Slow leak

hopefall · Since 13 Feb 2009 79 Posts Couve

How do I best figure out where I am losing air? My 2010 Havoc has a slow leak. The one-way valve doesn't work like it should anymore. It's now a two-way valve. That is my first guess for the leak, but as long as it's plugged it shouldn't have issue. Any ideas? No. It won't fit in the bath tub.... Confused

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

I would say the bath tub. It surely won't fit pumped up like normal but if you have someone that can help you fold up the wings and only inflate the area you are investigating. You don't need full pressure to find the leak. Just put some air in it and then submerge the inflated part and squeeze it with your hand to add some additional pressure.

Other than that if you have another kite and you are still going out just take it with you next time you go and take a few minutes before/after your session to pump it up and take it to the water.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

inflate kite and start spraying it with soapy water
with a trigger sprayer. no need to remove bladders
first.

soon you find a spot where there are bubbles.

After you find the leak, figure out how to get
that part of the bladder out, pump it up again
to locate the leak on the bladder and then slap
some Tearaid on it.

PDXF · Since 10 Sep 2008 116 Posts Stoked

Like Hein mentioned spray it down with soapy water But isolate the struts from the LE first to see which bladder is bad. Don't inflate the nude bladder much more than you can blow into it with your mouth or risk premature failure.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

Sometimes a leak cant be found unless you have a lot of pressure in your bladder. I like pumping up my kite at a pool, lake or anywhere you can find calm water. Then I submerge sections in the water to find the leak. I think it is quicker and easier than the soapy water technique.

If the leak is in the LE but not in the middle third you can usually repair it by pulling bladder out of the end of the LE. Tthere is no need to remove half or the whole bladder from the middle.

Nak · Fri Aug 06, 10 8:56 pm

Which one way valve? The inflate valve I'm guessing? The cap on the inflate valve is a common cause for a slow leak. Check it first with the soapy water. (1/4 liquid dish soap, 3/4 water) If it's leaking, you can expand the plastic cap a bit & stop the leak. Take the cap off the kite, put it in a cup of water & boil it in a MICROWAVE oven. (NOT a stove top.) Use a pencil to expend the cap by inserting it into the end of the cap.

kenja · Since 19 Jun 2008 179 Posts Stoked

Or just have Airtime fix it for you. Probably about $35.

hopefall · Since 13 Feb 2009 79 Posts Couve

Thanks for the tips guys. I don't don't think that Airtime will locate the leak for me, just fix it. Took a nasty bike spill last night. Should have stayed home and fixed my kite. Dammit!

KITETASTROPHE · Since 06 Aug 2010 22 Posts

OUCH....