freeflir29 0 #1 December 4, 2002 Well...after having some mild opening problems on my Stiletto for quite a while now, since WFFC I guess, I finally got off my butt and talked with PD about getting a trim chart. I have had hard openings....off heading openings....line twists.....nothing terrible and I have never had to cut it away but it was just plain annoying. So....I finally got around to actually measuring my lines last weekend. I started with the LST which is the steering line between the eyelet where you stow the brakes and the stitching at the cascade. Trim chart says it should be 103 3/8. Actual length. 99 in. Well...no damn wonder it opens like shit!!! I just stopped right there and took it off the risers. Boxed it up Monday and shipped it off for a new line set. I have put ~ 180 jumps on it and the guy that sold it to me said he had under 200. So...somwhere in the neighborhood of 400 jumps and the lines are TOAST!!! Although they still look like they are in nice shape. Still fairly white and clean. Just shrunk up like a BEEATTCCCHHH!!!! So...if you start developing opening problems on your canopy.....get a trim chart. It only takes a few minutes to check and can save you lots of trouble down the road. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 0 #2 December 4, 2002 That's why I'm planning on relining my 97 with vectran. Plus that would put all the canopies in our house with vectran, which makes life easier when doing repairs.Fly it like you stole it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HookSky 0 #3 December 5, 2002 It may be worth checking the A lines to see how much shrinkage they have, if it the same then new lines sounds like a good idea. However if it's a couple of inches less, then a rigger can lengthen the bottom part of the steering lines. The steering lines can shrink slightly quicker owing to the motion of the slider. Normally the lines should last for about 800 jumps, although if you have 550 microlines these will tend shrink quicker, When I replaced mine I put 825 lines on. Mike. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garywainwright 0 #4 December 5, 2002 Did 1000 on mine (825's) before replacing themhttp://www.garywainwright.co.uk Instagram gary_wainwright_uk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jussi 0 #5 December 5, 2002 my current stiletto had around 800 jumps when i replaced them..... my presecond canopy(Sabre 135) had 1300-1400 jumps when i replaced them... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #6 December 5, 2002 Quote The steering lines can shrink slightly quicker owing to the motion of the slider Well....I figured if the brake lines had shrunk almost 5 inches it was a good bet the others were trash too. I have noticed some funny flight characteristics lately too. Like having to get deeper in the flare to keep it surfing. It's only about $200 total and considering a reserve repack is $40 and a hook turn crash could be priceless, I just thought getting new lines would be the best way to go... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cobaltdan 0 #7 December 5, 2002 "Well....I figured if the brake lines had shrunk almost 5 inches it was a good bet the others were trash too. " all lines do not shrink. as the canopy spreads the tension is on the outer lines against the slider gromets... sincerely, dan<><>Daniel Preston <><> atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,026 #8 December 5, 2002 My Stiletto's brake lines had shrunk 10 inches in 700 jumps. They were visibly tight in full flight. The other lines had also shrunk, but not anything like as much.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
