Hi guys and gals
I’m looking for feedback on how long those with a Dynabar rope slider have got from the rope.
Me – after 6 sessions (roughly 12hrs) it has stretched to the picture below. I’m under 90kg and I’m never flying the biggest kite, if anything I’m under-powered for my weight.
I’ve read the thread over in the beginners section that has a good picture of a guy in the surf and his setup looks like it was when new. Not really impressed with the Aus shop where I purchased this rather expensive spreader bar either. Sent a query and got a response – not seen that before – just tie a new knot. WTF!! At this rate I will need to tie a new knot every 4 or so flying hours and I expect it will break very soon (while I’m deep water of course).
My experience with double braid and spectra on yachts tells me that this rope is crap – quality 5mm Spectra has a breaking limit of 980kg and doesn't stretch far before it goes.
Hey harlie..the advice the shop told you is the way to go. It's a combination of the knot tightening and slipping, and stretch that makes the rope lengthen. Should also add the bar itself can bend. I've straightened mine once. This would add to the rope becoming longer. I've been using one for over 3 years. I've replaced the slider rope 3 times, so that equates to one a season. I replace it due to wear/abrasion not stretch. When you first get a new rope or new complete dynabar, you have to adjust the knot to make it tight as possible! and the line length shorter so as the pulley just doesn't rub. After about a month you may need to readjust the knot tighter. i found some of the pulleys in the spare pack, wore the rope more quickly. You have the best pulley on in your photo. After looking at a damaged rope, it has a dual layer, so you will get warning of wear...... Being the outer layer is compromised. You have 20 kegs on me but shouldn't be a drama just tightening; I can't see it breaking. Just in case, make sure your safety is attached to a different point, not the rope. Always put a bit of loctite on the U shackle if you remove the bolt. The u shackle can also be bent if you do up the screw too tightly. So in summary tighten your rope and inspect the bar to see if it needs to be bent back into shape. 
Pearl is on the money. I have the new Dyn bar and had to adjust 3 or 4 times to get it right I also use a couple of cable ties to stop knot opening the shop said use supper glue I did not go that way as i did not wont to take the changes of the glue eating the rope. I also sawed a knife into the bottom with Velcro and a shackle on the front for my safety . Thanks Pearl will go and check the rope know.
Many thanks guys. From what you say it’s not stretched but the knot has moved. I am not sure where the knot was but it is now at the very end.
Much better explanation than the shop, he says I am overpowered.
Wowsa, looks longer than I have ever seen mine.
How have you found it anyway Harlie?
Mine snapped after a season and a half, I moved up to 8mm pre stretched spectraspeed after the 6mm dyneema I originally replaced it with snapped after 3 sessions. The 8mm was tough to get in as the hole is just on 8mm but hopefully I'll get a couple of seasons out of it. It's impossible for spectra to stretch more than 5% I think, maybe the knots slipped?
I'm 93kg and had exactly the same issue the OP described after about a month of use.
I took up the slack and tied another knot as others have suggested and so far ( about 3 months ) no further movement.
Has anyone tried the metal slider that comes with the bar ? What's it like feel wise ?
friend of mine has slipped some soft plastic tubing over the 6 mil spec, this should stop the wearing. I have had to adjust the length as well, but it wasn't that much. I like it super tight as I have short arms and need it close to my body. You should expect to get a full season on one rope, but not much more than that. I will be monitoring my friends harness and see how it wears during the season. The pulley seems to slide nicely around the tubing, so this might be a good solution. Having had mine break during the winter left me in very bad position and now I am keeping a super close eye on wear. Saying that, I just love the freedom of the Jbar.
Select to expand quoteGone to dark side said..
Pearl is on the money. I have the new Dyn bar and had to adjust 3 or 4 times to get it right I also use a couple of cable ties to stop knot opening the shop said use supper glue I did not go that way as i did not wont to take the changes of the glue eating the rope. I also sawed a knife into the bottom with Velcro and a shackle on the front for my safety . Thanks Pearl will go and check the rope know.
Hey mate, could you show a picture of the knot securing using the cable tie?
Select to expand quoteharry potter said..
I'm 93kg and had exactly the same issue the OP described after about a month of use.
I took up the slack and tied another knot as others have suggested and so far ( about 3 months ) no further movement.
Has anyone tried the metal slider that comes with the bar ? What's it like feel wise ?
I have been using the metal slider with the kink in the centre. Works great on both TT and surf board, nothing has worn in 3 seasons plus bonus of no stretch issues, feels the same every single session. When using TT, except toe side, just locks into centre. Has the benefit of sliding hook with none of the stretch or wear downside. As solid as any fixed hook I have used.
Thanks all for your input – my initial reaction to the after sales service stands, instead of blaming me for flying a kite that’s too big for the conditions, a simple explanation that the knot moves (as reported here) would have been nice – easy for them to send a pic of one on the shelf to compare the length and knot position – I seriously didn’t even consider that the knot would be moving, assume that a commercial product would be tied so it didn’t. This lack of explanation along with what was thought to be stretch caused me to completely loose all confidence in the system – hence the Q posted here.
After several PMs through this site from the shop, pretty sure where the red thumbs have come from – always wondered how guys get red carded for asking a simple question. Always interesting to see what some publicity does. A nice (sarcasm) email also inferring that I’m an idiot for asking and pointing out that my question has been answered now and I’m a smuck for asking – well mr salesman, it is the community that answered my question, and restored my product confidence, not you. If I hadn’t asked the question here I probably would have only bad things to say about the product…. Once again, thanks community. At no point have I made mention of which shop i'm talking about (PM for the distributor today even asked where I bought it from so it's not obvious) - don't worry you won't need to worry about my new kite purchase this week to replace my 2012 which really is due for pasture.
There are many plp quoting 6mm for the original rope, mine is definitely 5mm.
In the time between my original post and the first of the replies I replaced the rope with 8mm Double Braid as the shop had given no reasonable explanation as to why the rope and become so long – to say just tie another knot is not providing any confidence. As mentioned by DL33, 8mm is a tight fit through the holes, good points about using glue or other means to prevent the knots from moving. Select to expand quotesurfingboye said..
Wowsa, looks longer than I have ever seen mine.
How have you found it anyway Harlie?
Honestly – bloody marvellous. Lower back problems means I’m now in a seat harness (currently board short harness). I used a waist for a while but after getting a few twinges changed to a seat. First session nearly cut me in half. I then modified the spreader with a rope and hook which I used for couple months and was OK but the bar was only 10inch which is why I bought the 13inch Dynabar – it is more suited to the rope with holes positioned to prevent the bar from trying to roll, has a much better padding jacket and with the extra length just worked heaps better.
I've had my say - red card away....
I'm with Smithy. Two seasons on the pro wave slider bar and it's worry free. Other than checking on the roller (keep it free of debris running smooth) and making sure the threaded nuts are snug in place, it's as reliable as it gets. I may have to replace the roller at some point in the near future, but that's not a biggie.
I have been using the Dynabar V7 for a year now with the curved bar - brilliant. I personally did not like the spectra line and found the bar to be much easier to use. The slider wheel does wear quite quickly and therefore the cost of $10 every month or so does add up.
Select to expand quoteharlie said..
Hi guys and gals
I’m looking for feedback on how long those with a Dynabar rope slider have got from the rope.
Me – after 6 sessions (roughly 12hrs) it has stretched to the picture below. I’m under 90kg and I’m never flying the biggest kite, if anything I’m under-powered for my weight.
I’ve read the thread over in the beginners section that has a good picture of a guy in the surf and his setup looks like it was when new. Not really impressed with the Aus shop where I purchased this rather expensive spreader bar either. Sent a query and got a response – not seen that before – just tie a new knot. WTF!! At this rate I will need to tie a new knot every 4 or so flying hours and I expect it will break very soon (while I’m deep water of course).
My experience with double braid and spectra on yachts tells me that this rope is crap – quality 5mm Spectra has a breaking limit of 980kg and doesn't stretch far before it goes.
The dyneema rope can lengthen 2-3cm but yours is really too much.
2-3cm lengthen is due to splicing and knot compression, the dyneema we use is pre-stretched.
We sell many and this problem has never been reported to us, but you can be the first.
Check carefully the splicing and if the problem is the knot the solution is simple, make a Savoy knot like this en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoy_knot
You can also restore the bungee by following this instruction 
I hope it helps.
Select to expand quotephilipellis said..
I have been using the Dynabar V7 for a year now with the curved bar - brilliant. I personally did not like the spectra line and found the bar to be much easier to use. The slider wheel does wear quite quickly and therefore the cost of $10 every month or so does add up.
3 seasons and haven't needed to replace the slider wheel, worn yes but plenty life still left.
