Condition of vectran lines?

[wilcox 0]

Is there any way to tell if vectran lines needs to be replaced?
How do you know the condition of vectran lines without knowning the number of jumps they have?

[BIGUN 1,053]

You bet.
Hey, Rigger! Do these need to be replaced?

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[johnny1488 1]

The way I have checked lines in the past is to spread them and look inside.

If the inside of the line is still the original tan/wheat color, they are probably still good.

If the inside of the line is is grey, its probably time to get a line set.

Know that the brake lines are going to wear faster, but replacing just the brake lines is pretty easy.

Johnny
--"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!"
Mike Rome

[Deuce 1]

When the parachute is turning without input?

That's how I found out my were done. I asked why my canopies where turning and flaring like crap. How many jumps on them I was asked? "Oh".

I've had them both relined.

[crazydiver 0]

Quote

When the parachute is turning without input?

That's how I found out my were done. I asked why my canopies where turning and flaring like crap. How many jumps on them I was asked? "Oh".

I've had them both relined.

This is only true for canopies lined with shrinking or stretching line such as spectra or dacron, respectively. Vectran really doesn't change legnth at all, similar to hma in that respect, and therefore it won't go out of trim. There is nothing that would create an unecesary turn due to line life on vectran.

Cheers,
Travis

[Deuce 1]

Whoops, Spectra, then.

Thanks. So how often does Vectran need to be replaced then, since it doesn't stretch or shrink?

[ernokaikkonen 0]

"When it wears out". Helpful, isn't it.

It's impossible to give exact figures as the wear depends on so many factors, but a good starting point would be "Change steering lines at 300 jumps, and the whole line set at 600".

YMMV; I've heard of Vectran line sets lasting well over a 1000 jumps.

[crazydiver 0]

Vectran turns grey very quickly, but its not really wear that does it. Frying is one of hte best indicators as to when to replace them and how far the fraying goes inside the line too.

Cheers,
Travis

[bob.dino 0]

So, if it's fraying out the outside, look at the inside, and if that too is fraying, replace the lines?

[johnny1488 1]

If its fraying, it might need to be raplaced (ie brake lines).

The rest of the line set probably won't fray that much. It will just turn grey. That's when you look inside for the tan/wheat color. If its there and the line looks structurally good, I would say its good.

If it looks structural but is no longer tan on the inside, I would think about replacing it.

I myself will continue to jump a line set a long time, as long as the brake lines are good, go to town.

But if you want to know when you should get a line set, this method works pretty well.

Johnny
--"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!"
Mike Rome

[bob.dino 0]

Thanks.