Craig 0 #1 September 9, 2002 A jumper today had a line over and cutaway uneventfully. When the main was back in the hangar it was found that a soft link had failed. These were NOT PD S-links just FYI. Phreezone (no, it was not his cutaway) might have a little more to add above what I know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ifallout 0 #2 September 9, 2002 What kind of S-link then? Bill have fun, love life, be nice to the humans Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #3 September 9, 2002 Ok a bit more info on this after looking it over. The soft link that failed was a home made soft link out of Dacron. It was sewed into place and was not removeable unlike the PD's. This one was this riggers version of a softlink. It was lasted for many years and at least 150 jumps that I'm aware of. The Dacron appeared to fail where the riser and the link met. I'm not sure what side it was on but it was a wear spot and not a line spot. The PD links have stitching at these spots so wear is slowed and its easy to spot becasue the sewing will fray out before the cord will. The soft link was poorly desiged in my opinion and required the use of a finger trap to hold them together in addition to the stiching. The PD's are a MUCH better design and I advocate those highly. My guess is the friction from the riser was enough to wear through the dacron slowly and once the wear reached a certain point it casued failure of the material and there for the link. This failure was discovered on a jump that first started as a line over that the jumper was trying to clear on what is to me a hard opening canopy (SharpChuter). After flying for a few seconds the jumper poped the breaks and at this point it failed.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 September 9, 2002 Alright, how much does a set of PD Slinks cost and how hard is it to install? Not much and very easy. How much time did the rigger spend trying to reinvent the wheel and ended up causing a malfunction with the reinvented wheel? Too much. I'm all about saving money by doing stuff my self (read: working on my truck, etc), but wouldn't you think there is a line that could be crossed here?--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jceman 1 #5 September 9, 2002 Dave, That is NOT a case of reinventing the wheel. You are showing your youth in the sport. rigger-made soft links have been around a lot longer than PD's SofLinks. They do tend to vary in quality as Phree implied in his post, but on the whole are not necessarily inferior to the PD product. Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money. Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #6 September 9, 2002 I stand corrected. That is something that I did not know. Eitherway, I'm still going to be using PD Slinks. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #7 September 9, 2002 Exactly Jack. These softlinks had been installed well before PD had ever marketed theirs. The original softlinks were not removable and more updated versions are reusable (bigg selling point). I've seen some designs for some nonreusable soft links that I think are equal to or better then the PD design but since every time you want to change risers, lines etc... it would involve making new ones and a lot of sewing. I'd perfer the reusability of the PD's. And besides... Dacron is about $3 a yard... and a bored rigger can make for a dangerous combo Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christoofar 0 #8 September 9, 2002 Ooo when I saw this thread originally I was thinking it was a Slink failure at first and was rather taken aback. My slinks keep misaligning. I know they are extremely durable... but how bad can they get when during deployment they rotate around? It happens on almost every deployment... and I've been resetting them every single time on packing. Does it make any difference? ____________________________________________________________ I'm RICK JAMES! Fo shizzle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #9 September 9, 2002 I have a couple of customers that have had soft links for probably 10 years now. I know one has had the same set for about 5 years. I keep inspecting them and so far they're still holding up. 1000 lb dacron. The lines seem to be taking more wear than the link (500 microline). I was not convinced so I never tried to intall any home made one myself. Commercial removable ones now make them independent of the rigger skill and design.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #10 September 9, 2002 If the slinks are turning, have your rigger hand tack the slink into place.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #11 September 9, 2002 I think you can get them for 25$ a set.. I buy them in sets of two just in case I replace one I replace them all instead. I have 120+ jumps on the slinks I am using now and they look great. Rhino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmfreefly 0 #12 September 9, 2002 My experience: Hand tacking through the SLink doesnt work as well as hand tacking the riser edges together. This allows the tab to freefloat, but still stay trapped. I have mine tacked so I -CAN- get it out (with a little work). I also have Precision's soft links, with the ring. this is kind of nice, as you can put one tack through the ring, allowing it to freefloat. I still like SLinks better though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #13 September 10, 2002 QuoteMy slinks keep misaligning. I know they are extremely durable... but how bad can they get when during deployment they rotate around? It happens on almost every deployment... and I've been resetting them every single time on packing. Does it make any difference? Back when I had the softlinks with the metal ring I had that problem on every jump. When I first installed them I tried to make them take a set in the stowed position, and every time I packed I would have to push them back. Finally I got to the point where I just gave up... Now I'm using PD-slinks, which haven't rotated out at all yet. I think it has to do with the way the PD slinks are made, I like them much better for this reason, and they are easier to install, IMO. -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #14 September 10, 2002 On your first jump using your soft links do a hop n pop from altitude and turn and burn all the way down. That will help build an instant memory in your slinks. After my first jump I was good to go.. Rhino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coho21 0 #15 September 10, 2002 Or you can do what happened to me. Align them up and then have a wonderful slamming opening! (ouch, oh god that hurt) But they've never moved a bit since. J Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
