Slink Bumpers

[MrHixxx 0]

Esteemed Colleagues,

I was just looking for a little feedback on Slink bumper installation. I just learned that I have been installing them upside down with the bumper side high instead of fitting them over the top of the riser with the bumper side low. My reasoning in doing this is to keep the slider grommets from striking the Slinks and line fingertraps with repeated deployments and causing premature wear. I was just curious what everyone thought of this and if there is a hazard I haven't considered in doing so.

thanks, Jon

[jeremyneas 0]

No, bumper side down so it fits over the top of your riser like a condem. If you don't curse and bitch and whine while installing them, your probably not doing it right

They protect the slink just peachy that way.

[MrHixxx 0]

Yes, but it doesn't protect the top of the Slink and the line attachment points to repeated beatings by the Slider grommets on deployment...

-Jon

[riggerrob 643]

Why not follow the instructions on Slink Hat installation on the sheet that Performance Designs mails out with every set of Slinks?

[skymedic 0]

I was under the impression they are to keep the slider up....not necesarily to protect the slinks...although they do provide some protection for them.

Marc
otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman....

[piisfish 140]

I don't like the bumpers.
I don't like to have the slider above my head

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[darkwing 5]

Slink hats are slider stops, not slink protectors. If you want to protect your slinks then use something else.

The trick I discovered for installing slink hats hassle free (and it was a big hassle before the trick) was to invert the slink hat after you put it all together, but before you try to tuck the end tab in. Then tuck the tab inside the riser, and re-invert the slink hat over it. The hassle was due to a really tough fit of getting the tab through the slink hat.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[bsoder 0]

I installed slink bumpers on my rig recently (and yes, they're installed correctly) but I still find the slider gets below one or another of the bumpers occasionally. Is that normal?

[piisfish 140]

impossible to get my slider through... That's why I had mine taken off.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[MrHixxx 0]

Quote

Why not follow the instructions on Slink Hat installation on the sheet that Performance Designs mails out with every set of Slinks?

Well that is ideal isn't it... The first set I received were requested from PD for existing Slinks that I already owned. I knew that some of my customers would be asking for them with the fatalities in Eloy and CA (I don't use them). I received two pairs in a bag with no instructions. I looked at them knowing they were to keep the slider up and also considered what rubber bumpers do (protect the line attachments and links). So that is the way I installed them the first time (on a Vectran lined canopy I might add). Since then I have only had to install them once, because most folks pull their sliders down. Well, one of my customers pointed out that they were upside down, but wanted to keep them that way for the protective reason too. So you see, I am not trying to be a rebel about the whole thing, cause I am generally an instruction reading type of rigger. Yet there was some interesting discovery in the mistake about increasing the functionality of the bumpers.

-Jon