LCLs can you buy them or an easy way to make them

[derek440]

Does anyone know if you can buy FlySurfer style LCL little connection loops? I am moving a bridle to another kite/canopy and have created my own LCLs but it was a mission and they are varying lengths by about 10mm. Does anyone know a good way to make heaps of them the same length or where I can just buy a bunch of them? Thanks!

[evan]

Hard to give you tips, more surprised that you did manage to get such deviation in length.

You don't use a ruler or something else to measure the cut pieces of line? If you start with pieces of line that are all cut on the same length it should be fairly easy to get them all knotted within 1-2mm. The originals also are not exactly the same length.

Measuring is key here!

[derek440]

yeah I had to make 100 so did them pretty quickly and didn't measure and mark each one. I had to make them a little longer than the usual LCLs also as I had to put a larks foot in them after attaching to the tabs on the kite (long story). So they had to be more like 3cm rather than 1cm so again a bit harder to get length the same each time without doing each of the 100 pieces very slowly. Hence my desire to buy in bulk rather than hand make so many. Cheers

[Breze]

the original FS LCL are :https://www.liros.com/catalog/de/dsl-70 ... ariant=157

I think i cutted 8.5 cm pieces to get 2cm LCL with the overhand knot. Just undo the knot of the original LCL and measure the length. to make it 1cm longer ,just add 2cm

[Breze]

double

[evan]

Precision doesn't need to take twice as long, just need to work methodically and consistent. But apparently that is not easy for everyone it seems, haha.

[joriws]

Previously when Flysurfer had their own online shop, you could buy LCLs as a spare part. Maybe contacting their email at line service page you could buy a big bag of them. Maybe even Australian(?) reseller might have bags of them.

--

If you still decide to make your own..

• you could use any fishing line or sailing line, just try to match daN for required strenght. Use Flysurfer daN selection as a starting point. But it really depends on stitching strength etc of the kite you are attaching the LCLs. Because LCL should break before stitches/fabric of the kite or the bridle.
• put a thin nail to a wood and permamark into wood the cut position and knot position. You could take Breze's measures as a starting point.
• maybe you could put another nail to knot position and try to slide knot to other nail when tensioning. Cut nail end so that you can slip LCL away easily when done. But try it, maybe it does not work as imagined.
• Leave some extra line for easier knot making (depends on your finger dexterity) and tighten the knot properly to knot position of permamarking.
• Then cut the extra line away and maybe burn the end.
• Try to use equal tensioning of dyneema before the cut and knot tightening.
• You could even lark's head tie the loop to nail for less line slipping but do the same for all LCL you make. Because lark's head around the nail changes line length on cut position unless you compensate with new markings.

That's how I'd start the factory process with come consistency and increase accuracy to 1mm level for knot position => loop length.

[Peter_Frank]

Can anyone show a picture of what a "Flysurfer LCL" is?

I thought the link from Breeze would show, but it was just to which Liros linetype

Peter

[evan]

LCL = Little Connection Lines

Nothing more than a thin sheeted dyneema line that is folded and has an overhand knot in it at 2cm. Makes it easier to replace bridle sections and make small adjustments.

Best I could find was this (pink piece):
viewtopic.php?t=2406482

[Carlos_C]

Also the official LCL breaking strain is less than the bridle lines so they break rather than the bridles or attachment points......or so the theory goes