Valves leaking

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rymonroe
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Valves leaking

Post by rymonroe » Wed Feb 15, 2006 5:42 pm

Does anyone know how to fix a leaky valve or what causes it. I went out yesterday and a couple of them were leaking for some reason. Thanks.

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Post by andyandmarlys » Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:40 pm

If you leave the vinyl stoppers in for a long time, the valves can sometimes stretch a bit larger... the solution is to leave the stoppers out, and the valves should shrink back to normal size...

Andy

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Post by Pablito » Wed Feb 15, 2006 9:24 pm

There's actually a quicker way to fix them. It's posted on Kiteforum with pictures and everything, but basically you heat up the caps (most brands are removeable) in hot water and expand them using an old pump nozzle (yeah, you have to have an pump lying around to do it.) and then dunk them in cold water to stop them from shrinking back down.

I did it once, it worked well. After that, I stopped leaving my valves closed, like Andy said.
Paul

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rymonroe
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Post by rymonroe » Wed Feb 15, 2006 9:46 pm

Thanks alot. Ill try both.

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Post by Fester » Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:03 am

or you can stick an empty bic pen in the cap and cut the rest off.
that will keep it firm.

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Post by fearlu » Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:17 am

Here's what I've done: put a zip-tie around the outer portion of the valve so that it is slightly snug. This limits the stretch of the outside diameter so that when you insert the plug it's tight against the zip-tie rather than relying on the stretchiness of the valve tube. Never leaked again.
Go bigga'

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Post by VanSimms » Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:08 pm

I think I might have to do this, my kite lost a lot of psi while out a few weekends ago.
-Evan
If in doubt, do it.

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