idea what would happen if you were using the shorter outside stand-offs in higher wind. You might want to check and see which ones you have installed. My kite flys great with the bridle measurements I have on the picture. Do you have yours set in turbo or 3-point? Maybe it's time for a Vented Talon.    By all means, keep me posted.

[Ara Ararauna]

Do you know the exact wind speed? Are you using a anemometer? If your wing tips are shuttering I would say you're flying above the wind speed for the Soul. The manufacturer list
the recommended wind speed for the Soul at 3-20mph, but don't believe it.

Hi Norm.
Yes, I do have an anemometer: Skywatch Explorer2
This is why I'm talking about precise amounts.
For example yesterday I was flying at around 10-12Km/h and it was difficult to give slack.
I was almost pulling my arms out of my shoulder joint.
It then went up to 15-19Km/h and the kite was really pulling me so I could only fly in circles, forget about trying any tricks.
Finally I packed up when the gusts were going up to 20-22Km/h...

But, in any case this would still be under 14mph !
Really far from the theoretical 20mph !!!! 

Don't understand what's going on... 

[Ara Ararauna]

This is correct, but the noticeable difference in pull would be minimal for us less experienced pilots. It doesn't really matter how many knots or the distance between each knot on the pigtail exist. Be sure the total distances are correct. From everything I see the differences between Steve's, Mine, and Albert's are minimal. Using any of our three measurements would work just fine.

This is what I would have thought but apparently we're flying different beasts with the same name... 

It's a good thing you don't have a SF Pro or a HQ Infinity. You would be pulling your "bridle hair" out. 

Why's that?
Do they have more complex bridles?

[NormP]

Do you have the long stand-offs installed?

Another loooooooooooong shot: Maybe your kite has UL rods installed. (hence earlier shutter)
Did you buy it new? Second party? Third party?

[Ara Ararauna]

Shot in the dark: I have no idea what would happen if you were using the shorter outside stand-offs in higher wind. You might want to check and see which ones you have installed. My kite flys great with the bridle measurements I have on the picture. Do you have yours set in turbo or 3-point? Maybe it's time for a Vented Talon.    By all means, keep me posted.

I am flying with the longer stand-offs.
Originally my Soul came with the shorter ones as a default (really strange) and I couldn't fly it as a newbie. The kite kept going into a turtle and I could not control it.
So I changed to the long ones and I started flying OK.

I do have the turbo bridle configuration. This is what I have:

Stand-offs, from sail to lower spreader: 27cm (26.5cm from sail to tip of stand-off)
Bridle:

• Left (as seen from the pilot)
  Upper outhaul: 55cm
  Lower outhaul: 59.5cm
  Inhaul: 63.5cm
  Turbo: almost 10cm
  Pigtails in upper outhaul: 8, 9.5, 11 & 12cm

Right (as seen from the pilot)

• Upper outhaul: 55.5cm
  Lower outhaul: 59.5cm
  Inhaul: 63.5cm
  Turbo: almost 9.5cm
  Pigtails in upper outhaul: 8.5, 10, 11.5 & 12.5cm

One more thing.
The doughnut-shaped weight on the lower end of the spine has also become loose and I don't know where it should be placed.
I try to keep it touching the lower T but it often moves up the spine between 3-5cm.

I bought it NEW from Steve here at GWTW/Chico Kites

Still waiting for Albert to answer.
Cheers.

[NormP]

Why's that?
Do they have more complex bridles?

Everywhere you look on the SF Pro there is a bridle adjustment. On the HQ Infinity there is an addictional one somewhere around the center of the LE's for stabilizing or shutter prevention.

[NormP]

I will measure my stand-offs next. What a mystery.

[NormP]

You could remove your pigtail knots and make them equal. This should make your Upper Outhauls equal. Do I think this is the problem: NO, the difference is minimal. It could also be
a slight error in making the measurements. Bottom Line: Make the pigtail knots equal between each knot.

[NormP]

My stand-offs are both 26cm from sail to top of vinyl cap.
Soul Specs. say 25.5cm..........Looks all good to me.

[Ara Ararauna]

My stand-offs are both 26cm from sail to top of vinyl cap.
Soul Specs. say 25.5cm..........Looks all good to me.

I will cut away the extra 1cm from mine to make sure this is not affecting.
In fact they do take a bit of effort getting into the LS connectors since I changed the sail connectors from the original to those that have a little screw.

I will also correct the pigtails on the upperhaul.

Let us see if tweaking here and there manages to get the kite back in tune...

Thanks for your interest and patience Norm.

BTW, what about the tail weight? What is yours like and where is it placed?
Thanks

[NormP]

I was trying to post this as you were posting. So here is a picture of my weights.
Two weights: One brass donut and one velcro. I do not know the combined weight of these.
You can place a rubber O-ring above the brass one to keep it in place.

[NormP]

Ara......I configured my leechlines like in the picture so I didn't tear/rip my vecro tail closure when I opened it. Does this make sense?

[Hadge]

Ara, a few random thoughts.

Has your kite always pulled like this? If not, when did it start.

It really sounds like the kite is overpowering badly, What kind of field are you flying on? If it is partly sheltered could it be that the wind you are measuring at ground level is a lot less than the wind at 25m?

I really wouldn't get the hacksaw out and start cutting things yet!...1cm on a standoff isn't going to make that much difference to the kites pull.

Although your bridle measurements are more or less the same as mine, the amount of adjustment you have on the uphaul pigtails is rather different.  I would suggest that you make up a set of pigtails with the same knot spacing as I posted at the beginning of the thread. You can put them side by side with your existing ones to try them out.  They should give you much more adjustment for higher wind as it will you another 4.5cm of adjustment. Mine flies fine from around 4/5mph into mid teens before the LE's start to shake.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that there was a revised version of the Soul brought out after the original with a few changes but I don't know what they were.

Try the pigtails, it can't do any harm and I'm sure you'll find it better - your maximum wind adjustment is still in my midrange.

[Ara Ararauna]

Thanks Hadge for your thought.
Here are my comments:

Ara, a few random thoughts.

Has your kite always pulled like this? If not, when did it start.

I'm not sure... since when I started with it I was coming from the Prism Nexus which was a real difference... I was really a newbie...
However, I would say it pretty much has always done that...

It really sounds like the kite is overpowering badly, What kind of field are you flying on? If it is partly sheltered could it be that the wind you are measuring at ground level is a lot less than the wind at 25m?

I have flown everywhere: beach, inland urban, inland rural...
For example, what I was describing a few posts ago was on the beach with the wind coming from the sea. So no possible obstacles in the way. Of course wind could change anyway depending on height but I think the measurements were quite correct.

I really wouldn't get the hacksaw out and start cutting things yet!...1cm on a standoff isn't going to make that much difference to the kites pull.

However, the 3cm of the short outer stand-offs do make a difference, so I think I will cut them.

Although your bridle measurements are more or less the same as mine, the amount of adjustment you have on the uphaul pigtails is rather different.  I would suggest that you make up a set of pigtails with the same knot spacing as I posted at the beginning of the thread. You can put them side by side with your existing ones to try them out.  They should give you much more adjustment for higher wind as it will you another 4.5cm of adjustment. Mine flies fine from around 4/5mph into mid teens before the LE's start to shake.

OK, I'll buy some bridle line and make the new pigtails

I seem to remember reading somewhere that there was a revised version of the Soul brought out after the original with a few changes but I don't know what they were.

Yes, you told me that in another post or PM. This is why I decided to ask Albert Chen, just in case there IS a difference.

Try the pigtails, it can't do any harm and I'm sure you'll find it better - your maximum wind adjustment is still in my midrange.

I will.
Sooooooo... I'll keep adjusting things and hope for the best.

Thanks!

[red sweater]

Why's that?
Do they have more complex bridles?

Everywhere you look on the SF Pro there is a bridle adjustment. On the HQ Infinity there is an addictional one somewhere around the center of the LE's for stabilizing or shutter prevention.

Huh. I have the SF Pro UL, and haven't monkeyed with the bridle. Of course, my bag of tricks only contains axels, half axels, and snap turtles so far. I do know there is a weight balance problem with yo-yos, but right now, I'm not concerned about that.

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