Twisted lines

[Gary Dowler]

Ok guys, there must be an answer here.  Recently been flying my first ever throttle CL bird, with old school 3 line setup.
Every flight so far results in the lines twisting themselves up. If, as I did Saturday, I fly off pavement it's even worse. After landing (was by myself) pick up the ship and returned to the pit meant dragging the lines some. Took my over 5 minutes to untangle them.  Off grass it isn't much better.
Ideas?

[Perry Rose]

I cured that problem by using a 3/32 by 8 inches long thing that looks like an ice pick to stake my handle to the ground. That acts as a helper so you can hold the lines tight and off the ground as you walk the plane back to the launcher. I drilled an 1/8 hole in the center of the handle to accept the pick. I drilled a hole in a golf ball and rammed the rod into it so it shows up when stuck in the ground. On pavement you will need to find a void in the pavement.

[Howard Rush]

HI Gary. One thing that worked for me was to anchor the handle, disconnect one line from the lead outs and walk the line from the handle to the plane using a dry paper towell.  Do this with each line. it helps take out most of the tendency for the lines to coil and tangle.

Yep.

[frank mccune]

      Hi Gary:

      This maybe blasphemy, but I would suggest that you try a set of "fishing line" wires and determine if indeed they are much less of a maintenance problem.  You may be pleasantly surprised.

                                                                                                       Good luck,

                                                                                                       Frank McCune

                                                                                                                     

[john e. holliday]

Do you roll the lines up on one reel?  I too got tired of lines twisted/tangled together.  So I glued two reels together.  One reel gets the flying/elevation lines and the other the throttle line.   No more tangled lines. for me at least.

[Gary Dowler]

Do you roll the lines up on one reel?  I too got tired of lines twisted/tangled together.  So I glued two reels together.  One reel gets the flying/elevation lines and the other the throttle line.   No more tangled lines. for me at least.

Always properly roll them up. Always checked during set up. Where I was flying on pavement, alone, my options for keeping them off the ground during recover are slim. Perhaps I'll just roll them back up on each recovery??

[Rick Bollinger]

Did you make up your own line sets? If so what brand of cable is it? There are some brands that are a real PIA they twist up on themselves real bad.

[Paul Smith]

Three-line setups tend to do that, no matter what you do. 

Two-lines do it, too, but they're easier to clear.  I think the 7-strand lines tend to relax and twist up, creating some work with the three lines. You are not the fisrt to experience this.   As somebody suggested, disconnect the throttle line from the plane and try to get that straight, then untwist the other two.

[Gary Dowler]

Lines are hand me downs from 30 years ago. They had little use on them then so were in good shape. They are 7 strand I'm sure. Might have to replace them sooner than later because no matter how carefully I untangle them the seem to get a curve in them somewhere each time. Not a kink mind you, but a curve a few inches in radius. They straighten out in use with just slight tension though. Still not good for them.
Think I've come up with a way to retrieve them more easily. I have a large roughly 15 lb chunk of cast wheelweight metal that I am using as a stooge anchor so I can self launch on this paved lot. If I drill a hole in the top and insert a rod then after landing I can carry it to the center of the circle and set my handle over the rod, pick up the plane to get the lines up and walk to the pit.  Might be trying it later.