How to pump struts with no stopper ball?

[GrodanBoll]

I have an old Best Bularoo from 2007. A nice kite, but it comes without the one-pump system. Hence the struts must be pumped separately and this is the tricky part. I have an equally old Best Waroo where the valves in the struts are equipped with this little stopper ball, that works as a check valve. The strut valves on the Bularoo kite are however missing these balls why it´s very hard to prevent the air from leaking out the struts after you pumped it. You must either be extremely quick with plugging the valve after removing the pump hose or you have to squeeze super hard with your fingers around the rubber valve opening when you remove the hose to plug the valve. I havn't been very successful with any of these techniques...

Question is if balls for some reason are missing in the struts valves or if there is some other special technique that you´re suppose to apply when pumping these struts?

[edt]

after you pump the strut, keep the hose in the strut, then move one finger near the valve right next to it. Remove the pump, while sliding your finger over. Hold this with one hand now use the other hand to position the stopper next to the hole, keep your other hand on the valve. Now slide the finger over and slide the stopper on top of the valve. Press in.

[purdyd]

Pinch and if fingers don’t work, forceps.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2324459&p=296610&hi ... ps#p296610

[edt]

kite is a 2007, the valves will be pretty stiff and could crack if you pinch them that hard. Just check the valves make sure they aren't too stiff if you want to use pliers.

[JakeFarley]

If the balls have fallen into the strut bladder, then the only option is to pinch the valve. They will probably slowly leak as the stopper is not usually that airtight. If the balls were removed somehow and the bladder still can contain a ball in the valve (look closely inside the valve to see if the bladder is perforated to contain a ball but let air pass), then you may be able to find some plastic balls that you can insert in the valve with some KY jelly (they fit pretty snugly).

[Peter_Frank]

edt is right, you CAN learn to put the stopper into the valve exactly like he describes, in a swift move, even on small struts, we did that years ago every time, as the stopper balls or plastic did not last forever.

Practice, a lot, and suddenly you can do it

Peter

[Herman]

+1 for edt. Just takes a bit of practice to find a method that works for you. I hold the nipple between trigger & f finger like a cigarette and seal the intake with my thumb as I withdraw the hose. Then with the other hand get the bung adjacent to the intake so it can be quickly bunged in as you remove the sealing thumb.
Start with the big struts so you are in practice for the small struts where air loss is more critical. No pinching involved! It was just the way of the world many years ago.

(The only quick operation is getting the bung over the intake to form sufficient seal. You can take your time getting it fully inserted!)


If it just sticky ball syndrome hold the strut with intake pointing down and flick the nipple and or manipulate the valve to get the ball in place. Hold the strut in this orientation while you pump and it will probably seal. Sometimes needs a second flick.

[revhed]

If the balls have fallen into the strut bladder, then the only option is to pinch the valve.

Sorry but no.
Other option, much better is to use pump with one way valve at hose insert and remove fast, place finger tip on valve, quickly insert cap!
Been pumping since first North Rhinos, many others as well, Wipica for example, did not have "no leak stopper valves" NEVER pinched a valve, never even thought to.
R H
As this week is sure to be filled with lies just doing my little part to call BS!