Flysurfer LCL doesn't work?

[tkaraszewski]

I made another post about the problem with my bar here, but I thought I'd post specifically in the foil kites section to address the LCL issue specifically?

After a failure of my lines on my bar,I ended up breaking both BRI lines on an 8m Soul, and tearing the kite as seen in these two photos:




And the BRI lines:



So, four points of damage on the kite, and as you can see in the first two photos, the LCLs are fine. Not a single LCL broke, even though the kite broke in 4 places. This doesn't seem like the LCLs work very well to me. Anyone have any similar or contrasting experiences? Have the LCL lines protected your kite from damage?

[Adventure Logs]

I've never have had a LCL save my kite(I've heard others claim they work though) but I think being used as a "fuse" isn't their main function. They're mostly used to replace bridle lines attached to the kite. Id love to be able order a kite from factory without them.

[tkaraszewski]

I've never have had a LCL save my kite(I've heard others claim they work though) but I think being used as a "fuse" isn't their main function. They're mostly used to replace bridle lines attached to the kite. Id love to be able order a kite from factory without them.

I'm fine with this statement except that it seems they're being marketed differently. Maybe that's not Flysurfer directly who's saying that's their purpose but some other Flysurfer users. If I can't expect them to save damage to the kite, then there's nothing to see here, I was just under the impression that was part of their function.

[mgs]

See section 11.02 “Little Connections Lines”
https://flysurfer.com/files/dlm_uploads ... ual-EN.pdf
The idea of replacing bridle lines quickly is a good feature of the LCL.

[Trent hink]

Well, Flysurfer used to market them that way, and on my Speed 1 they sort of worked, at least a few lcl broke when i tore the wingtip off my 7 meter after stupidly flying it into another guys lines. The broken lcl were not in the severed wing tip, but other parts of the kite.

I replaced the broken lcl and sent it to a really good kite repair guy. It looked good and as far as i could tell it flew perfect when i got i back.

I don't know if they market them that way anymore.

If you have ever had to disassemble a bridle, they can make it much easier.

[mgs]

Considering the phase "weakest link in the chain"

•Bridle line
•Little Line Connection
•Tab (sewn into the trailing edge)
•Kite fabric itself

For the LCL to act as a “fuse”, the LCL breaking strain surely would need to be considerably less than everything else in the chain (Weakest link in the chain)?

Is it only me that reads kite manuals!
https://flysurfer.com/files/dlm_uploads ... ual-EN.pdf
See page 18 (Section 11.02) " Little Connection Lines"

From the Manual:
"The “Little Connection Line“ (LCL) allows you to quickly exchange a bridle line and also works as a predetermined overload weak point that prevents the canopy from getting damaged. Should an LCL break, replace it with new one, in the same colour. (Same breaking strain strength LCL)"

[joriws]

Direction of pull force matters too where is weakest point at specific time. Lines snapping causes kite to shoot weird direction.

[Flyfish]

They have saved my kites multiple times! At least 5 times I've had them break with no tears.
I love those things.
But I do learn something everyday, and I didn't know that the color of them had to be followed! Thank you for that!

[tkaraszewski]

From the Manual:
"The “Little Connection Line“ (LCL) allows you to quickly exchange a bridle line and also works as a predetermined overload weak point that prevents the canopy from getting damaged. Should an LCL break, replace it with new one, in the same colour. (Same breaking strain strength LCL)"

Ok, so I wasn't just imagining this.

[tsuneo]

The Pink LCLs have never functioned well as fuses, the white ones did well but the black ones broke too easy. Of note the black break at about 15kg, the white 30kg and the pink about 50kg.

You can make LCLs from fishing line. If you make a loop with a figure 8 knot the break point will be similar to the rating of the line. So for 60lb fishing line it will break at about that or 30kg. Note some fishing lines are actually stronger or weaker than their rating... some cheap 100lb line from China will break at 80lb where as the American premium 100lb line may break at 120 or 130lb.

Don't melt the line ends as that makes the breaking load unreliable, often significantly increasing it. You can use something like a simple over hand knot to reduce the break load to about 1/3. There is a variety of knots and lines and combinations. You can easily test them out with a weight or a luggage scale.