16 replies to this topic

[SkyPuppet]

Just noticed something all my Revs have in common:



The endcap is twisted to the right of the shock cord, on both sides.

Should I bother to make these symmetrical? Twist one endcap to the right, one to the left? And if so, should the endcaps be on the inside or the outside of the shock cord?

[Baloo]

I think it is better to have them both inside or outside, rather than One of each.

Fairly sure I have seen folks mention that they swap them around Once in a while to reduce wear, not sure if it make much difference though.

Not even sure if it makes much difference if they are on opposite sides, however now that you have noticed it you might find it makes a difference in your mind!!

[stroke survivor]

Been flying Revs for 15 years off and on, never messed with it!!!

[RevWizard]

I tend to move the knots towards the center with vertical rods on the outside.
It appears to me that this may hinder some tip wraps though I can't prove it.

[stroke survivor]

I tend to move the knots towards the center with vertical rods on the outside.
It appears to me that this may hinder some tip wraps though I can't prove it.

Starting to sound like a rainy day project to me!!!

[SkyPuppet]

I think it is better to have them both inside or outside, rather than One of each.

Fairly sure I have seen folks mention that they swap them around Once in a while to reduce wear, not sure if it make much difference though.

Not even sure if it makes much difference if they are on opposite sides, however now that you have noticed it you might find it makes a difference in your mind!!

It definitely made a difference in my mind

I tend to move the knots towards the center with vertical rods on the outside.
It appears to me that this may hinder some tip wraps though I can't prove it.

I will set the endcaps up to the outsides of the knots starting tomorrow!

Thanks for the advice everyone

[hyzakite]

There is a good point here! If you have an older/well used Rev and pay no attention to what side of the hole the endcap is next to, that is the side of the edge pocket that is wearing through to white material of the cloth by the endcap rubbing on the same spot. Now I need a trade my wind meter in for a good timer to give the material equal wear

[Jeepster]

... is wearing through to white material ...

Small correction ... what you're seeing, if the Dacron develops a hole, is the Kevlar reinforcing patch that Rev adds to this joint. Kevlar is generally yellow.

Cheers,
Tom

[SkyPuppet]

There is a good point here! If you have an older/well used Rev and pay no attention to what side of the hole the endcap is next to, that is the side of the edge pocket that is wearing through to white material of the cloth by the endcap rubbing on the same spot. Now I need a trade my wind meter in for a good timer to give the material equal wear

Hmmm, good point.

I'll start with them on the outsides, then rotate them to the insides after a couple weeks, etc etc.

[RevWizard]

Hmmm, good point.

I'll start with them on the outsides, then rotate them to the insides after a couple weeks, etc etc.

My first REV, a REV I, I got in 1990 did not have the Kevlar hidden under the Dacron. The LE rods actually were grooved by the rubbing by the vertical rods to about half the rod walls thickness. Surprisingly, the rods never broke.
Since the Kevlar was added around 1991, I have never heard of a rod being grooved. So the Kevlar appears to be doing the job.

[katrina]

I tend to move the knots towards the center with vertical rods on the outside. It appears to me that this may hinder some tip wraps though I can't prove it.

I second this placement. I hadn't ever thought about it either, until I received my new rev which has wear strips for the verts. If you place the rods to the outside as John says, and knots to the inside, the rods line perfectly up with the wear strips.

[RevWizard]

I second this placement. I hadn't ever thought about it either, until I received my new rev which has wear strips for the verts. If you place the rods to the outside as John says, and knots to the inside, the rods line perfectly up with the wear strips.

I didn't realize that.

[Kitelife]

Aye, I generally try to keep the knots on ANY part of the Rev to the inside... Statistically, it'll be least likely to catch anything there.

[SkyPuppet]

Aye, I generally try to keep the knots on ANY part of the Rev to the inside... Statistically, it'll be least likely to catch anything there.

Ok! Thanks for the replies everyone!

Maybe instead of rotating the endcap position every couple weeks, I'll reinforce the LE material where the endcaps sit with some tedlar. Just need a little patch.

[tommylurvebus]

Ok! Thanks for the replies everyone!

Maybe instead of rotating the endcap position every couple weeks, I'll reinforce the LE material where the endcaps sit with some tedlar. Just need a little patch.

Dacron tape is best for this.

[SkyPuppet]

Dacron tape is best for this.

Dacron it will be then! Thanks for the tip

[REVflyer]

on the french bridle installation, which way the caps are rotated prior to assembly certainly matters! There's a line called the "restrictor", it's only long enough in the proper cap rotation position. I like the bridle attachment points to come from the center and the magic sticks attachment positioned from the parameter. I like the knots of elastic tensioning the sail to be centered underneath the leading edge so it has some curvature (like the speed series of kites) in low wind.