Any suggestions on how to repair this?

mocorroco · Since 02 Jul 2006 30 Posts Omaha NE

Hi everyone, just wondering what would be the best way to deal with this problem, thanks

trevorsmith · Since 25 Apr 2005 501 Posts PDX Addicted

04 Slingshot bladder problem...
I just went to airtime and got new ones, I was tired of trying to glue them myself. But you can take rubber cement and glue them. But remember each one of those bladders are goign to do that. It is a know defect with 04 bladders.

Not sure is SS will warranty a kite that old, but you could ask.
I have a 17M and 13M with all new bladders if your interested..not sure what kite size you got.

Teague · Since 10 Jul 2005 114 Posts Really Windy Places Stoked

Look into a warranty replacement before you attempt to fix that one yourself. De-lamed inflation nipples are the worst fix cases on bladders unfortunatly but are sometimes covered under warranty. They are factory pressed in such a way that a de-lam is almost impossible to glue-fix. I have tried cement in the past with no real long-term success.

Good luck!

crasher · Since 21 Jul 2005 23 Posts Long Island, NY

Had the same problem with my 13m '04 Fuel. Slingshot sent me a whole new set of bladders, no questions asked. Maybe they'll do the same for you.

amery · Since 05 Aug 2005 60 Posts Choad

Little late for warranty I'd say. (I'm not the SS warranty manager, but you gotta cut it off at some realistic point.) But the easiest and cheapest solution for that is to get the Airtime U-Stick valves. No need to replace the bladder, just the nipples.

http://www.airtimekite.com/u-stick_page.html

P.M. me if you need any more info or have questions

jahmbi · Wed Jun 27, 07 10:11 pm

DON,T

..WHY REPAIR Question

BUY NEW... Exclamation

TROLL

crasher · Since 21 Jul 2005 23 Posts Long Island, NY

In my opinion. If it is a manufacturers defect, which it is, and Slingshot has already acknowledged it. Then it shouldn't matter how old the kite is.

Actually, once SS realized they had a problem, they should've just sent everyone with an '04 kite new bladders.

I went through alot of grief and alot of missed sessions trying to repair mine before I became aware of the problem. What is that worth?

Now don't get me wrong, SS did the right thing by me, and I think they are a great company and make great kites.

All I'm saying is just because the problem didn't manifest itself until now, this guy has to eat it? Just doesn't seem fair to me.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

crasher · Since 21 Jul 2005 23 Posts Long Island, NY

I agree with you pkh except that this was a manufacturers defect, so those bladders were doomed to fail from day one. Maybe this guy doesn't kite very much so it took longer for the problem to show up.

It just doesn't seem right that he should have to pay to fix something that was clearly a defect no matter how old the kite.

Just my opinion, as I said, SS did right by me. They are a great company with great customer service as far as I'm concerned.

jbrickner · Since 29 Aug 2006 5 Posts New Member

I just experienced the same thing. I glued it back on using aquaseal. Worked great. Be sure to clean both the bladder surface and nipple very good with alchohol.

Guess I better check all my other nipples now.

amery · Since 05 Aug 2005 60 Posts Choad

It would be a great world if all products had a lifetime manufacturers defect warranty. However, I don't think any of us live in that universe. At some point the past becomes the past. Slingshot does a good job of taking care of its customers and often times goes beyond a reasonable threshold to do so.

mocorroco, if you got issues, let me know.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Jun 28, 07 11:48 pm

If your still using an 04 kite its not a manufacturer's defect..... its a kiters defect.

Yeah dude, I got to get me one of those 04' fuels!!!!! Laughing

zoobies · Since 21 Aug 2005 5 Posts New Member

Bamboo and I replaced a valve on one of his North kites last month. I was expecting it to be a difficult process and it was really very simple. We removed the bladder from the kite, and used hot water to release the old valve from the bladder. Then used a U-stick valve from Air Time.

Nak · Fri Jun 29, 07 4:45 pm

The valves in that picture aren't the defective 04 valves, those were black. Those are the new valves. Some 3 and 4 year old bladders are going to fail, there is no getting around that. That is, unless you make the bladder out of a heavier material. But if you do that, the kite won't perform worth a damn. Everything in life is a compromise... Overall, the 04 fuels are pretty sturdy. I'm still trying to break mine, no luck yet! Very Happy