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should i be disconnecting my 3 rings once a month?

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and then reassembling it? I read that you should do this to keep them from maybe seizing up. I've only disconnected them twice so far - on my 6 month repack cycles when i cutaway and pull the reserve.

Should i do it more frequently? I usually just flex them and "roll" the rings to check for wear and tear.

Thanks

"Skydiving is a door"
Happythoughts

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6 month repack cycle is also a Canadian thing.

Disconnecting and flexing your 3-rings is a good habit. Do it at least once a month, especially at dusty DZs.

As for rolling your rings, that may have been relevant to a bad batch of rings made during the early 1980s, but I have no idea why people do it anymore.

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I usually just flex them and "roll" the rings to check for wear and tear.



"Rolling" the rings can actually cause more wear than it prevents. By rolling the rings you're getting the oil from your fingers on the rings...which attracts dirt and grime...which leads to abrasion at the base of the riser.

Flexing the risers (making sure that they haven't taken a "set" in any position) is always a good idea and should be done monthly...along with cleaning your cables.


"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

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I think the US is virtually the only place that has a shorter re-pack period.

This is odd because (no offence here) generally speaking the US safety regulations re skydiving are far less stringent than other countries.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That is because repack cycles are cast in stone in US Federal Air Regulations. Changing an FAR is like mating elephants. It is done at a high level with lots of trumpeting and stamping of feet and takes two years before you see any results.
Besides, the FAA is far too busy with the millions of terrorists flying through American skies (sarcasm) to worry about a few skydivers.
On a practical note, it would be unwise for American skydivers in the busier states (i.e. California, Arizona and Florida) to lengthen their repack cycle, considering the high wear that their rigs experience between repacks.
On the other hand, it makes perfect sense for Wisconsin skydivers to repack their reserves every 6 months, considering how many jumps they do each summer.
Then you get into the whole dilemma of having one set of FARs for Northern States and a separate set of FARs for Southern States.
That has not worked gracefully in the past.

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I definately think flexing the 3-rings is a good idea, and should be done every month. As a routine I put my rig on and practice my cutaway procedure while I do it.

The important thing is to make sure you're putting the 3-rings back together properly. I suggest that you get a rigger to walk you through the process of flexing the webbing, cleaning / lubricating the cable, and reassembling.

Last week I was on a load where one of the jumpers had his three ring system 'fall apart' while going through about 6,000. It was spotted by another jumper who was sitting behind him.

It turns out that this guy is also a base jumper, and had been switching canopies back and forth on the same rig throughout the weekend. He didn't put the 3-rings back together properly. That would have been an interesting mal, with one riser cut away.

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It's a good idea to develop a maintenance routine. Flex your risers, untwist your break lines, check your loops, bands, rings, webbing, container, etc. Just because you may not be a rigger doesn't mean you shouldn't check your own gear. The more you inspect your gear, the more comfortable and knowledgeable you are about it, you can't beat that.

-R

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and then reassembling it? I read that you should do this to keep them from maybe seizing up. I've only disconnected them twice so far - on my 6 month repack cycles when i cutaway and pull the reserve.

Should i do it more frequently? I usually just flex them and "roll" the rings to check for wear and tear.

Thanks



You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

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