Basejumperjeff 0 #1 November 15, 2005 What effect does changing the size of the slider grommet have on the opening characteristics of a canopy? Bigger grommets? Smaller grommets? Thanks Jeff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #2 November 16, 2005 What motivates your question? Bigger grommets will slide over the slider stops and cause malfunctions and damage. Smaller grommets aren't a big deal, as long as they aren't much smaller. I'd be cautious about any changes though. In fact, I'd go so far as to say just don't mess with the grommet size. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peek 21 #3 November 16, 2005 Malfunctions? Examples please? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #4 November 16, 2005 Quote What motivates your question? Bigger grommets will slide over the slider stops and cause malfunctions and damage. Smaller grommets aren't a big deal, as long as they aren't much smaller. I'd be cautious about any changes though. In fact, I'd go so far as to say just don't mess with the grommet size. ___________________________________ I don't believe, they make a larger grommet than a #8. Those, seem to be standard today. In the past, I've seen smaller grommets used on sliders. The #8 seem to work quite well. With 'mini' links and slider bumpers, the slider grommets won't pass over them. With soft-links, they will. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #5 November 16, 2005 Quote Malfunctions? Examples please? When the grommet slides up over the slider stops it can damage the stabilizer, and it is reluctant to come down. I have seen it. It resulted in a guy cutting away 3 times out of 5 jumps until we figured out what was happening. This was in about 1978, but it is just as relevant now. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #6 November 16, 2005 Installing grommets any larger than the original (#5 or #8 brass) create all kinds of problems, like choking off the stabilizers, while smaller grommets are less tolerant of sloppy lines. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peek 21 #7 November 18, 2005 Quote When the grommet slides up over the slider stops it can damage the stabilizer, and it is reluctant to come down. I have seen it. It resulted in a guy cutting away 3 times out of 5 jumps until we figured out what was happening. This was in about 1978, but it is just as relevant now. Thanks, I guess I was thinking slider "bumpers" on the links when you said slider "stops". Yes, I recall back then some manufacturers had an "Oh, shit we forgot about that" when they used some slider stops that were flexible enough to bend and allow the grommets to get caught on them. Anyone: Are there any canopies made now that would allow a #8 grommet to get caught? It would seem not, so that is why I initially asked. But of course some folks don't learn from history.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #8 November 19, 2005 Anyone: Are there any canopies made now that would allow a #8 grommet to get caught? It would seem not, so that is why I initially asked. But of course some folks don't learn from history.... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The only canopy - that I can think of - with #5 grommets is the Swift Plus series of reserves. Para-Flite quit sewing Swifts a few years ago. But we still have to keep an eye on main canopy manufacturers. When they standardize on tiny HMA lines, some may be tempted to "re-invent the wheel" with smaller slider grommets. Woe betide the HMA jumper who tries swapping sliders. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
