Writing down pull force ?

[erdnarob 1]

I would like to know both from riggers and jumpers if they think a rigger should write down on the reserve packing card the tested pull force of the reserve pin. When I started as a rigger many years ago, most of the reserve packing cards were indicating the pin pull force. I kept on with that habit but many times now, when I pack a reserve for the first time, I can see that many riggers are not doing so.

My point of view is that an indication of the pin pull force can provide a good idea about what to expect. Some jumpers do not have strong arm muscles and are likely to be more comfortable with a pull force between 9 and 14 lbs while most of the skydivers I guess would prefer something between 15 and 22 lbs.

We also have to remember that a few days after the packing the pull force decreases by a couple of pounds. The hot and humid weather has the same effect and it is not rare during the summer to see the pilot chute making a bulge on the outside flaps of a reserve container.

In other words, is there a reason why a good amount of riggers are not writing that info on the reserve packing card and how the skydivers feel about it ?

Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all.

[NovaTTT 2]

I check the pullforce if it's an especially easy or difficult closing.

I don't write it down because I wasn't trained to, I've never been asked to and there's no specific place on a PDC for the info. The typical PDC is pretty inadequate as it is, in terms of having space to get information into the slots.

I don't recall ever seeing the pullforce on any of my personal PDCs from before I earned my rigger seal.

So I guess I'm saying it just hasn't come up.

"Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

[PhreeZone 20]

On my inspection sheets that I give my customers I will tend to write the pull force down so that I have a check that its within limits if there was any question. Packing a Racer or Reflex is really a crap shoot since the force can be adjusted at anytime after it leaves my hands.

On this note does anyone have a better scale option then a fish scale?

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[pchapman 279]

Here in southern Ontario I find almost riggers write down the pull force. It seems to be tradition, and there was a column for it on the old style paper CSPA data cards.

Most pack jobs that I see from the USA though, don't show pull force.

I haven't checked the FAA regs but I got the impression the pull force has to be measured to be in limits -- but nothing says it has to be written down for the user. Can someone confirm?

There are a lot of variables for pull force, but it can be handy to get an idea of what the pack job is like, whether it is really tight or more moderate, whether it might be worth tightening the loop a little. Some of that of course can be determined by looking at the rig too.

I think a little fudging is sometimes indulged in -- I can't imagine that some of those tight rigs really are at 22 lbs max at the time the pin is inserted. Maybe a couple days later.

[AndyMan 7]

In the 12 years I've been jumping, I've never had this indicated for me on any one of my own repacks.

As a rigger, I wasn't taught to do it and there isn't a column on the standard data cards - so I've never made a note of it.

It sounds like it may have been common in certain circles, but this is the first I've ever heard of the practice.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[Beatnik 2]

Quote

On this note does anyone have a better scale option then a fish scale?

A pull force gauge works a lot better and you get a very accurate reading from it. Sometimes you can pick them up on eBay cheap.

[spootch 0]

I write it on the card. I don't write it down so much for the jumper, but for the next person packing the rig. I think it gives a nice refrence point when you are changing loops.
I use a digital scale to test. My wife brought it home for me one day as a little "rigger gift", I don't have the heart to tell her it sucks

[riggerrob 643]

CSPA requires writing the pull force.
The FAA says that pull force must be with in 5 and 22 pounds, but does not require it to be written anywhere.