Spar repair possible

[prutsky]

I got my new Baressi series vented last wednesday. No wind here so no flying. I replaced the 4 wrap frame with the 3 wrap "ultra light" one. Then I noticed one of the outer spars (of the 4-wrap) had a little crack in in (where is slides over the middle spar). It's less then an inch long. Is this spar still useable? As a vertical one? Is it repairable with a little wooden plug in it?

What shall I do with it? I contacted the US based shop where I bought it from, but no response yet

See attached picture for details...

[ilh]

I would think the shop and/or Rev would replace it for you.

My guess is it would probably be usable as a wing spar or at the outside edge of the leading edge. Don't use it over the center ferrules or it could easily split from the internal pressure.

[Stephen Hoath]

I got my new Baressi series vented last wednesday. No wind here so no flying. I replaced the 4 wrap frame with the 3 wrap "ultra light" one. Then I noticed one of the outer spars (of the 4-wrap) had a little crack in in (where is slides over the middle spar). It's less then an inch long. Is this spar still useable? As a vertical one? Is it repairable with a little wooden plug in it?

What shall I do with it? I contacted the US based shop where I bought it from, but no response yet

See attached picture for details...

These spars are a good deal more durable than you may think. If you cannot get a replacement then simply wrap some insulating tape around the end (about 2inches). You can still use it as the leading edge rod but it would have less pessure on it as a verticle with the damaged end at the bottom.

I would recommend getting a spare in any case. Use the new rod and keep this one as the spare. I have one like this that I have been using for a few years now without any problem and flying in team I put a lot of stress on the kite!

[prutsky]

I would think the shop and/or Rev would replace it for you.

I had no reply yet... I hope it too.

My guess is it would probably be usable as a wing spar or at the outside edge of the leading edge. Don't use it over the center ferrules or it could easily split from the internal pressure.

The crack will probably fit within one of the tubes, keeping it strong enough. So no reinforcing wooden plug in it?

[prutsky]

You can still use it as the leading edge rod but it would have less pessure on it as a verticle with the damaged end at the bottom.

Stephen, how should I read this? It would have even less stress on it when I use it as a vertical rod with the damaged end at the bottom, then when I use is at the leading edge?

[awindofchange]

The Vertical rods have very little stress in them at all. On most kites they are the 3 wrap rods (ultra light). You should have no problem with the rod as a vertical. Also, if you use the rod as a leading edge rod then make sure the split end is on the outside (end cap) end of the leading edge, not in the center where the ferrule is at. Rev rods are super strong and can really take a beating. If you are not that worried about it then I would super glue the crack shut and use it as a vertical and not worry about it.

FYI in case anyone doesn't already know, the 1/4" leading edge rod and the vertical rod is the exact same length rod on the Baressi, EXP, 1.5 SLE, and REV 1.

[johnnmitchell]

The Vertical rods have very little stress in them at all. On most kites they are the 3 wrap rods (ultra light). You should have no problem with the rod as a vertical. Also, if you use the rod as a leading edge rod then make sure the split end is on the outside (end cap) end of the leading edge, not in the center where the ferrule is at. Rev rods are super strong and can really take a beating. If you are not that worried about it then I would super glue the crack shut and use it as a vertical and not worry about it.

FYI in case anyone doesn't already know, the 1/4" leading edge rod and the vertical rod is the exact same length rod on the Baressi, EXP, 1.5 SLE, and REV 1.

I question the SLE rod lengths as I have originals that came with REV 1.5 that have various lengths up to an inch in difference. As some of my SLE REVs date back to 1998, I have no idea which ones they arrived with.

[mrdenny]

I got my new Baressi series vented last wednesday. No wind here so no flying. I replaced the 4 wrap frame with the 3 wrap "ultra light" one. Then I noticed one of the outer spars (of the 4-wrap) had a little crack in in (where is slides over the middle spar). It's less then an inch long. Is this spar still useable? As a vertical one? Is it repairable with a little wooden plug in it?

What shall I do with it? I contacted the US based shop where I bought it from, but no response yet

See attached picture for details...

The way I read this. The kite, a Barresi series, arrived with a flaw. I have never heard of Rev not standing behind the product. I think an Email to Ben/Lolly will fix his problem ASAP. This is a good company we are dealing with here, you shouldn't have to fix a brand new kite.

Of course after its all said and done, you can use all this great hints to make a serviceable spare.

[Morrunya]

So no reinforcing wooden plug in it?

If you were to do this, you should use one on both sides to keep the weight even. Other than that, i think a wooden plug would work fine.

[antman]

use it as a down spar mark the side with the small crack and slide it into the top endcap on the downspar side of the lesding edge ive had small cracks in my rods too and the are holding up fine as long as you dont use it on the LE ferrels witch are the most stressed of the rods

[prutsky]

The way I read this. The kite, a Baressi series, arrived with a flaw. I have never heard of Rev not standing behind the product. I think an Email to Ben/Lolly will fix his problem ASAP. This is a good company we are dealing with here, you shouldn't have to fix a brand new kite.

Of course after its all said and done, you can use all this great hints to make a serviceable spare.

It was indeed "DOA" for one rod. I wait a bit more for a response from shop. Call me a newbie... but who are Ben/Lolly?

[ilh]

Lolly answers inquiries to [email protected].

[antman]

ben and lolly are the 2 best poeple to deal with as lolly runs the company and ben flies for them and i must say they are 2 of the best in the kiting world to know tham and for them to have us in their family is a high honer in itself

[Morrunya]

Ben and Lolly are great folks. I only ever buy my Revs from them. They will help you out with any problem you have.

Ben: beachbeach13 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Lolly: revkites (at) aol (dot) com

[Stephen Hoath]

Stephen, how should I read this? It would have even less stress on it when I use it as a vertical rod with the damaged end at the bottom, then when I use is at the leading edge?

Yes absolutely. Sorry I wasn't clear. If you are going to use it as the verticle then you can put a small plug (6mm carbon) in the end, say about 1 inch long. If you do this and you are an absolute purist then do the same on the other side. You are very unlikely to notice any difference in flight.

Hope this helps

[Morrunya]

Ben and Lolly are great folks. I only ever buy my Revs from them. They will help you out with any problem you have.

Ben: beachbeach13 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Lolly: revkites (at) aol (dot) com

OOPS! I didn't know you aren't supposed to put e-mail addresses! Sorry person who edited this!

[Jim Foster]

I found such a split in a spar several years ago. I mixed up enough epoxy to fill an inch of the spar. Put the epoxy inside the spar, then stood the spar upright, repaired end down until the epoxy hardened. You can use it anywhere on the kite. Use the undamaged end over the ferrell in the leading edge if you wish. The little bit of epoxy makes no difference on the performance of the kite.

Jim

[ilh]

OOPS! I didn't know you aren't supposed to put e-mail addresses! Sorry person who edited this!

It is a complete myth that email harvesters are fooled by such email address hiding. Give it up. It does not work.

[prutsky]

Well the shop replied, and will provide me with a new spar. Hopefully I'll get it soon

[prutsky]

The shop replied, but never send any replacement spars

How much do these spars costs?

[Morrunya]

Not too much. I belive they are about $20 ish

[relhak]

I had a 2" crack like this form when I failed to fully insert an end spar into the center one. It broke when I barely tapped the ground. I just wrapped two layers of packing tape around the crack and use that side for the wingtip now. The spar is under very light compression instead of flexing there, so the crack seems to have no effect.

[Ant-]

I had a 1" split in one of mine - I clamped it lightly in a vice and ran some super-thin cyanoacrylate into the split and let it set. Was good as new and used for another yeay until I fnally spit another one and bought 2 replacements. Fixed the other one up too and now keep them as emergency spares

Ant