FreeFlyFreaky 0 #1 March 13, 2002 I thought I would share photos of my chin cup cutaway. None of us want to see 2 Grovers come flying off our heads in a mishap but I don’t want the helmet so secure that I lose my life because the equipment won’t let go of my head. My reasons for a cutaway? I know how hard the pressure on the clips is when it is just strapped to my head. Sometimes it is difficult to pop off on the ground. I have to squeeze the clip with my thumb to get it off normally. Under a spinning mal I just don’t know if I would have the dexterity to get if off cleanly or at all for that matter. This works beautifully (this assumes the centrifugal force allows my hands to reach my head) and if the web strap flies loose in freefall (never has) it in no way compromises the present security.I saw a similar system developed by someone else who posted here about a year ago and blatantly copied the concept though our materials are somewhat different. I have only seen two other jumpers with chin cup cutaway systems. To me it’s surprising. Your thoughts?My helmet is the Hawkeye by Arrow Dynamics. I reversed the ratchet straps and connectors. On this model straps are normally on the chin cup. I drilled two tiny holes on the lifting surface of the connectors and threaded 80 lbs test monofilament thru the web strap as pictured. What you can’t see is the knot tied to the 7/8” webbing; this is covered by the stick-on Velcro that completes the deal. Out of pocket expenses $0.00, for me anyway.Safe ones....Whit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #3 March 13, 2002 Not BAD!One of the issues I have with this type of clamp is that when it's REALLY tight (just the way I like it), it seems to have a tendancy to flip up and hold onto the excess portion of the strap -- and it doesn't release -- it just bends the excess portion around.I think I'll have to take a photo to show you exactly what I mean.My solution to the issue is to use two hands to release the clamp; one holds the excess while the other releases the clamp.Got any ideas on how to make this a little easier?quadehttp://futurecam.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #4 March 13, 2002 I'm working on a slighlty different release. It will be a single point relase that releases the straps from the helmet completly. I am going to replace the bolts with slightly longer and larger ones and drilled a small hole though the bolt. Then I get a cotterpin and place the pin though the drilled hole. The Bold and pin holds the chin strap to the helmet, but when the pin is attached to the cutaway handle and pulled the bolt will fall out and nothing will hold the chin straps on anymore. Does anyone see a flaw in my design thinking?Cause I don't wanna come back down from this cloud... ~ Bush Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanG 1 #5 March 13, 2002 I think I see what you are saying, but it seems that if there is a lot of pressure on the chin cup (like your main has entangled with your camera and is trying to rip your head off) friction is going to keep the bolts in place. In other words, I don't think they would fall out without being pulled. Maybe you could also attach the cutaway handle to the bolts them selves with a longer lanyard so the bolts would be pulled just after the pins? Or maybe that would overengineer it so that it wouldn't work at all.- Dan G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Voodoo 0 #6 March 13, 2002 Have you seen this "euro" style - been in use for years - and proven working ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Voodoo 0 #7 March 13, 2002 Sorry, the jpg file was 200kb, and not accepted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FreeFlyFreaky 0 #8 March 13, 2002 Quade,I think I know what you're implying as far as the strap kind of following the clip and staying clamped but it really doesn't behave that way for me. I've one handed dirt-pulled this thing dozens of times and it comes off cleanly with a good snatch. A slow steady pull does not release it well and I actually like that fact. Basically I want the sucker to stay on...except when I want it off. This really works. One handed too. Voodoo, can you post the Euro pic somehow? Reduce size? I'm very curious.Whit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #9 March 13, 2002 Quote Sorry, the jpg file was 200kb, and not accepted Voodoo, if you email the picture to me, I could resize it and post it for you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Voodoo 0 #10 March 14, 2002 Ok, I try once more a little reduced. If it does not work, I mail it to you, so you can try... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Voodoo 0 #11 March 14, 2002 Pic. 2 - I can take more in different angels, if you dont understand the "system" ( it is very simple ).... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jayhfx 0 #12 March 14, 2002 hey Gang. I was thinking of just poping the spring out of one of the clips on my bonehead chin cup and replacing it with a coter pin. Seems simple enough and should work. Any toughts?jay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydog 2 #13 March 14, 2002 That's exactly what I did with mine. I put an R Clip through the pin (which had a spring on the other side) connected the chin strap with the pin and Hey Presto. I also put a small lanyard which went up the side of the helmet with a tab that I could pull. It also meant that any pull in any direction would free the chin cup and chinstrap. It was very simple and snag free. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
