skybytch 273 #1 June 30, 2003 Last jump of the big way camp. Nice break off from an 84 way. Stop, look, wave, dump, WTF over? During the opening my right leg strap loosened up - all the way to the stop. My chest strap was at my chin and I could barely reach my toggles so I could pump the end cells open. Got them, got the canopy open and flying and made sure I was clear of other canopies. Then I put both toggles in my left hand and held them in about 1/4 brakes (it had been real bumpy up there all weekend), transferred my weight to the left legstrap (still snug and stowed), and with my right hand managed to get the right leg strap tightened up about halfway. No idea why it came loose. I triple check my legstraps for tightness before every exit. I've never had one loosen up on opening like that before. The legstraps do seem looser when I snug them up than they were last year (guess I have dropped a few pounds), but they aren't scary loose. I'm inspecting everything today, both the main and the container, and I plan to give Kelly at VSE a call too. Anybody else have something like this happen? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #2 June 30, 2003 One of our old club rigs used to do that, I think the solution was to put a rubber band round one of the buckle bars... Its a credit to the spectre that you weren't spun up....-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #3 June 30, 2003 QuoteOne of our old club rigs used to do that, I think the solution was to put a rubber band round one of the buckle bars... Its a credit to the spectre that you weren't spun up.... thats EXACTLY what i did to my leg strap. its works fine now. I think I would still like a new "buckle" installed but the extra rubber band worksMy photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #4 June 30, 2003 You're in California right? Sand. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #5 June 30, 2003 "Sand" Is that a cause or a cure Chris? From my climbing days, sand and webbing is bad juju....-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #6 June 30, 2003 Had that happen to me a couple times. Fixed it temporarily with an elastic band diagonally over each legstrap buckle. But I had my rigger double the legstrap webbing to fix it for good. A better solution would probably be to replace both buckles but for the $$$ (well €€€ in my case). ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #7 June 30, 2003 Quote"Sand" Is that a cause or a cure Chris? From my climbing days, sand and webbing is bad juju.... Exactly, Sand may have caused her webbing to become slick. She is in a sandy climate and if she has tumbled any landings since she has had the rig it may have made it slick. Just something I would ask to have checked out. She is in a sandy region of the US.Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #8 June 30, 2003 QuoteYou're in California right? Sand. Ahhh, good point. It's not sandy at the dz but it is very dusty, and I was landing in the plowed student field all week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #9 June 30, 2003 Another thing that she might want to do is have the new PdF non slip hardware installed. The older style hardware can slip of tension is applied at an unusual angle if the webbing is slippery at all.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #10 June 30, 2003 QuoteQuoteYou're in California right? Sand. Ahhh, good point. It's not sandy at the dz but it is very dusty, and I was landing in the plowed student field all week. Also, is it polished stainless steel?Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #11 June 30, 2003 It's all stainless hardware, don't know if it's polished or not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #12 June 30, 2003 QuoteIt's all stainless hardware, don't know if it's polished or not. I know that during Winter Expo the reps from RWS were talking about gear and hardware and the legstrap hardware was quite a conversation talking about wear and knurls and sandy regions and stainless steel not having as much "bite" as the ugly non-pollished ones. Just something to ask about. Since I can't see your gear and I'm not a rigger take what I say with a grain of salt. Or sand. Just remembering something I heard from someone who knows more than me. Nothing else.Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #13 June 30, 2003 Lisa, I usually get a little freaked out when we do some fuin jump typo stuff. like a tube. when someoen has to grab my legstrap(b/c I dont own anRW suit. it hasnt been an issue yet but its still int the back of my head that if it slips all the way out...etc! I gotta find a place that'll be able to hook this legstrap up!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tumble 0 #14 June 30, 2003 Here is a post Bill Hallett of Mirage Systems wrote about stainless steel hardware slipping. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=59793;search_string=search_string;#59793 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 0 #15 June 30, 2003 QuoteAnother thing that she might want to do is have the new PdF non slip hardware installed. The older style hardware can slip of tension is applied at an unusual angle if the webbing is slippery at all. I'm with Phree on this one. See if they will replace your current hardware with the PDF kind. Mirage did that for me when I had sent my rig in for a sizing adjustment, and they totally rock. Haven't had one even slip a little, and I wear my legstraps kind of loose. (allows me to shrug my shoulders for a better track)Fly it like you stole it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #16 July 2, 2003 Did Frank spray pam on them again? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #17 July 2, 2003 QuoteDid Frank spray pam on them again? Heh... I inspected my harness and hardware today. All looks fine. Gonna jump it tomorrow and try a different way of stowing the excess legstrap. I've been folding and stowing it the way I've always done; now I'm wondering if I've been getting it too thick too close to the hardware (which would put the hardware at an angle that might allow for slippage). I know this is a subject currently under discussion by many container manufacturers. If you have stainless hardware and have problems with legstrap slippage, call or email your container's manufacturer and let them know the details. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #18 July 2, 2003 Sounds like you handled the situation pretty good. Glad you are Ok. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightjumps 1 #19 July 3, 2003 You might also check if you have those new stainless thread thus that are the clamps and not really thread thrus. Javelin stuck those on their rigs and during the last Riggers Convention was a source of discussion concerning slippage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #20 July 3, 2003 This is the PdF (Parachutes de Freedom) Hardware that Skycat mentions above. They don't slip in my experience, in fact they are better than the thead throughs IMHO.-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
