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click here to access our online sizing chart for AIRTIME leading edge bladder blanks used with U-STICK
 
 
       
               
                     
   
Leading edge assembly strut assembly 2pump assembly onepump struts    

 

Proper assembly of North 2pump struts
we developed the OPTION valve so that a single valve could integrate with various single point inflation systems. one system in particular, the 2pump system, can be easily service with the OPTION valve and the included "T" connector. please take a look at the instructions below before assembling the replacement strut for your 2pump system. there are some common mistakes that can be easily avoided if the instructions are followed closely.

 
layout the original on top of the AIRTIME strut   position the front
         
lay the North bladder directly on top of the AIRTIME bladder. make sure that no part of the North bladder extends past the edges of the AIRTIME bladder. the AIRTIME bladder should have the reinforcing layers on the back side of the bladder.   slide the North bladder forward as far as possible without letting any part of it extend past the end of the AIRTIME bladder.
mark the valve location   clean the bladder with alcohol   peel the release paper off the valve
         
using a felt tipped pen mark the AIRTIME bladder where the base of the North bladder's tee-valve sits. you will also want to mark the location of any other valve should the strut have multiple valves. double check to make sure you are not marking a reinforcement layer but are marking the actual bladder. the reinforcing layers should be on the opposite side of the bladder.   thoroughly clean the site where you will place the U-STICK valve with the alcohol wipe provided. the bladder material must be cleaned with alcohol to remove the natural lubricant. if not cleaned well the U-STICK valve will not stick to the bladder.   peel the release paper off the base of the U-STICK valve exposing the pressure sensitive adhesive.
place the valve in position   stick the valve to the bladder   partially insert the T connector
         
place the valve on the spot marking the location of the valve. let the valve balance on the center shaft that sits lower than the adhesive coated base. rotate the valve so that the printing is parallel to the length of the bladder.   once your are confident that the valve is in the correct location and oriented correctly, press the perimeter of the valve down sticking the valve to the bladder. work around the perimeter making sure to work out any air bubbles that may be under the adhesive patch.   after attaching the valve you will need to activate the valve. you activate the valve by forcing air into it and rupturing the bladder directly below the valve. insert the connector just far enough into the bladder that it will not come out easily. we suggest inserting the connector until the first barb is in the valve.
activate the valve   fold over the bladder head to see the valve from the backside   mark the reinforcement directly behind the valve
         
attach a piece of latex tubing from your inflation system to the connector and insert your pump nozzle into the other end of the latex tubing. force air into the valve slowly. the bladder directly below the valve will swell and then burst activating the valve.   once activated, remove the connector and fold the head back to view the back of the valve through the layers of reinforcement.   mark the center of any valves with a small mark. this mark will indicate where you need to cut a hole to allow for the valve to protrude through the reinforcement.
insert your hand between the two layers of reinforcement   raise up the mark on the reinforcement and cut a small hole   you should be left with a 1.5cm to 2cm hole
         
insert your hand between the two layers of reinforcement. you may need to work to separate the two pieces from each other.   raise the marks up into a point and cut off the last 5mm of the tip. DO NOT CUT THE BLADDER. you only want to cut the outer most piece of reinforcement.   after cutting the tip off you should be left with a 1.5cm to 2cm diameter hole.
invert the reinforcement to contain the entire head.  Situate the valve in the hole you just cut   invert any excess length in the tail section of the bladder back inside itself.  The bladder will now be the same length as the original.   invert the head back inside itself
         
invert the piece of reinforcement that you just cut and pull the valve or valves through their respective hole. slightly inflate the head of the bladder to make sure that there is one piece of reinforcement on each side of the head and that everything is situated well.   adjust the length of the AIRTIME strut bladder to match the length of the original bladder by inverting the tail of the bladder back inside itself.   invert the head of the bladder so that the OPTION valve is now at the very end of the bladder.
tie off the valve to the flying line left in the strut when you removed the original   slowly pull the bladder into the bladder sleeve   once in place secure the end of the sleeve being sure to catch the tail of the bladder
         
run a line in the "T" valve hole at the head of the sewn strut and out the opening at the tail of the strut. tie off the line to the OPTION valve. remember that the connector should not be in the OPTION valve at this time.   force the head of the bladder with the OPTION valve into the tail of the strut. once in you can gently pull the bladder all the way to the front of the strut.   the bladder should extend all the way to the open tip of the strut sleeve. if the bladder is excessively long you can invert the bladder end back inside itself. you want the bladder to be caught in the fold of the closure when you fold and close the end of the strut sleeve.
adjust the connector according to its application   fully install the connector into the OPTION valve
         
the connector is inserted into the OPTION valve after the bladder is in place, however, if the strut is anything other than an extreme wingtip strut you will need remove the threaded plug so that air can flow through both sides of the "T". simply twist the plug to remove it. once removed the "T" will only work for a strut that is not an extreme wingtip.   you must wet the barbed end of the "T" before inserting it into the OPTION valve. when inserting the "T" be careful not to damage the bladder by tearing the bladder with the base of the "T" valve.
 
 
 
   

AIRTIME kite, Inc.
101 N. 1st St.
Suite 100
Hood River, OR 97031

 

T. (541) 387 3910
F. (541) 387 2696

 

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©2007 AIRTIME kite, Inc
 
         
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