Kris

Okay, so I was the optimistic one who decided to get all white trim tape on my purple & silver Mirage. Almost two years later, well, let's just say that it wasn't white anymore. Shout wipes didn't do the trick. Spot cleaning wasn't working. Hmmm...I am due for a repack this week. *POP* goes the reserve. I inspected the PC, bridle, freebag & reserve. I removed it from the risers, threw the metal links in the trash (I ordered reserve Slinks for my reserve) and then removed the Cypres. I rigger-rolled the reserve and put the parts in a plastic garbage bag for safe-keeping until reassembly after drying. Then I did some research on this forum for cleaning tips and decided to go with a 3-hour soak in the tub with Woolite. I used a soft-bristle brush and some un-diluted Woolite for the tough areas. After draining the tub I was shocked to see just how much dirt was hiding out in my rig. I ran it through the shower so I could rinse the loose dirt off of the rig and the tub. Then I did three thorough rinses in the tub until water poured on my Mirage ran off clear. Now, when white trim tape is wet it's gray so it's a bit hard to tell how clean I got it. I hung it up in the garage with a couple of fans blowing on it and left it for a few hours. Damn! My rig isn't clean, it's CLEAN. The white is blinding! I'm amazed. I'm happy. I've wet myself with joy. My Mirage has at least another 12-14 hours of drying ahead of it but it will be worth it. The only thing I forgot to get was some more ScotchGuard so I'll take care of that tomorrow and I should be ready to put her back together on Tuesday. If anyone had any doubts about whether Woolite is strong enough to really work, well... my radiant Mirage has the answer. Kris "Did I mention I'm happy?" Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Ugh. Strip & Twist. That's worthy of an ass-kicking if it's done by someone who is getting paid to put it in. I use heavy-duty crimp connectors for the light stuff and I use solder and heat-shrink tubing for the important / heavier gauge connections. The chain stores have pretty much ruined the art of a good install. Walk into a Best Buy or Circuit City and mention fiberglass or wood shaping to 99.5% of their installers and you'll make their heads explode. The other .5% will tell you that they wished they could show you their skills but the store loses money when they aren't slamming in decks all day. My personal best record is a 1995 Honda Accord. I did a deck & 4 speakers in 38 minutes. I also have to agree on the audiophile end. It makes me cringe when I hear a case of "boom trunk". That's the car that goes by the block with muddy bass and vibrating body panels. No mids, no highs. My personal vehicle was a work of mania. I installed 4 different brands of speakers and played with positioning for 4 days before going with my Infinity's. I like having balanced imaging. My single JL 10" sub is more than enough of a monster with the power I have running through it to hang with most shoddily installed 12" or 15" subs but it reacts faster and has a much cleaner / warmer sound. That's important to me because I listen to everything from rap to rock to alternative to techno to classical. When I listen to rap, I want to be able to feel my hair move. When I listen to classical, I want to be able to pick out that one violin in the middle of the orchestra. The purity of perfection in the install industry just isn't there the way it used to be. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

If it was just a Deck & 4 speakers I would say that you could probably tackle it yourself with the info from the links I provided or with the instructions that comes with the mounting kit & wiring harness. The amp is the sticking point...you can do a lot of electrical system damage if you don't know what you are doing. Read through the TeamROCS website I posted and then decide. The benefit of going to a shop is they have the experience and insurance. What will take you all day will take them 2-3 hours. If you mess up, you pay for it. If they mess up, they pay for it. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Granted, I do partially agree with you on the "hacks" part. But it depends on the installer. I know of several chain stores that I would not take my worst enemy's car to, but I know of a couple of installers at Best Buy who could perform a First Place winning install in a vehicle with their eyes closed. The chain stores pricing on installs is set by area and it is a great indicator of what the going rate in that city is since they also look at the pricing at the custom shops when setting their pricing. When going to an independant, I do agree on looking at their work. Their installers should have several photo albums full of examples. Also check your local BBB if the shop looks shady. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

And therin lies the catch. I used to be an MECP certified installer. Competed at IASCA, USAC...the whole bit. You are not going to be able to tap the internal wiring to supply power for that amp. You will need to feed directly from the battery and you will need to have a fuse on that line within one foot of the battery. No exceptions. This will prevent you from catching your car on fire. The internal wiring is nowhere near the gauge you will probably need and the amperage draw will be too great. You will smoke fuses...then you will try to put in bigger fuses. Then you will smoke wiring. The amplifiers I run in the back of my car have a pretty decent current draw so I run 2-gauge power wire to the distribution block in my hatch and another 2-gauge line for the ground back to the engine block. If possible, run the ground back to the actual engine block and you will never have to worry about noise in your system. If you want a decent install, expect to pay decent money for it. For an idea of typical pricing, stroll into a Best Buy or Circuit City in your town and they have the prices posted. You will probably need extra parts for the deck install and those will be the mounting kit and the wiring harness. Don't skimp on the harness, it makes it easy as pie to change decks out. For the amp, you will need the battery distribution connector, fusing, appropriate gauge power cable, RCA's, and speaker wire. A great source of information is http://www.teamrocs.com. Check out their technical articles and their links sections. Kris Deck: Pioneer Premier DEH-P740MP Aux: Apple iPod 20GB Processing: AudioControl Epicenter & AudioControl DQX Amps: Phoenix Gold Tantrum 300.2 & 400.4 Speakers: Infinity Kappa components (front & rear) Subs: JL Audio Phoenix Gold capacitor Cabling & power distribution: Phoenix Gold, Rockford Fosgate, Monster Cable Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Marianne is definitely one of the coolest women in the sport that I have met. I need to get my ass back up to Skydive Dallas so I can say hi to her again. Heh...for embarrassment factor I may just drag my copy to her and make her sign it. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Richard, This country was forged by those who threw Britain's laws out the window (actually, they symbolically threw them into the Boston Harbor) and decided to rise up and claim this land for their own. This was done in direct defiance of the laws in effect at the time. America was founded on the belief that a few rebels can make a difference. This is no clear-cut black & white issue. The shades of grey involved with this, from barely off-white to almost pitch-black, are boundless. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Wow! I had no idea I was so loved! Thanks everyone! I'm really touched! This means a lot. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Oh yes, I will definitely be there. My plane tickets are bought and confirmed. Nig-noggery will definitely be in full effect. Hell, I'm even washing my rig for the occasion! HootyHoo! Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

There is only one true answer... Apple iPod I have the 20GB one and I can't imagine life without it. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I can't even comment on this one. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Hey, I can at least act like I'm innocent. Even if you did corrupt my fragile virtues by being in your presence last August. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Not with the rack she's got going! Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

That's okay, every time I see your boyfriend's name (Phreezone), I have the sudden urge to grab a calzone. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Like you even have to ask... Nig-noggery will be in effect so hard we'll need to have a team of trained attack-mimes to sic on those who would dare disturb our groove. Heck, we'll need a lot of booze just to give to Skybytch so she'll agree to continue on as my golf-cart partner in crime. Plenty of love to go around. Plenty of love... Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

If you're really good, there might even be no-pulp OJ available to go with your cookies. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Yay! Just finished my first unit! Geez, it was a 400 chunk, that was a doozy for a first one. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Yeah, you & Lolie just had to call and remind me of what an ass I was for missing it. Sigh... I promise I'll make it up to you two at Rantoul. Kris (Off to stock up on Twirly Cookies now...) Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Sorry, wrong answer... Christmas' pagan origins Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

ROFL! I like how you look after my interests, Che'. Hotel Mex will be open all WFFC. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Sheesh. I thought we covered the personal attacks thing in the Incidents forum. And you were almost acting like a responsible member of society up until this point, Mike. If reverting to juvenile name calling is the best you can do I recommend some time with someone who is qualified to help you with your inter-personal issues. I see your future on this forum...yup, it's bleak. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Okay, one, learn how to quote so the rest of us can follow your threads. Second, illegal drug use is not a victimless crime. Just because you choose to ignore the bloody way the illegal drug regimes handle their business before their drugs get to some dealer doesn't mean that innocent people weren't hurt in the process. I'm sure the drug cartels really didn't mean to do those awful things... Yeah, right. U.S. issues first list of international drug kingpin suspects[/url [url "http://norfolk.fbi.gov/1999/99rel08.htm"]Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Death Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Only if you are doing it with your forehead... Don't ask...and don't try that stunt at home, kids. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Nah, it's not too bad. Besides, my fat ass can use the excercise. Or I'll just bring my mountain bike... Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Have another rigger look at the canopy. If the rest of the lines are in trim (or within tolerance), then just replace the control lines. As for the stitching that is coming undone, if you are talking about the stitch securing the fingertrap on the top of the lower control line (where the line is joined to the cat's eye that you put the top of your toggle through to set the brakes) then you definitely need to ground the canopy until it is fixed. If you are talking about the stitching securing the fingertrapped line that goes through the toggle, that's another matter. If it is properly knotted, that's not a problem. It's backup, and a proper knot at the toggles shouldn't slip. If it's just double-knotted, have a proper knot put on it. My toggles are only secured with a knot so that I can change the brake settings when I want, the rest is just fingertrapped with no stitching. This has held for the last 150 jumps on my canopy with no slippage at all. If the dive / turn problem is extreme enough you should also see a built-in turn to the canopy. If it isn't there, then it may be a minor issue. But, I would still have another rigger take a look at the trim. As for going to that new, faster canopy, ask yourself why? You are doing the smart thing by gaining experience on this wing. At your number of jumps it is in your best interest to learn all you can about this wing before moving to another. Until you can wring every last bit of performace out of your Sabre (and I've seen some pretty amazing things done with them) don't talk yourself into something you aren't ready for yet. Kris "Just another crummy instructor." Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™