Cabrinha Switchblade base collars

[espana2323]

Hi,

I have a Cabrinha Switchblade 2015 that I bought used. Today, when the leading edge of the kite hit the water hard (not very hard), resulted in one of the tubings that connect the main blader with a strut bladder to come off resulting in the deflation of the main bladder. When I tried to connect it back on it wasn’t clear to me what’s the right way to place the base collar around the valvue. I found this video https://youtu.be/X-PBgFCFplA that shows how to do this (time 5:54 in video) but I still can’t tell which is the right or wrong side that the base collar needs to go on.

Can someone please advise on this?

Thanks.

[dylan*]

There should be one on each end of the tube, one for each valve. If you lost one in the water during the crash (or just can't figure it out) you can always just use a zip tie instead, that's what most brands (used to?) use

[espana2323]

There should be one on each end of the tube, one for each valve. If you lost one in the water during the crash (or just can't figure it out) you can always just use a zip tie instead, that's what most brands (used to?) use

Hi Dylan,

That part is clear to me. What is not clear is how should the orientation of the collars be so they lock well with the tube. As you can see from the image of the collars https://goo.gl/images/4urjKY (here is another one https://goo.gl/images/G8tYfr) they have some “teeth” inside but they have a different distance from each end of the edge of the collar. I tried insering them using both orientations but when I pull the tube it comes off. So I am trying to see what I am doing wrong here.

[GregK]

... what I am doing wrong here.

Nothing, those little black collars don't secure the hose over the valve end very well.

Small UV-resistant zip tie will hold much better.

[espana2323]

... what I am doing wrong here.

Nothing, those little black collars don't secure the hose over the valve end very well.

Small UV-resistant zip tie will hold much better.

Hi Greg,

Wouldn’t the zip ties damage the canopy material if they rub on it (assuming the neoprene sleeve is missing)? Also how many zip ties per valvue would you recommend to use?

Thanks.

[GregK]

One zip tie should be enough if applied tight and clamps the hose down on the space between hose barbs on the valve end.

If the neoprene valve cover is missing, I'll stitch a small zip-tie cover from black 1/2-inch elastic, which must go on the hose first before the zip tie is installed.

Yes if the end of the zip tie is not cut flush and zip tie's lock is positioned on the canopy side of the hose, there is a good chance of the zip tie pin-holing the canopy. However, if the zip tie's lock is positioned on the strut or LE pocket side of the hose, this fabric is about 4 time thicker than the canopy fabric and unlikely to be damaged by the zip ties.

[espana2323]

One zip tie should be enough if applied tight and clamps the hose down on the space between hose barbs on the valve end.

If the neoprene valve cover is missing, I'll stitch a small zip-tie cover from black 1/2-inch elastic, which must go on the hose first before the zip tie is installed.

Yes if the end of the zip tie is not cut flush and zip tie's lock is positioned on the canopy side of the hose, there is a good chance of the zip tie pin-holing the canopy. However, if the zip tie's lock is positioned on the strut or LE pocket side of the hose, this fabric is about 4 time thicker than the canopy fabric and unlikely to be damaged by the zip ties.

Thanks for the info Greg.

[espana2323]

I noticed that one end of the base collar is flat while the other is a bit round. I think that the flat part should be touching the valvue once inserted. Can someone please confirm this?

Thanks.

[Pera]

This is how the base collars look like on my 2015 Switchblade.Notice the elevation outside the base collars pointing away from the valve.

[espana2323]

This is how the base collars look like on my 2015 Switchblade.Notice the elevation outside the base collars pointing away from the valve.

Great! Thanks Pera. Based on that elevation, the flat side is touching the valvue.