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-Rap
This from Relative Workshop:
There are no concerns with RWS pins. The first time this problem arose about 2 years ago RWS implemented a new test procedure with regards to reserve pins. RWS was the company that first became aware of the problem..
This 100% testing system detected all defective or problem pins and returned them to the manufacturer.
With the way we keep track of lot numbers we were able to track which rigs had what pins on anyway and those ten ripcords that came out of the latest problem batch were recalled and replaced for our own peace of mind. When we got them back the ripcords were tested again to destruction. All ten exceeded the specifications for the assembly.
Regards,
Mark
Mark Procos
Sales & Marketing Director
Tandem Program Director
Phone +(386) 736-7589
Fax +(386) 734-7537
Cell +(386) 804-4705
E-Mail mark@relativeworkshop.com
If all manufactures did this, we would not be up to our ass in shit now!
Sparky
Ron 10
There are no concerns with RWS pins. The first time this problem arose about 2 years ago RWS
implemented a new test procedure with regards to reserve pins. RWS was the company that first became
aware of the problem..
This 100% testing system detected all defective or problem pins and returned them to the manufacturer.
With the way we keep track of lot numbers we were able to track which rigs had what pins on anyway and
those ten ripcords that came out of the latest problem batch were recalled and replaced for our own peace
of mind. When we got them back the ripcords were tested again to destruction. All ten exceeded the
specifications for the assembly.
Another reason I Love RWS!!!
It would be nice if harness container manufacturers would put this information on their web pages. All I found for bullitins on Mirage's page is:
"Technical Updates and Bulletins
Reserve Static Line Field Installation Instructions
Secondary Main Closing Loop Attachment Point Notice on Mirages Made before
March 1, 1997
Mirage pre-emptive grommet fix"
It looks like Mirage has a link on the front page about the Capewell recall, it is right above the pictures of the G3 and G4, it takes an extra second or two for it to show up. Last time I clicked on it though the link was down....
~La La Gang Member #2~
Hooknswoop 19
It looks like Mirage has a link on the front page about the Capewell recall, it is right above the pictures of the G3 and G4, it takes an extra second or two for it to show up. Last time I clicked on it though the link was down....
Found it above the pic of the G3/G4 on the Home page, right where you said it was. It still doesn't work.
Hook
skycat 0
It looks like Mirage has a link on the front page about the Capewell recall, it is right above the pictures of the G3 and G4, it takes an extra second or two for it to show up. Last time I clicked on it though the link was down....
Found it above the pic of the G3/G4 on the Home page, right where you said it was. It still doesn't work.
Hook
The link is working now, but does not give any info other than a link to the capewell SB
rmsmith 1
Our customer was angry about the bend and wanted the ripcord replaced…who pays for that? Capewell? The drop zone? The manufacturer? Me?
Most parachute gear is hand-made, and to expect a 100% parts replacement warrantee when this gear is deeply discounted is childish. This person should grow up, get out the credit card, and have a new ripcord shipped by fedex overnight--unless of course their life isn't worth $65.00.
Products with the sort of warrantee protection this person desires are expensive. For example, automobile prices continue to rise unlike tire prices because the government insists that automobile manufacturers continue product safety research and exercise wide-spread recalls to insure public safety because an increasing number of people aren't well suited to operating automobiles. Skydivers do not pay for these additional costs in their purchases.
rmsmith 1
rmsmith 1
Life safety equipment should have a 100% warranty(check your spelling) against defects in materials and workman ship. Would anyone in there right mind jump something that is guaranted to maybe work?
The spelling was correct as a warrantee is the person who holds a warranty, i.e., a purchaser of a product that includes a warranty. BTW, "guaranted" is missing an "e".
The gear manufacturers do the best job that the economic conditions of this sport will allow them. If they were to offer guaranteed or warranted gear then the prices we would ultimately pay would be much higher particularly after several years of tort activity. It is cheaper for everyone involved to simply replace the defective parts.
The guarantee I am referring to is TSO-C23. That states that all components will be manufactured to very exacting standards. Then 90 degree bend test we are submitting pins to now should have been done(with 8#) on every pin/ripcord assembly before it ever left the manufactures shop. The other test is an in line pull with 300# for 3 sec.
Sparky
riggerrob 643
With current depressed prices, factories are under constant pressure to get product out the door to pay light bills, etc. Anything that slows down the production process puts them closer to bankruptcy, so quality control becomes a compromise.
Tell your customer to lighten up. The rigger should not have to pay to replace the bent ripcord. He was just doing his job as written by Capewell.
Capewell or the container manufacturer is responsible for replacing the ripcord.
If the customer is complaining too loudly about who pays for a new ripcord, we have to seriously question his motives. In my experience, the customers that complain the loudest are also the customers that pay the least. They got wealthy not by making lots of money, but by squeezing every penny until it squeaks!
Trying to squeeze every last penny out of a lowly rigger is worse than a waste of time. Riggers don't make much money to start with and in the long run, you only annoy the person who holds your life in their hands.
Sparky
jfields 0
100% test would not only be nice, it is required under TSO-C23B through TSO-C23D.
If it is required, then wouldn't it apply to all manufacturers equally, putting nobody at an economic disadvantage for complying? If performing the test (or any other mandated safety step) takes time that manufacturers haven't factored into their prices, perhaps they ought to revisit that.
Price is a good ways down the list of priorities when I make any skydiving gear-related decision. Without question, safety is more important. The ill will generated for getting caught knowingly violating safety procedures would outweigh the benefits of being able to undersell the competition. Skydiving manufacturers (like riggers) exist on the trust of their customers. We need to believe that they will do their work in accordance with established guidelines, and step up honestly and quickly with a service bulletin if something goes awry. If you breach that trust, you have nothing.
-Rap
RC #1: 71304-00-11, DOM: July 2001
RC #2: 71304-01-1, DOM: February 2002
Two numbers off Mirage reserve ripcord handles and the corresponding DOM's of the harness/containers. Seems like the first dash # is the last 2 digits of the year of manufacture and the second dash # is the month of manufacture. So the first ripcord was manufactured in November 2000 and the second in January of 2001. They both had ARC1003-25 stamped on them also.
Edit: The length of the rip cord, ball to the tip of the pin was 25 inches, not sure if this corresponds to the -25 number or not, but it probably does.
It would be nice if harness container manufacturers would put this information on their web pages. All I found for bullitins on Mirage's page is:
"Technical Updates and Bulletins
Reserve Static Line Field Installation Instructions
Secondary Main Closing Loop Attachment Point Notice on Mirages Made before
March 1, 1997
Mirage pre-emptive grommet fix"
RWS has updated their site, http://www.relativeworkshop.com/
Under "news"
And so has Sun Path, http://www.sunpath.com/
Sunrise Rigging has a link, http://www.capewell.com/PIAPIN.pdf
But it doesn't work yet.
Hook
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