Hooknswoop

For those of you with a Cypres1, do you know how many jumps are on your current batteries? Derek

And another example of people not maintianing their gear. I can;t count the number of times people bring me their rig for a re-pack and the Cypres or Cypres batts are expiring before the next re-pack and need maint/replacing and the owner didn't know. Derek

OK, I have a 1996 Ford Ranger, 2.3L 4cyl. I have replaced: Spark plugs and wires Mass Air Flow Sensor TPS Oil/Oil Filter EGR Valve 2x O2 Sensors Purge Valve Canister Soleniod and switch assembly Air Filter It has an intermittent problem. it will idle very rough, thenif I take the thorttle to the floor it will surge-idle-surge-idle-surge-idle-run normally. It will then run fine for a while, then, usually at a stop light, run rough and go through the surge-idle process with the pedal to the floor, then run normal for a while again. It seems to happen mostly right at start. The CHK ENG light is not on. It was on, but the plug on the EGR DPFE was loose from replacing the EGR valve and it went out. I think it could be: Idle Air control valve EGR vacuum soleniod Coolent temp switch or sensor Any ideas? Derek

Yes, 25 deployments or 40 re-packs. Derek

Yes, it would, hence the disconnect that would necessary. Of course after the first ripcord failed bacause the disconnect failed, the ripcords would be grounded. The ripcord cable isn't affected by dirt/dust/whatever like the cutaway cables are. Derek

The kit RI sells will take the soft housings to full housings. I don't think they sell a kit to go from soft to hybrid. As long as you are getting it fixed, might as well get the best. Derek

I think because the reserve cable is steel and not lolon, it isn't affected by being dirty nearly as much. Derek

Cleaning the cables with silicone. Yes, to expose the cables so that you can clean them. Yes, not a big for almost all containers. I see you have a Talon. Some Talon have soft housings (my first rig did). This is bad and should be replaced, RI sells a kit for this. Soft housings contribute to hard cutaways, especially if the cables are dirty. Some Talons have a hybrid, hard and soft housings. These are better, but should still be upgraded to full hard housings. Hybrid housings and dirty cables are a recipe for a hard cutaway. Lastly is is full hard housings, the current industry standard. With full hard housings, it is very easy to put the cables back in their housings. Flexing the cables isn't an issue, flexing the 3-rings is. Good, the more you know, the better. It is a good idea to have a rigger double check that sort of thing until you are confident and have done it a few times. Derek

From what I have seenm people don't take good acer of their gear w/ the 120-re-pack cycle. If there is an issue, they either don't notice or wait till the nest inspection/re-pack to get it looked at. Gear has gotten better over the years, but people make more jumps in 120-days than they used to also. A 100-jumps or 180-days, whichever comes first would be cool, but most people wouldn't count the jumps and would just wait till 180-days. How many people make sure they replace their Cypres batteries after 500 jumps or 2 years, whichever comes first? Just ask someone that jumps a lot how many jumps they have on their Cypres batteries. Derek

I think this is closer to the truth since I rarely see a rig before it is due for re-pack, regardless of when an issue cropped up. Derek

Yes. Even though Bill Booth has said it isn't really necessary, I do notice a difference when the risers haven't been flex in a while in how they release. Derek

Dust, humidity, rubbing against the housings while carring the gear bag/rig, etc, I guess. They are usually dirty on brand new containers. Derek

It certainly does say that. It also says the flex the 3-rings though. I'll stick with recommending 30-days between cutaway cable cleanings. Here in CO, they can get dirty that quick. I'm sure other places are like that too. Doesn't hurt to keep them extra clean. Derek

I missed that, link or something? Derek

It is funny that they are proud of their disdane for the rules, but then cry foul when the city doesn't follow the rules. Pot, meet kettle. How ya like it? Derek

So don't flex them. Again, I am not saying you don't take good care of your gear. I am saying most people don't. Look at the results from the 30-day cleaning cutaway cables poll. 3/4 of the responders don't clean their cutaway cables every 30 days. It takes 5 minutes and can make a huge difference. Most people don't do it, either from ignorance or just couldn't be bothered. Derek

It is a matter of opinion what "completely submerged" and "agitated or moved much while wet" exactly means. sounds like if only part of the canopy got wet and wasn't moved/agitated, no permeability check is required. Let's count this poll as meeting the completely submerged or agitated while wet criteria.

Ya, that was more about spinning the rings. From releasing 3-rings, I notice a difference, on the ground anyways, between risers that have been recently flexed and those that haven't. They will still work, but they work a little better when they have been flexed. Either way, the cutaway cables need to be cleaned. Derek

And I told you: "It is well known that dirty cutaway cables contribute to hard cutaways and risers that have taken a 'set' are slower to release (think bag lock)." Like I already said: "They get dirty over time, not jumps. In other words, they don't stay clean if you don't jump." Derek

The manual says: 1) The canopy is completely submerged in water it must be sent in for a permeability test and, 2) If the canopy fabric has been agitated or moved around much while wet, the fabric must be tested for permeability, before it is returned to service. Derek

Some people take extremely good care of their rigs. The FAR has to be based on the mean average though. I get some rigs in that would be fine every 6+ months because they are in great shape, the owner takes great care of it, and they will bring it in before a re-pack is due if something needs attantion. They are in the minority though. Derek

Mini-risers do need to be flexed. That is not what I said. I said people that don't clean their cutaway cables, flex their 3-rings, replace their closing loops, get repairs done promptly, etc don't take good care of their gear. So, a poll on DZ.com would be skewed towards more people that take care of their gear? So far 75% of the people responding (that in your opinion are more likely to take care of their gear) don't clean their cutaway cables every 30-days as recommended by Bill Booth. I have a web page with all sorts of gear tips on it, along with "Derek's Gear Tips", here on DZ.com. Jumpers do not take good care of their gear and extending the re-pack cycle would make it worse. Like I posted earlier, I would be in favor of an outside inspection requirement every 120-days, that may include a re-pack if necessary, and a 180-day re-pack inspection cycle. But going to 180-days between visits to a rigger is asking for trouble because of the lack of attention jumpers pay to their gear. Derek

If you have gotten your PD reserve wet (by wet, I mean completely submerged or moved/agitated while wet), did you send it back to PD for a permability test? Derek

Bill Booth, inventor of the 3-ring and owner of RWS thinks you should. It is well known that dirty cutaway cables contribute to hard cutaways and risers that have taken a 'set' are slower to release (think bag lock). Derek

I wouldn't say that if you don't clean your cables every 30-days you trash your gear, but you don't care for it as well as you should. A lot of people don't clean them at all, letting their rigger do it. Extgending the re-pack cycle would extend things like that, including replacing closing loops, flexing the 3-rings, and repairs that need to be done. Depending on the enviroment, 4 months w/o cleaning the cables can contribute to a hard cutaway. Going 6 months without cleaning the cables is begging for a hard cutaway. I stand by what I said, most people don't take good care of their gear. Extending the re-pack cycle will extend the time that the gear sees any maintenance, preventive or otherwise. Derek