leg straps slipping and line twists

[rhys 0]

o.k. i have a vector 3 and i like it very much but i have noticed i have been getting line twists more frequently since i have downsized my main from a heatwave120 to a crossfire 109.

i also notice i have a turn in the canopy both with the heatwave and the crossfire. both these canopies fly straight on my vortex2.

i thought the vector was not symmetrical because i have to crank the right leg stap to fly straight once the canopy is open. i have recently decided i like the leg straps quite tight and crank them as far as they go.

i observed on opening that not only did i have to crank the right legstrap to fly straight but both leg straps had slipped by a couple of inches usually the right one slips more and therefore the turn.

this has caused(i believe) quite chronic line twists and hard openings (yes on a crossfire)

i intend on having an extra layer of webbing installed onto my legstraps. my vortex has double webbing throughout the harness construction.

i do not feel the vector is fully safe anymore especially for freefly. imagine a premature opening at 160mph. i know this shouldn't happen in theory but if it did then the last thing you would want is you leg straps to slip.

any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[exwhuffo 0]

I have a vector 3 with the same problem. the container has at least 2000 jumps on it . with the wear and being stainless steel the only fix is to replace hardware. you can use rubber bands to secure the slack and prevent slipping but this will wear the legstaps. i will never get stainless on another container if i can help it!

[skybytch 273]

How are you stowing the excess legstrap? Is the hardware laying flat once you've stowed it or is it cocked up at an angle?

My legstrap slipping problems ended when I started stowing the excess legstrap so the hardware lays flat. Instead of folding the excess, putting it through the keeper and then tucking it in the padding I now run one layer through the keeper then fold the excess and tuck it in the padding.

[riggerrob 643]

Wrapping a black elastic strap keeper around buckles will slow slippage.

[rhys 0]

mine has about 1500 jumps on it. but is still in great condition. i had problems with the main riser covers too, untill i stopped hanging it on a rack. i stash the excess into the pads with a keeper i dont fold anything. the rings are stainless but the legstrap buckles atr not. the rig is an ex u.s. national team rig so it is very nice.

what do you think about adding an extra layer of thiner webbing to the legstraps?

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[councilman24 37]

As hardware has changed and canopies have changed, harness slipage has changed. Traditional harnesses with cadmium plated hareware DO slip a little and that has been part of the design all along. The first stainless hardware was to slick and slipped to much, then later versions were to "sharp" and didn't slip at all. This caused failures at lower shock loadings. Also, many manufacturers believe the webbing being supplied has changed in recent years, causing changes in slippage. This is a complex question. Bill Booth had done a lot of work on studying these problems (most of the above info is second hand from him).

A little slippage is good for shock absorbtion, until it causes your pocket rocket to turn. These are the trade offs as the gear has developed.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[darrenspooner 0]

My old rig used to have this problem. My rigger put some 'tensioners' on the leg strap buckles and it was absolutely fine after that. They just look like little springy metal clips. That's about all I can say, but it worked for me.

[rhys 0]

are these tentioners an easily accesable item or were they made at the time?

i want some.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[riggerrob 643]

Quote

are these tentioners an easily accessible item or were they made at the time?

i want some.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Tensioners are readily available from Para-Gear, DJ Associates, and other parachute hardware suppliers and are easy (for a rigger) to install. The disadvantage is that tensioners will not fit on all types of leg strap buckles, so consult your friendly local Master Rigger.
The other easy fix is adding an extra layer of Type 12 webbign to the leg straps as per a recent Aerodyne Service Bulletin.