Bent kicker plate in a Javelin?

[PhreeZone 20]

I just stumbled across a Javelin that it seems a previous rigger was a little over zealous with a positive tension device and has managed to bend the kicker plate in the backpad probably 1/4-3/8 inch from straight. I'm contacting Sunpath directly on this Monday but I'm wondering if anyone else has seen this much damage and if so what the fix is for this if any shy of replacing the plate. I've seen slight warping before but this damage is so obvious that even looking at it from across the room you can see the bend in the plate.

Second, if its a replacement does anyone have an estimate from a loft on what it costs since the grommet needs pressed into the plate and material there?

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[RiggerLee 63]

Not in the least bit uncommen. i think some of the plates are softer then others. I've seen them bent by riggers that I know didn't use tork bars, they just had strong hands.

You can kind of bend it back but it tends to rebend rather easly. Where it's at you could replace it but it would be a pain. If you flaten the plate add a large washer to the loop when you pack it. You can get a really big fender washer from a good hardware store. Just put it under the plate as a duballer and run the cypres loop and washer through both. You can get them like 2.5 in in diamiter. It will keep the plate from tocoing. also does wonders for Dollfins.

Lee

Lee
lee@velocitysportswear.com
www.velocitysportswear.com

[lilchief 1]

Could you post a picture?

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci
www.lilchief.no

[JerryBaumchen 1,468]

Hi Phree,

That is not what us old folks would call a Kicker Plate. A Kicker Plate is what the pilot chute would sit on. I do not know what Sunpath calls this particular plate.

Now that I have bashed you, let's move on.

I have noticed that very same problem for a number of years. I even posted something on it here once as to what might be an acceptable/unacceptable amount of bending. I got no response. I even wrote to Sunpath about it to get their input. They just said something to the effect that as long as it holds the Locking Loop you are OK.

I 'think' that those plates are made of aluminum and so rebending will just make them fracture faster.

IMO it is a poor design and they should have addressed it a long time ago.

I use a stainless steel plate; it costs a lot more but they rarely bend.

Just my 2 cents . . .

JerryBaumchen

[parachutist 2]

Quote

That is not what us old folks would call a Kicker Plate. A Kicker Plate is what the pilot chute would sit on. I do not know what Sunpath calls this particular plate.

It's called a floor plate, and there are 2 versions of them that I know of. First was the original, which was thin and bent easily. A few years later (not sure what date) SunPath went to a thicker AL plate which doesn't bend in my experience unless too much force is used... so I think they did address that issue.

Altico started with plastic floor plates & later moved to thicker AL ones like SunPath did.

[riggerrob 643]

" ... RIGGING INNOVATIONS started with plastic floor plates & later moved to thicker AL ones like SunPath did.

[riggerrob 643]

" ... You can kind of bend it back but it tends to rebend rather easly. ..."

....................................................................................................

If you bend and straighten and bend and straighten aluminum too often, it soon fatigues and cracks and you end up with a two piece floor plate with nasty jagged edges.