Bodhisattva420 0 #1 February 9, 2011 I sent my canopy off to be relined with dacron today. Since my canopy originally came with microlines, does anyone know if I am going to need to purchase different sized hardlinks? Also, will I need a new set of risers if I switch to dacron? Currently I have minirisers. All of the rigs I've jumped that used dacron previously have had full size risers so I'm not sure if having minirisers will be a problem. Thanks a bunch! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreefdiver 0 #2 February 9, 2011 replace them with slinks (soft links), they/re strongerDS#727, DB Cooper #41, POPS #11065, SCR #13183, FA #2125, SCS #8306, HALO #309 SRA #5930 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #3 February 9, 2011 You shouldn't need to change size on the links, but it is a good idea to replace links when replacing lines. They are wear items. You don't need new risers; your current ones will work fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #4 February 9, 2011 QuoteI sent my canopy off to be relined with dacron today. Since my canopy originally came with microlines, does anyone know if I am going to need to purchase different sized hardlinks? Also, will I need a new set of risers if I switch to dacron? Currently I have minirisers. All of the rigs I've jumped that used dacron previously have had full size risers so I'm not sure if having minirisers will be a problem. Thanks a bunch! PD says that in case of their 7-cell canopies, mini-links are NOT compatibile with Dacron. See this: http://performancedesigns.com/orderforms/Spec-f.pdf You would need to find out what size of mini links you have. Also, if you have links protectors (bumpers), there may not be enough space for the steering line to go thru (line friction created between link bumber and a slider grommet). In this case, soft links (Slinks) are the solution. However, they do NOT work well with larger canopies (with longer lines) though, leading to burned-thru slinks! Read this: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3326440;page=1;mh=-1;;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC I also switched from Microline to Dacron on my 7-cell Spectre 190, installed Slinks and also installed Slink hats (protectors), but installed the hats upside down, so that they take any heat first, and not the Slink. I inspect the Slinks every few jump days, and after 200 jumps they are in very good condition. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #5 February 9, 2011 I have a set so soft links that were made well before PD or any other company ever thought of "using" the idea. Probably have 1200 jumps on them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Croc 0 #6 February 9, 2011 Are you building a CRW canopy? If so, go with #5 links so that you can re-trim your canopy with additional links if needed."Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
motomike 1 #7 February 10, 2011 Hope he isnt doing CReW with 48 jumps.... he is a mighty swooper though[/cool] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Croc 0 #8 February 10, 2011 Didn't notice his jump numbers but, so what? A friend of mine did a four stack with Mike Lewis and two of his CRW dog friends just after he got his A licence. I pinned a guy with less than forty jumps a couple of years ago. Another guy with less than fifty or sixty jumps let me land him. Best jump he ever had, he said. And I'm not even especially good at it. (Safe, but not real skilled.) Who says you need a bunch of jumps to run into another canopy on purpose?"Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #9 February 11, 2011 QuoteProbably have 1200 jumps on them. Might want to replace those, Spence. Regardless of who made them, they are a wear item. Seems kinda silly to spend all that money on an ADD and not spend $30 making sure your main is going to stay attached to you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #10 February 11, 2011 There was an accident a few years ago in Perris where Slink (which had few thousand jumps on it) broke during the last canopy turn, at like 100 feet. The jumper is now paralyzed, from neck down I believe... This is very sad, he had like 10,000 jumps, was a cameraflyer, and was basically earning the cost of new set of Slinks on every commercial jump he was making... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreefdiver 0 #11 February 12, 2011 Met a guy at the Boulder DZ, he was wearing a failed mini link around his neck (necklace) . The thread/nut gave way (link bent open) on opening, didn't notice till he was on the ground and the lines fell off the link... the few threads left on the link kept the lines from coming off while under load.... talk about cashing in on a lot of luck! as others have mentioned.. these are low cost maintenance items, is your life not worth $30 every 1000 jumps or even less? (thats 3 cents / jump) ;)DS#727, DB Cooper #41, POPS #11065, SCR #13183, FA #2125, SCS #8306, HALO #309 SRA #5930 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,108 #12 February 12, 2011 It is a very good idea to replace your slinks when you reline your canopy (which should happen every 500 jumps or so.) They're made of the same stuff as canopy lines, and they see more wear. And a slink failure is a guaranteed cutaway if it happens high, and guaranteed world of hurt if it happens very low. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #13 February 12, 2011 QuoteMet a guy at the Boulder DZ, he was wearing a failed mini link around his neck (necklace) . The thread/nut gave way (link bent open) on opening, didn't notice till he was on the ground and the lines fell off the link... the few threads left on the link kept the lines from coming off while under load.... talk about cashing in on a lot of luck! as others have mentioned.. these are low cost maintenance items, is your life not worth $30 every 1000 jumps or even less? (thats 3 cents / jump) ;) Perhaps the failure was due to over tightening of the nut (causing it to crack). This is a somewhat common occurrence given the tendency for some to want to cinch it up as a method of checking for tightness rather than a mark to confirm it hasn't loosened. If a mini link (a metal component) fails because it actually fatigues from the level of stress/# of cycles applied, then a larger/stronger link should be used that won't be subject to fatigue failure. If soft links are protected from contact with the slider grommets, then I think that would mean they might last many thousands of jumps. Just a thought.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #14 February 12, 2011 QuoteIt is a very good idea to replace your slinks when you reline your canopy (which should happen every 500 jumps or so.) They're made of the same stuff as canopy lines, and they see more wear. And a slink failure is a guaranteed cutaway if it happens high, and guaranteed world of hurt if it happens very low. Yeah I know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhisattva420 0 #15 February 15, 2011 Scary shit! Kinda reminds me of the opening scene in the movie 'Cliffhanger' with Sylvester Stallone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
