So whats the theory on a line that has a knot, do you leave it there and have a supposedly weak spot or do you work it out and possibly damage the line in doing so?
It's meant to weaken the line by half , bet your mate a beer that he carn,t get the knot out, failing that I use a bit of silicone spray and 2 needles reversed, bring one through one side and one through the other side then twist them in the opposite directions from each other, a pair of pliers helps you to push the needles through
agree with cauncy, but also whack the line in your gob and gently chew the knot for a minute or so. it sounds stupid but it will help to loosen it
mastication works a treat... That's right!! Chewing....
Sit and work a lovely salivatory slather into the lines, be patient.. Watch a ****ty sitcom with the good lady (I dont know why, but crappy girl teev seems to work better.. The universe is funny sometimes) and chew your lines gently.. By the time you lose the will to live, or resort to cutting yourself because the show is so mind numbingly abysmal, your knot will loosen and you'll be able to free the demon and feel like a freaking god who slay the evil "line devil" in the course of pursuing justice for all kitesurfers and correcting all thats wrong with the world...
Post a pic of your face when you do, it gives hope to the masses that we can one day be proud of our own beings as you currently are!!
Good luck!!!
i had a knott in my line for 2 years in my old kite instead of trying to tamper with it and no probs.... doesnt mean its the right thing to do.. just saying..
Use a hammer on a hard flat surface and slowly tap the knot on one side then turn on it's side and tap again keep doing this for a while the knot becomes soft and then you can undo it with your finger nails quite easy. And no damage to the line .
Had a mate that used the 'chew method' - must have had a few too many beers around the same time - ate through the knot ....
That said I found a knot in my line one day and 'carefully' chewed at the knot with the aim of loosing it - and to my surprise I got it out with no line damage !
I havent tried the silicon and two needle approach - but I like the idea better than the sucking and chewing approach!!
Or you can simply tie a knot in all the other lines then they will all have the same breaking strain......
The lines are braided so you just need to apply a little pressure in the right areas of the knot and it will loosen easily.
The chewing method is very effective....
Soak the line, and lay the knot on a smooth surface, use an empty stubby, (a hammer is too abrasive on the line) to tap it lightly on both sides until it softens, and then pick it undone.
Once taken out you won't or shouldn't see any damage to the line. I never have.
I use a stubby cos you have to empty it first.
chew harder to begin with then!?
Had a knot in my line for 6 months, after reading about chewing line, tried it and had it out in 10 minutes.
Whilst chewing is OK, best get a blunt pointed screwdriver. Not sharp enough to damage the thread in the lines but enough to loosen and free the knot. A few bucks from Bunnings, keep in the bag.
funny I just got back from down south where I found a mate who is learning had a knot in his lines. Turns out one of the experienced kiters put it there to even out his lines (front lines no less)
My kite was regularly drifting off to one side and when I checked, one of the front lines was about 2cm longer than the other one. A single overhand knot in the stitched section sorted this out till I could get a new set of lines.
Would not recommend a knot in the thin braided lines though. Does reduce strength by about half and wouldn't shorten the line by much.
