mustard 0 #1 May 3, 2004 I now have 4 jumps on my relined Sabre2. It originally had 550 jumps, and although I loved lots of things about it, I really didn't like the off-heading openings. Once it got a couple hundred jumps on it, it calmed down a lot. And I decided to send the canopy in for a reline. Then I got a call from PD: what could have damaged (contaminated) your canopy? You've got some *bad* damage here. It turns out it was probably fertilizer from a nearby field in March when I landed out and slipped and slid all the way to the DZ, getting some nasty stuff on my canopy on the way. I thought it was mud, and I didn't worry much about it. But I had noticed for a couple months that my brake lines had shrunk so much that I no longer had full flight. Time for a reline and a canopy inspection. So now my canopy is back, with 4 jumps on it, two packed by my favorite packer, two by me. It has one complete topskin on #8 cell, two rather large patches, and new lines. I jumped it yesterday. Whoa! Not the same animal at all! This is what I notice the most: on heading openings. Not only on heading, but S-L-O-W, with the slider creeping down the lines. But I am pleased, the flare is much better, much more responsive, and boy am I happy. What a difference! What a different canopy! The openings are like butter. But with MY pack job today, my first one I thought was going to have to chop: only the center cells inflated. Not only the end cells are not inflated, but neither are the ones next to them. The canopy is in a turn, and I am losing altitude like crazy! So I grabbed the brakes and pulled them down, let them up, and the canopy is normal. I've lost a couple of grand during this experience, I am at 1800 feet and decide I'm OK. So I pack it again, worry and worry, but everything was OK. Again I opened on heading, soft, slider came down, but the end cells are definitely nowhere near inflating, so I worked with it. I can live with this, but what I'm wondering is, is this normal with a reline? The canopy lands differently, flies different, and DEFINITELY opens differently. I'm going to grab the rear risers next jump, ready for anything, and open a little high. Any suggestions here? The only other canopy I jumped long enough to need a reline was a Spectre, and it didn't perform any differently after the reline. The Sabre2 135 I'm loading at 1.15 is like a totally different canopy. *** DJan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murrays 0 #2 May 3, 2004 I have a Stiletto 135 that belonged to a friend of mine that died of non-jumping causes. I had no idea how many jumps it had on it when I started jumping it in 2002. The openings were awful...off heading, spinning..no fun at all for an old guy jumping his first zp canopy So, I sent it to PD for a complete inspection. I wound up replacing two centre topskins, the slider and the lines. Very different and more likeable parachute on its return...openings are on heading..maybe a 90 once in a while...and it flies very nice. I don't notice much difference in how it flies but the openings are vastly improved. So, big changes in canopy behavior do happen with a reline in my limited experience. I'd ask around to see how other people are packing canopies like yours, if you haven't already, to see if you can get the canopy to inflate completely on opening. Was the reline done by PD? Was it a PD line set? Is there any chance the brake settings are off a bit?-- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloggy 1 #3 May 3, 2004 Sounds like you got a brand new canopy I have about 15 jumps on my new Sabre 2 and the end cells never inflate fully (had a few occasions where 4 cells stay closed, like you describe). Doesn't worry me: it's always symmetrical, stays on heading and a quick pull on the toggles or rears and it's cured. Bart Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #4 May 3, 2004 QuoteI can live with this, but what I'm wondering is, is this normal with a reline? The canopy lands differently, flies different, and DEFINITELY opens differently. I had the same experience. I have a sabre2 170 and got it relined last october. I put about 500 jumps on it before the reline and after getting it back, it's totally different. I'm still not sure if i like it. Seems as if it flew better before the reline. My end cells are never inflated after opening. I have to pump the rear risers to inflate them. The flare is waaay different. I have to flare faster and deeper. Doesn't seem to plane out like before the reline. I know of a few others that have the same issue. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sdctlc 0 #5 May 3, 2004 I had a new Sabre2 135 while I was waiting for my Samurai to be done and I put close to 100 jumps on it. I was loading it at almost 1.7 and I did not have a problem with the end cells on opening. It opened soft and mostly on heading each time! The lighter load may be the root cause of that but a quick tug on the rears should help speed up the openings (if you want) and also pop out the end cells. The Sabre2 is a very nice canopy. It turns at a good rate and if you load it higher it swoops very well.. You should be able to get lots of jumps and of course LOTS of fun out of it, especially since it is now like a new canopy!! Talking about End cell closure. My GQ Security UNIT 1 (~200sqft 7-cell) had this problem on EVERY jump. Both end cells were closed until I pumped them open.... Just became part of opening sequence...."He who Hesitates Shall Inherit the Earth!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #6 May 3, 2004 What you guys are experiencing is normal for Spectra lines. Spectra lines shrink a lot in 400-500 jumps. There are several posts regarding the different materials used for lines and how they differ after use. The Flare difference is the biggest noticable difference. What has happened is that the Brake lines have shrunk gradually during use and you develop muscle memory as you go along. When the canopy is relined, the lines are made back to the standard dimensions and it just does not feel or act the same as just before the reline. These lines are made longer as the manufacturers "add" to the ideal line dimensions to allow for the future shrinkage they know will take place. Put about 50 jumps on it and it will be right on! Masterrigger1Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philly51 0 #7 May 3, 2004 Mustard... I'm jumping a relatively new Sabre2 190. Since the first jump, the end cell(s) are closed which causes one to ask some questions. Spoke to 2 master riggers and PD about my concerns. Pd (and the riggers) told me it was an inherent problem with semiellipticals and to be aware of it. I look for it on every jump. Other than that I LOVE the Sabre 2.. Great openings, great landings, decent penetration, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mustard 0 #8 May 4, 2004 QuoteSo, big changes in canopy behavior do happen with a reline in my limited experience. I'd ask around to see how other people are packing canopies like yours, if you haven't already, to see if you can get the canopy to inflate completely on opening. Was the reline done by PD? Was it a PD line set? Is there any chance the brake settings are off a bit? Oh, I can make it inflate all right. But I have to work at it. While I was getting the work done on my canopy, I jumped a Spectre 150, loaded at 1:1. At first it felt like I was driving a truck instead of a sedan, but over 20 jumps I learned that I could land that canopy on a dime in no winds, high winds, all kinds of conditions. It always opened reliably, on heading, and could float on rear risers forever! And then back to the Sabre2. And a new canopy. It was PD that relined it and inspected it, and changed the lines from less than full flight to very loose brake lines. I actually like the landings better, because I had gotten used to a shorter line set, so now I take a wrap and look at the brake lines as I'm getting ready to land, and boy they respond much much stronger and better. What I notice most is that the partial/half flare brings the canopy to a full planing out position, whereas the previous line set wasn't as obvious. So I just stop the flare when I'm planing out, and ... hey, is *this* what those guys do when they are swooping? This is fun! *** DJan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jumpervint 0 #9 May 4, 2004 I was jumping my Unit up to just two years ago. Lots of end cell closures. I just got used to it. I noticed that it wasn't as bad two years ago as it was 20 ago when I weighed 30 pounds less. Vint. . . . . "Make it hard again." Doc Ed “A person needs a little madness, or else they never dare cut the rope and be free” Nikos Kazantzakis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sducoach 0 #10 May 4, 2004 Quote What I notice most is that the partial/half flare brings the canopy to a full planing out position, whereas the previous line set wasn't as obvious. So I just stop the flare when I'm planing out, and ... hey, is *this* what those guys do when they are swooping? This is fun! I'm gonna tell Skratch!!!James 4:8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
