Wags 0 #1 June 23, 2003 I just did an inspection on a friends main, and found all 4 of his Slinks hooked up WRONG! If your slinks look like the first picture, find a rigger to redue them. The second picture is correct, but it is hard to tell how they should be from the picture. Consult the instructions from P.D., they are very clear about how they should be hooked up. My friend had 20 to 30 jumps on them with them like this. I guess it goes to show that P.D. has a good designe. I would hate to see what would happen if one were to come undone after it got some slack after a front riser turn. Blue Skies, Wags Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,008 #2 June 23, 2003 >I guess it goes to show that P.D. has a good designe. I think a better design would be one in which it is very, very obvious that they have been hooked up wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wags 0 #3 June 23, 2003 Quote I think a better design would be one in which it is very, very obvious that they have been hooked up wrong. I guess that would be great, but I don't know of any soft link that would make it more obvious. It would seem to me that common sense would prevail, but you can't teach common sense. I believe this jumper may have been in a hurry when he hooked these up. The moral of this story is, if you are not 100% familiar with a piece of equipment, read the instructions, or get help!....... And don't hurry! Blue Skies, Wags Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedeisurf 0 #4 June 23, 2003 Upon inspecting a main recently I had found a main that had the slinks improperly attached they did not go though all of the lines like they are supposed to, the rig had many jumps on it in that t conurfiguration. David Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RichM 0 #5 June 23, 2003 The manual that comes with slinks is very particular and very clear about their fitment. If you can't be arsed to read the manual, have someone who can, do the mod. RTFM.Rich M Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedeisurf 0 #6 June 23, 2003 If your not a rigger you should always have a rigger check your work. David Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #7 June 23, 2003 QuoteIf your not a rigger you should always have a rigger check your work. And check that rigger's work too. In our loft, we've seen them hooked up incorrectly on people's RESERVES too. Can a rigger make mistakes? Of course! When your reserve needs a repack, it couldn't hurt to take a look at those reserve slinks YOURSELF. Because nobody loves you and wants you to live as much as you do, right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHixxx 0 #8 June 23, 2003 I'll back Wags and PD up on this one. The directions that come with the Slinks are very clear and easy to follow. This person obviously glanced at them with out really paying attention, then didn't have a rigger double check their work. I mean if I can understand them, they must be easy! You can find a PDF file for installing them here: http://www.performancedesigns.com/education.asp -Hixxxdeath,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,008 #9 June 23, 2003 >I'll back Wags and PD up on this one. The directions that come >with the Slinks are very clear and easy to follow. Yep. The mistake I've seen is the jumper just taking _one_ turn of the slink through the lines. If it can be done wrong a skydiver will figure out how to do it. The only way I can see having it made "foolproof" is using something like a small locking caribiner with a spring loaded lock. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHixxx 0 #10 June 23, 2003 Good thing they didn't have the Precision Wrap it Links. They make 3 passes through the lines and riser with a lighter weight of Spectra. Then it locks around a brass ring instead of a tab. Here is the link to their website for Wrap it Links: http://precision.aerodynamics.com/Wrap-It/wrap-itv3.pdf -Hixxx -Hixxxdeath,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GroundZero 0 #11 June 24, 2003 The line drawings for the PD Slinks are quite clear. I witnessed 3 people, (two of which are riggers), study the drawing for about half an hour. This was at Quincy a couple of years ago and also the end of the day... tired, hot and beers nearby... With no previous experience, it took the team some time to agree on the intended method of locking the Slink. There is room for interpretation on the line drawing if only a quick glance is made. Once the team correctly assembled the links, all agreed it was rather obvious. We went to great lengths to make our instructions simple and straightforward when we took photographs for the Wrap-It Links instructions, yet we have seen many people hook them up incorrectly. So we decided to start jumping them installed incorrectly... two turns instead of three...one turn instead of three... simply around the stop (tab or ring)... they all held through even hard openings... we weren't brave enuf to try them with the loop only partially over the ring/tab!) We pull tested the soft links, (both ours and theirs), and stainless links of varying sizes... all soft links broke at over 3000 lbs., proud to say that ours with the 3 turns broke around 3800 lbs... plenty strong to be used for both mains and reserves. BUT, please follow the instructions! http://aerodynamics.com/Wrap-It/wrap-itv3.pdf Chris Precision Aerodynamics Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHixxx 0 #12 June 24, 2003 I didn't mean to infer that Wrap it Links are inferior in anyway, just that with the error of not making enough passes through the riser and links it could be real bad with the lighter Spectra. It is re-assuring to hear that they will hold with only one pass (I am glad you guys did that testing and not meQuote plenty strong to be used for both mains and reserves. Are the Wrap it Links useable on reserves now? Is it for Precision reserves only? thanks, Jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livenletfly 0 #13 June 24, 2003 thats pretty scary, its amazing how many people will hurry and rush something as important as properly connecting your canopy.we all make stupid mistakes some get lucky and some die. your freind got lucky you spotted this error. they may want to consider a second pair of eyes when working on their gear. hopefuly this scared the shit out of him/her> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metallica 0 #14 June 24, 2003 Aerodyne International ships soft links with their Smart reserves. They look mighty similar to Precision's Wrap-it-links Speed kills! So does everything else... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #15 June 24, 2003 Thanks for the link - I popped my container to have a look-see at the slinks. They were connected OK, according to the manual, and I can now see what the problem is on the first picture. Very informative. Question about resetting the position of the tab. Some of my rigger friends have pointed out that one or two the tabs on my slinks are sticking outside the webbing of the riser. I see from the instructions that this may wear the slinks out quicker. So, I flexed the slinks a bit and gently slid the lines around so that the tabs are now positioned inside the riser webbing (on the inside of the fold). The steering lines were a bit tighter, so I had to loosen them a bit before I could slide them around - I pulled them taught by hand when I was finished. I guess I'm hoping that the next few jumps will reseat them with the tab in the correct position. Is it a good idea/not a good idea to try to reseat the slinks like this? Does it wear more on the links or lines? And should I keep checking them after every jump? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #16 June 25, 2003 A friend of mine but a little gaffers tape around the end of his risers for a few jumps until they set. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wags 0 #17 June 25, 2003 I have even tacked mine with a light cotton thread (seal thread) that will eventually break, but holds them in place until they are set. If you do it, only go through the small part of the tab that has the writing on it, and make sure you aren't pulling down on the tab, or the thread will break on the first jump. Gaffers tape sounds like a quick way to do the same thing, just as long as it doesn't leave any goo, as it shouldn't. And for God sakes guys, don't use duct tape, what a mess that would be. Blue Skies, Wags Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackR 0 #18 June 25, 2003 The PD Slinks now come with a riser cover. This is great for preventing the slider from hitting your fingers as you're grabbing your rear risers on opening. They make it a bit more difficult to push the tab into the riser, but the good news is that it is also harder for them to slide out. It was recommended in one of the classes at PIA this year to tack the tabs in the risers. Be careful to only go through the small tab that has the writing on it. I can't remember where I saw it, but I've heard that you can apply around 50lbs of tension to the Slinks after installation. This will help create a set in the Slink.Packin' Jack 42nd Lost Prairie: The Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Skydiving 25 Jul - 3 Aug 2009 2007 photos: http://www.skydive.com/prairie/pages/prairie.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #19 June 25, 2003 QuoteIs it a good idea/not a good idea to try to reseat the slinks like this? It's a good idea. After a few jumps with them in right position, they will take a "set" that way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sducoach 0 #20 June 26, 2003 Wags, You had better leave common sense out of it. Too many "experts" who don't need it. Blues, J.E.James 4:8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
