F-One Bandit Bladder Nipples are shit

[kjorn]

Any other F-One riders having issues with the one pump bladders?

fone.PNG (47.6 KiB) Viewed 1558 times

I've had so many issues. The nipples seem to get yellow and hard, then break where the dots are. I'm sure this is because it is a totally shit design with a weak point. The Bandit flexes a lot in the sky, I think F-One need to re-think this design. The hose needs to be secured to the LE and to the Strut so when the kite flexes the hose moves, not the nipple.

Anyone else figured out how to stop this happening? How to fix it cheaply?

Dr. Tuba have had over £80 from me fixing these f***ing bladders. I'm so angry. So many sessions ruined.

Disclaimer - 2nd hand kites. Good condition. Crispy material. I don't trash my kites, rarely crash them, don't ditch them under waves. Kept cool and dry.

[Pemba]

I've had this issue with various other brands (never had Fone), usually after years of use. I think the material just gets brittle maybe because of UV.

[Goavegas]

How old is the kite ? Most likely as Pemba said it's just the plastic that get old.

[kjorn]

How old is the kite ? Most likely as Pemba said it's just the plastic that get old.

Two different kites. One is four years old the other two or three. Both have been kept in the bag 99% of their lives. One broken nipple looked yellow-ish, the others look brand new

[Goavegas]

The nipple itself may be older than the kite.

[Greenturtle]

This sort of thing is just ridiculous. I feel for you man.
If theyre not delaminating theyre just plain snapping off. Completely unacceptable and all brands are guilty of it in one way or another.
Make a kite that holds frigin air already!!!

Inflatable flamingo pool toys last way longer, and are abused harder. Sheesh.

[mikesids]

@kjorn, yes I have had a handful of instances of exactly this on my F One Furtives - not complete breaks though, just cracks around 5mm long in the position you indicated, leading to loss of pressure in the strut. Best and cheapest fix for me was just using superglue to seal the crack, replacing the strut was expensive and a PITA. Hope this helps.

[Flyboy]

I don't know, but it doesn't seem all that likely that only F-One would use this manufacturer for this part. I have to say though, I've never had this problem on any of my kites myself.

[ap888]

Have a good idea how it happens if you set heavy things on your kite or put your knees on it/body weight on it when packing up to get the air out or...hug ur kite to hard to get air out or compress the bag to much any of these can do this those nipples just got to be a certain angle when u compress kite and bam gibbled as u said
Be gentle with your babies and only abuse when they are pumped up and on the water