canopy maintenance

[caspar 0]

i was just wondering what the general guide is to canopy maintenance....

replacing lines at how many jumps and how many jumps to replace the brake lines. i reallise it is not an exact number, its just that im planning a 100 jump holiday to russia at the end of the summer and my main canopy (pilot) will have maybe 300 jumps on it by the time i go. wouldnt want to have to replace a lineset in the middle of the holiday!

with hindsight, i should of asked my rigger how my lines were when i got it repacked i know...

oh also, i have slinks on my main with maybe 70 jumps on them, i guess i dont need to worry about that?

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."

[DrewEckhardt 0]

Quote

i was just wondering what the general guide is to canopy maintenance....

replacing lines at how many jumps and how many jumps to replace the brake lines. i reallise it is not an exact number, its just that im planning a 100 jump holiday to russia at the end of the summer and my main canopy (pilot) will have maybe 300 jumps on it by the time i go. wouldnt want to have to replace a lineset in the middle of the holiday!

Spectra linesets are way out of trim by 500 jumps (for 725 lb spectra; the smaller lines would go faster) and steering lines are done in half that (Spectra lines have shrunk, Vectran gets fuzzy).

Vectran, HMA, etc. get worn out.

Ask your rigger to look at the lines and measure against a trim chart if you're curious.

with hindsight, i should of asked my rigger how my lines were when i got it repacked i know...

oh also, i have slinks on my main with maybe 70 jumps on them, i guess i dont need to worry about that?

[billvon 3,120]

>Spectra linesets are way out of trim by 500 jumps (for 725 lb spectra;
>the smaller lines would go faster) and steering lines are done in half that
>(Spectra lines have shrunk, Vectran gets fuzzy).

Bill's Bad Idea of the Day:

Sell replacement no-sew line kits that contain only outer lines and brake lines. They're the ones that take most of the wear.

[DougH 270]

Sounds like a good idea to me.

I am having my rigger replace my brake lines right now, and just measure everything else. It finally became useful to have a spare canopy without a container to put it in!!!!

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[darkwing 5]

Quote

Bill's Bad Idea of the Day:

Sell replacement no-sew line kits that contain only outer lines and brake lines. They're the ones that take most of the wear.

Danger... It is possible to have new outboard lines be too long, such that the slider stops are above the inboard line attachments...

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[diablopilot 2]

Quote

>Spectra linesets are way out of trim by 500 jumps (for 725 lb spectra;
>the smaller lines would go faster) and steering lines are done in half that
>(Spectra lines have shrunk, Vectran gets fuzzy).

Bill's Bad Idea of the Day:

Sell replacement no-sew line kits that contain only outer lines and brake lines. They're the ones that take most of the wear.

I'll support the Control line idea.

As to the outside lines, If it's a material like Spectra, I'd say do the whole linest because of trim issues, and if it's a more stable line type like HMA, then by the time the outsides are needing replacement so is the rest of the set. Outsides might take more friction wear, but center cell lines see more initial shock load on openings.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[caspar 0]

"Spectra linesets are way out of trim by 500 jumps (for 725 lb spectra; the smaller lines would go faster) and steering lines are done in half that (Spectra lines have shrunk, Vectran gets fuzzy).
"

so does that mean, replace your linesets every 500 jumps and your steering lines [break lines] every 250 jumps?

ive checked my breaklines under canopy and they seem totally fine with just over 250 jump.

thanks for the replies everyone

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."