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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 Slingshot onepump struts
we developed the OPTION valve so that a single valve could integrate with various single point inflation systems. one system in particular, Slingshot's original onepump system, can be easily service with the OPTION valve and the included straight connector. please take a look at the instructions below before assembling the replacement strut for your onepump 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 bladder   line up the head of the original with the head of the AIRTIME strut bladder
         
lay the Slingshot onepump bladder directly on top of the AIRTIME bladder. make sure that that the AIRTIME strut bladder is the same length or longer than the original that you are replacing.   slide the original bladder forward so that the tip of the Slingshot bladder and the tip of the AIRTIME bladder are aligned.
mark the location of the valve in the center of the AIRTIME strut   clean the AIRTIME bladder with the alcohol wipe provided   peel the release paper off the back of the U-STICK valve
         
mark the location of the valve on the AIRTIME bladder. you want the mark to be in the dead center, top to bottom, of the AIRTIME strut bladder. the mark should be the same distance from the tip as the original valve is from the tip of the original 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   insert the stright connector into the OPTION valve
         
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 to be secured. we suggest inserting the connector until the first barb is in the valve.
activate the OPTION valve   fold over the head of the strut to locate the back of the valve through the reinforcing layers   mark the location of 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 you may fully insert the connector. be very careful not to damage the opposite side of the bladder as you fully seat the connector. now fold the head over 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.
put your hands between the two layers   cut the tip of the raised up point   the hole should measure between 1.5cm and 2cm in diameter
         
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 reinforcing layer back over the head of the bladder accomdating the valve in the recently cut hole   invert the tail inside itself to adjust the length of the strut bladder   invert the head of the bladder so that the valve is now at the very front
         
invert the piece of reinforcement that you just cut and pull the valve through the 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 line that runs in the valve hole and out the tail of the strut sleeve   force the valve in the tail of the strut sleeve and then pull it in to place   close the closure at the tail of the strut sleeve
         
run a line in the 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.   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.
 
 
 
   

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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