nicknitro71 0 #1 August 14, 2006 Granted that I have sent an e-mail To Bill Booth (without a response) I would like to hear if this is an isolated incident or not. The problem is slippage of the diagonals on the Sigma Student Harness. IMO the problem is due to the use of SS adapters. The old VII harness had non-SS adapters with the spring-loaded keepers (great design). Anyway we have three Sigma harnesses. One went back to RWS because of slippage of one of the laterals. The other two suffer from slippage of the diagonals making the harnesses very unsafe because the students drop down during the FF not matter how tight the diagonals are prior to leaving the airplane. One of my students had his chest strap right on his neck after opening. Keep in mind that we are not a tandem factory and that each instructor dons their own students and we are very, very anal how the harness fits. This is not a problem of poor donning, trust me on that. Anyway I tried to sandpaper the adapters and we also washed the harnesses but the problem remains. As of now I am refusing to jump with a Sigma harness. Fortunately we have three VII harnesses that we can still use. I was wondering if anybody else has having similar issues.Memento Audere Semper 903 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #2 August 14, 2006 I am a Vector II and Sigma user. I have never had an Issue with the Sigma harness slipping. Our harness is all black and is 4 years old with 200 ish jumps. The chest strap being in the jumpers face IMO is a fitting issue. If the lower back band and the rest of the harness stays put and is adjusted properly I do not see how the diagonals would cuase the chest strap to be in the students face. I suppose it could happen, but all the poor chest strap locations I have seen have all been due to poor fitting and not any slippage. I have also not heard (other than here on dz.com) any one complain about the Sigma Harness. I have seen a few T-I's adjust the harness in such a way the webbing isn't aligned in the FA properly and there is a potential for slippage there. It was a long way to get there, but No I have not had any slippage issues.An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #3 August 14, 2006 Another possible solution is sewing an extra layer of Type 12 webbing onto the diagonal back straps. This is similar to the Service Bulletin issued by Aerodyne - about a year ago - to reduce slippage on Icon leg straps. I have applied Aerodyne's fit to a variety of Icon, Javelin, Sidewinder, Talon, etc. leg straps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OnYourBack 0 #4 August 14, 2006 "The chest strap being in the jumpers face IMO is a fitting issue." I would have to agree. I haven't had any problem with straps slipping or chest straps raising. Where are you positioning the chest strap and the adaptors on the shoulder at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #5 August 14, 2006 If your asking me, the shoulder connections where the webing is routed through them is just at or slightly below the collar bone (some times lower just depends on the passenger). The chest strap goes right across the bottom two ribs (again lower or maybe just maybe higher depending on sex and size of bust). The hip connections are at the outside of the hip to allow the lower bands to srabalizethe hips as designed and the arch is not adversally effected. But with a quick push of the leg straps after opening the "sling" is easily created for a comfortable canopy ride. If the explanations are off I'm sorry, but the "picture is worth a thousands words" thing would be better, as I am 4 into a 6 pack. The quiten' whistle blew early today!An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OnYourBack 0 #6 August 14, 2006 Nah, I was agreeing with you. Your description matches our set up as well. How about your positioning Nitro? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
faulknerwn 38 #7 August 14, 2006 I don't know anything about these harnesses, but I know what fixed the SS slipping on my leg straps on my sport rig was putting a small piece of gaffer's tape on the middle piece. That provided enough friction it never slipped again... W Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nicknitro71 0 #8 August 14, 2006 Well I guess we got three lemons The webbing is already a double layer of 7 and 8 so I would not add one more. We position the chest strap as per RWS instruction no more, no less. If you guys do not believe me, fit a harness the way you do it and then hang the person via the top snaps. Then loosen up the diagonals only and hang again and check where the chest strap ends up. Again I will not use OUR sigma harnesses anymore.Memento Audere Semper 903 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #9 August 14, 2006 It is possible you need new FA's on those diag's for what ever reason. Mine does not slip so why would I loosen them up on purpose? It is just my opinion but the Sigma Harness is the best on the market. When I got our harness I was told "money will not limit your decision SFC Cline", so I called various companies, DZ's with high annual tandem numbers and the US Army Team, it seemed like a no-brainer to me, Sigma all the way. It is just possible that you have either a bad set of FA's or some thing is just a few degrees off in the adjustment. I don't know but, Bill or Marc should be able to help with a phone call.An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #10 August 15, 2006 We had a couple of harnesses that had slipping issues, they were our older harnesses. So, we had the DZ rigger wash them. It got the dirt and oils out of the harness webbing, that 100% fixed the slipping issues. YMMV, but something to think about.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nicknitro71 0 #11 August 16, 2006 Read my first post again. It did not help.Memento Audere Semper 903 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #12 August 16, 2006 Quote Read my first post again. It did not help. Sorry, read over that part. Contact Pablo with RWS, he's Pablito here on DZ.com. He should be able to get you headed in the right direction.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites