Clean cutaway Cables Every 30-days?

[Elisha 1]

Well, I'll discuss it (again) with Clay anyways probably next week when I jump since it expires anyways and will need to be repacked later that week.

[tr027 0]

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If you need to clean your cutaway cables, then why not the reserve cable?

That would be interesting. Have a disconnect at the handle, and pull the cable out from the reserve side. Wipe it down, refeed it through the housing, and reconnect the handle. Think though that the vast majority of people dont get nearly enough dirt on their reserve cable to affect performance.

"The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it. " -John Galt from Atlas Shrugged, 1957

[Elisha 1]

The rigger's seal wouldn't prevent this?

[Hooknswoop 19]

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Have a disconnect at the handle,

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The rigger's seal wouldn't prevent this?

Yes, it would, hence the disconnect that would necessary. Of course after the first ripcord failed bacause the disconnect failed, the ripcords would be grounded. The ripcord cable isn't affected by dirt/dust/whatever like the cutaway cables are.

Derek

[flyangel2 2]

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Do you clean your cutaway cables every 30 days?

Derek

No, I expect my rigger to do that shit. Then I expect him to put some kind of magic loction on the cable to keep them safe.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[RMURRAY 1]

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Do you clean your cutaway cables every 30 days?

Derek

No, I expect my rigger to do that shit. Then I expect him to put some kind of magic loction on the cable to keep them safe.

don't most people disconnect your own main before handing to your rigger??? This is when I clean my cables. If mine were a yellow cable that would not be often enough.

rm

[NWPoul 1]

Hm-m, from time to time I wanted to flex my 3ring but... it always was first load call, next jump, fellow skidiver's car to home and so on...
Reading this thread I remembered that almost 4 mounth passed from reserve repack, then today was a rainy day at my DZ so I finally did it!:)
After 4 month and ~120 jumps there was not much dirt on cables and it was easy to clean it.
It seems to me that there was no much "memory" on riseres too...so I dont know if 4 mounth without maintenace would cause problem during chopping
But, it takes only few minutes and not difficult at all so I planing to do it every 30 days from this moment.

Why drink and drive, if you can smoke and fly?

[RMURRAY 1]

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Hm-m, from time to time I wanted to flex my 3ring but... it always was first load call, next jump, fellow skidiver's car to home and so on...
Reading this thread I remembered that almost 4 mounth passed from reserve repack, then today was a rainy day at my DZ so I finally did it!:)
After 4 month and ~120 jumps there was not much dirt on cables and it was easy to clean it.
It seems to me that there was no much "memory" on riseres too...so I dont know if 4 mounth without maintenace would cause problem during chopping
But, it takes only few minutes and not difficult at all so I planing to do it every 30 days from this moment.

I guess you mean "clean and lubricate".

I thought the need to flex the 3 ring was a myth - didn't bill booth say it was not necessary? Or am I thinking about rotating the rings.

rm

[Hooknswoop 19]

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I thought the need to flex the 3 ring was a myth - didn't bill booth say it was not necessary? Or am I thinking about rotating the rings.

Spinning the rings doesn't do anything. Flexing the webbing doesn't do a lot, but every little bit helps. Pan for worst case, i.e. collapsed PC with a bag lock or spinning line twists on a heavily loaded canopy, and you want the 3-rings to release as easily as possible.

Derek

[azureriders 0]

I am just a newbie but after reading this thread I think a new poll should be posted.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW TO REASSEMBLE YOUR THREE RING RELEASE SYSTEM?"

And then everyone who answers no should find a new sport.

I read somewhere that Skydivers as well most other 'risk takers' are much above the normal IQ level. Not being able to assemble a three ring release system would take you out of that summation.

[billvon 2,990]

>And then everyone who answers no should find a new sport.

Dude, there are regular skydivers who can't pack, much less assemble a 3-ring. They pay other people to do that. Not sure if that means they're not 'real skydivers' though. It takes all kinds.

[NWPoul 1]

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>And then everyone who answers no should find a new sport.

Dude, there are regular skydivers who can't pack, much less assemble a 3-ring. They pay other people to do that. Not sure if that means they're not 'real skydivers' though. It takes all kinds.

Hmm I thought that disassebling/assebling of 3 rings easier than packing)

One may know how to pack but cannot do it himself
I can't imagine that some one whoo know how to proper assemble 3 ring couldn't do it
And if he don't know this how he can check whether it ok o not during checkup before jump?

Why drink and drive, if you can smoke and fly?

[mjosparky 4]

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And then everyone who answers no should find a new sport.

Thats a bold statement. Does this mean that you know EVERYTHING about your gear?

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[billvon 2,990]

>I can't imagine that some one whoo know how to proper assemble 3
> ring couldn't do it . . . .

I have seen more than one person do it incorrectly. Clearly they thought they knew how to do it.

[azureriders 0]

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Dude, there are regular skydivers who can't pack, much less assemble a 3-ring. They pay other people to do that. Not sure if that means they're not 'real skydivers' though. It takes all kinds.

I couldn't agree more that it takes all kinds, but I can't see anyone jumping without a better understanding of their gear than that. I can not pack, but I can assemble a 3-ring as the inspection of which is part of my gear check. A 3-ring IMVSO (in my very strong opinion) is a very simple mechinism and if you can inspect it 'properly' then I believe you could assemble it

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Thats a bold statement. Does this mean that you know EVERYTHING about your gear?

Agreed, too bold and probably out of line.
No, it means that I have the experience to know very little about the gear I jump, but I put forth all the effort that I can muster to read, study, ask questions and understand as much as possible before I bail out. I have read it here over and over, 'all you have is your gear' IMO with the best gear in the world and no understanding of how it works, then you have very little. Just me


If I was too bold and/or anyone took offense to my statement, then I am sorry, but it is my opinion still

edit:
it is my opinion that every jumper should understand their rig better than that, not that I should have the right to tell everyone that doesn't agree with that to get out of the sport and I did not mean for it to be took that way. However, it is still my opinion that if you are not willing to put forth the effort to understand you rig well enough to assemble a 3-ring then you should consider taking yourself out of the sport, but me personally, I would rather you stay in the sport and learn more so I can learn from you.


Hope that clairifies that I am not too big of an a$$ hole.


"In this world there are only three types of people, idiots, morans, and a$$ holes. This is because if you are not an idiot or a moran then you have to be an a$$ hole to live with them." Josh Courtney

[kelpdiver 2]

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I couldn't agree more that it takes all kinds, but I can't see anyone jumping without a better understanding of their gear than that. I can not pack, but I can assemble a 3-ring as the inspection of which is part of my gear check. A 3-ring IMVSO (in my very strong opinion) is a very simple mechinism and if you can inspect it 'properly' then I believe you could assemble it

Reattaching the 3 ring is easy when the canopy is packed and the container closed. It's a bit more difficult when the canopy is sitting on the ground 20ft away. I ran into the 'step through' problem 2 weekends ago and disconnected the 3 rings to fix it (later learned that was the wrong solution) and managed to get one right, and one with the C/D/Steering lines in a half twist.

At that point, I found a friendly rigger. Learned a couple more of the Duh! type lessons that weekend. If you think you need to and actually will know all of these before you finish AFF...well, good luck.

[sundevil777 102]

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ran into the 'step through' problem 2 weekends ago and disconnected the 3 rings to fix it (later learned that was the wrong solution)

I disagree. Disconnecting allows you to start at the canopy, take the outer A line and go towards the riser, doing whatever it takes to make the riser 'correct'. If the first couple of tries to fix a step through don't work, then I've probably made it much worse and disconnecting is the way to go.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[Samurai136 0]

Assuming the parachute had correct continuity on the last jump, any step-thru, continuity problem can be fixed with out disconnecting the 3-rings.

Ken

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[mjosparky 4]

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Assuming the parachute had correct continuity on the last jump, any step-thru, continuity problem can be fixed with out disconnecting the 3-rings.

Ken

If a canopy was tied in a knot while attached to the container, it can be un-tied while it is attached to the container. This includes a step-thru a PC pull-thru or any other mess.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[Genn 0]

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I am just a newbie but after reading this thread I think a new poll should be posted.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW TO REASSEMBLE YOUR THREE RING RELEASE SYSTEM?"

And then everyone who answers no should find a new sport.

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I would have to somewhat agree with you here. This is supposed to be taught throughout the student training, section 4-D.D.2:

2. Checking assembly of the three-ring release system:
Note: Disassembly and maintenance of the three-ring release is
covered in Category H.
a. Each ring passes through only one other ring.
b. The white retaining loop passes through only the
topmost, smallest ring.
c. The white retaining loop passes through the cable
housing terminal end.
d. The release cable passes through the loop.
e. The retaining loop is undamaged.
f. The release cable is free of nicks, kinks, and burrs
(especially on the end).
3. Pre-jump equipment checks
Note: The instructor should guide you through a complete pre-flight
equipment check using a written checklist.
a. Before each jump, check your equipment before
putting it on.
b. With the help of another jumper, get a complete
equipment check with all your gear on before
boarding
c. Get your equipment checked once again before
exiting the aircraft.
(1) “check of threes” (jumper self-check)

As far as maintenance is concerned, every student should have a complete understanding of this. It is outlined in the SIM section 4-H.D.1:

D. EQUIPMENT
Note: An FAA rigger or instructor should teach this section.
1. Owner maintenance of three-ring release system:
a. Disassemble the system every month to clean the
cable and massage the ends of the risers.
(1) Nylon riser webbing develops a memory,
especially when dirty.
(2) When disassembled, twist and massage the
nylon webbing around the two riser rings.
b. Clean the cables.
(1) Most three-ring release cables develop a
sludge-like coating that causes them to bind,
increasing the required pull force.
(2) Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for
cleaning.

Re: "And then everyone who answers no should find a new sport."

This seems a little harsh... not knowing whether or not the student/skydiver was properly trained.

It is the USPA's Instructors' responsibility to teach this information during the student progression.

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[masterrig 1]

The ripcord cable isn't affected by dirt/dust/whatever like the cutaway cables are.

Derek

[RMURRAY 1]

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And then everyone who answers no should find a new sport.

Thats a bold statement. Does this mean that you know EVERYTHING about your gear?

Sparky

no, but everyone should be able to hook up risers to a rig properly because they need to clean and lubricate the yellow cut away cable every 30 days (or whatever the rig supply states).

rm

[Hooknswoop 19]

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I don't know about that. Each rig I get into my shop, for I&R, I wipe-down both the release cables as well as the reserve cable with Silicone. It's amazing the grease and gunk I see on the cloth afterward, from the reserve cable. Maybe, it's just a West Texas thing.

Oh, Iagree and clean the ripcord cable too, but the dirt doesn't cause a hard pull on the reserve like it does on the cutaway cables.

Derek

[Miami 0]

Everyone should just get a racer then they don't have to worry about it.

Miami

[skycat 0]

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I couldn't agree more that it takes all kinds, but I can't see anyone jumping without a better understanding of their gear than that.

The ones that amaze me are the ones that don't want to know anything about their gear. I gave a women only gear seminar about a year or so ago at one of the local DZs and while the turn out was good there were several girls at the DZ who said "If I knew how my reserve worked I'd probably quit jumping out of fear" and refused to attend.

Fly it like you stole it!