W: E: info@northkites.co.uk T: 01243 671777 Upgrading the North Kites 2007 5 th Element Depower System to 2008 This is a guide for upgrading parts of your 2007 North Kitesurfing bar to the 2008 bar. The items covered in this guide are: Replacing the North Iron Heart with the new Iron Heart II; Replacing the North vario cleat with the 2008 Version; Replacing the North depower rope with the 2008 Version; Replacing the stopper ball with the 2008 Version. All the rest of the 2007 bar was kept the same but can also be easily upgraded. Tools: The tools I used were just to help feed the lines through. These were a small blunt metal object to help push the lines through small gaps (I used an old PDA pointer stick, you can use a blunt screwdriver if you are very careful) and a set of needle nose pliers to grip the lines from the other side and pull them through. Disclaimer: You follow this guide at your own risk! I can t be held responsible if anything goes wrong. So follow along carefully and after you are finished make sure you safely check the new bar on your kite in low wind. Step 1 First feed the looped end of the depower rope through the new vario cleat and back through the loop.
W: E: info@northkites.co.uk T: 01243 671777 Step 2 Then slide the depower rope through one side of the stopper ball. Step 3 Next layout your old bar.
W: E: info@northkites.co.uk T: 01243 671777 You will need to remove your old ironheart. Since my lines were quite worn I just cut them off. Although don t cut the red safety line. This has a knot that can be easily untied and slid through. Step 4 Push the depower rope through your old bar and then through one side of the new iron heart II. Feed the line through the eye of the ironheart II then back up the other side of the iron heart II microloop grip.
W: E: info@northkites.co.uk T: 01243 671777 Step 5 You can push through the red safety line and re knot. Step 6 Feed the depower rope back through the bar and through the other side of the stopper ball
W: E: info@northkites.co.uk T: 01243 671777 Step 7 Then through the bottom of the vario cleat. It makes it easier to feed through if the depower loop is loosened as it creates more room to feed the rope through. Feed the end of the depower rope through the smallest eye of the grip. Then back trough the top of the vario cleat.
W: E: info@northkites.co.uk T: 01243 671777 Step 8 After removing the old depower lines from the pulley on your bar (where the white line is attached to) feed the depower rope through it. Step 9 Then through the other side of the cleat. Finally remove the depower handle from the old bar (by undoing the knot at the end of the depower rope) then feed the depower rope through the handle and re knot. This is the end of the upgrades. It s now important to check your line lengths as it is likely they will be wrong. They should all be equal lengths. Unravel your lines and lay them out. Set the cleat to fully powered and pull the bar down to the ironheart and if your microloop is still attached to the bar hook it in. If it isn t then use something to weight the bar down so it does not move. Walk up the lines and make sure they are all the same length (the pigtails should form a straight line when the lines are laid out). If they are different lengths adjust them at the bar. Written By Chris Sugden June 2008