New Lines

[Bsham]

I’m looking for suggestions for line replacement on an 2006 Slingshot bar. Slingshot only carries gear comparable with a 2010 bar on their website. Anybody know if these will work or do I need to piece a set together?

[SENDIT!]

**Disclaimer, I sell bars...

Good gosh man, just upgrade to a new bar. You can find lots of bars out there on closeout that are going to be just a little more than the replacement line set. And the safety systems have evolved to work significantly better and more reliably since back then. Bonus? You'll get a new leash with your bar and THAT will be better, too!

[Da Yoda]

**Disclaimer, I sell bars...

Good gosh man, just upgrade to a new bar. You can find lots of bars out there on closeout that are going to be just a little more than the replacement line set. And the safety systems have evolved to work significantly better and more reliably since back then. Bonus? You'll get a new leash with your bar and THAT will be better, too!

+100
Control bars are disposable items imo. Most bars are not worth preserving especially for the price of new lines and replacement components.

[Bsham]

Thanks for the input and thanks for responding. I usually just read forums for info but, my stuff is old and I can’t find anything online for replacements. I have definitely noticed the improvements on bar systems (and kites) over the past 10 years. I did a full inspection of the lines today and the flying lines are in great shape, but the fifth line leader needs to be replaced as it’s worn from trimming for depower/upwind ability. It’s about 4m and I’m not sure slingshot has the same piece anymore. I talked with a local shop and they said they would make me one. I don’t want to buy new gear when I’m still having fun and progressing on the gear I have, but maybe it’s time.

[Mossy 757]

https://greenhatkiteboarding.com/liros- ... -per-meter

+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co1nqFfb7Ps

Use a guitar string to push the line through itself on the splice.


Or, like everyone else said, get a modern bar. I disagree that they're consumable, the line systems are, but the bar and chicken loop and hardware are all pretty sturdy. Replacing lines every season and giving it a solid once over is good practice, and with a roll of kiteline and splicing skills, you can pretty much keep a bar alive forever, or until the grip wears off and it sucks to hold.

[Matteo V]

Use a guitar string to push the line through itself on the splice.

Or just a piece of MIG welding wire. I use stainless .030 and it works fine. You could also get some .023 for smaller diameter lines, but I have never needed smaller. And copper coated NON-Stainless works too, but it still rusts over time even with the copper coating.

Or, like everyone else said, get a modern bar. I disagree that they're consumable, the line systems are, but the bar and chicken loop and hardware are all pretty sturdy.

Watch center hole wear. If you kite at a sandy launch, the center hole can wear after about 30-50 depower line replacements (my experience is mostly on North and older Best bars). Once it wears down, the bar will eventually break in half at the center hole since the material has been reduced there.

[Bill]

If you splice kite line does it not wear where you attach it to your kite without any sleeving?

[Bill]

I mean with constant attaching and undoing

[knotwindy]

Yes, so either leave it attached all the time or
get (or make) some cheap pigtails and let them wear out and replace only them.

[Matteo V]

Yes, so either leave it attached all the time or
get (or make) some cheap pigtails and let them wear out and replace only them.

Or you just re-splice a little further down and add a pigtail to make up that length. If you do a Dacron woven sleeve like I do on the splice (hard to explain), you get 1/2 the lifetime with the original splice, then the other 1/2 of the life with a new splice and pigtail. After that, you retire the line set.