dpreguy 14 #1 November 16, 2011 I teach some rigging students and would like to show them a Precision soft link. I have PD's and Aerodyne's in the loft to show, but have never seen a Precision soft link. Do they have one? If so, Could someone post a picture of one? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #2 November 16, 2011 It's sortof the same as a PdF one, it has the same metal ring, but the line bit is longer. Since for some reason I ended up with a softlink set of 2 PdF ones plus 2 Precision ones, I kinda noticed the difference I haven't got them anymore so can't post a pic. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
captain_stan 0 #3 November 16, 2011 AKA "Wrap-It" links. I can email an image of an instruction sheet printed-out from a download from PA's website years ago. Too big a file to post here, but PM me if you'd like this sent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,048 #4 November 16, 2011 Hi dpre, It has been some time since I looked at their instructions but I do believe that Precision's WrapIts go around three times vs the twice around for Slinks. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 8 #5 November 16, 2011 Quote but I do believe that Precision's WrapIts go around three times vs the twice around for Slinks. I got into a debate at the DZ this last weekend because this is what I thought too, but a few other riggers are of the belief that Precision's WrapIts go around 4 times..I need to research this myself...=========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,048 #6 November 16, 2011 Hi dpre ( again ), You might also have them study this: http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk/cms/index.php?/files/file/2780-dinx-soft-linkspdf/ JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
captain_stan 0 #7 November 17, 2011 OK, I found it online here: http://www.precision.aero/Wrap-It/wrap-itv3.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dpreguy 14 #8 November 17, 2011 Thanks for the pictures. I just had never seen one before. Pretty much the same as Aerodyne, I guess, except it goes around three times. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #9 November 17, 2011 while we're on the subject, does anyone know who makes this link?"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,048 #10 November 17, 2011 Hi bunky, That does look like a Precision WrapIt link. But I would like to see it stretched out to know more. Just my thought . . . JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
precision 0 #11 November 19, 2011 Precision "Wrap-It" Links have been around for quite a few years. They do indeed wrap three turns instead of 2 turns like the Slinks. The Precision "Wrap-It" Links can be identified by the blue striker in the Spectra braid. The Precision "Wrap-It" Links are much stronger than PD Slinks (see attached graph). The data supporting the graph is: Breaking Strength Lbs Precision PD Wrap It Links Slinks Test 1 3810 3750 Test 2 4530 3630 Test 3 3880 3190 Test 4 3890 3830 Average 4028 3600 Difference 428 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #12 November 19, 2011 It looks like, in the photo, the soft link shown has a ring as the tab. I will go on the record again to say that I think any soft link with a loop/ring/keychain/etc as the "tab" is prone to a hard to see rigging error. In inspection of a rig I had a canopy fall off in my hands because the person who hooked it up put the loop end thru the ring then around the ring - instead of thru the link then around the ring. Under tension - it almost looked correct and was hard to spot. Under slack, it fell apart. There is a simple solution - at no added cost. Use a cypres washer as the tab, or some other solid object, like a dime, with a hole drilled in it. The solid material, as found on the PD Slinks, makes it impossible to put the loop "thru the ring". I believe PD has a patent on the fabric tab, but do they prohibit a cypres washer to be used? Oh, BTW - it was a reserve that fell off in my hands on inspection. I have posted about it before, a few years back, with photos, if you want to search. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 261 #13 November 20, 2011 Quote I will go on the record again to say that I think any soft link with a loop/ring/keychain/etc as the "tab" is prone to a hard to see rigging error. Hmm, it is at least worth a close inspection. I also once found a reserve with that "free end through the ring" error, done by a well respected local rigger the first time he encountered such soft links. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 93 #14 November 20, 2011 QuoteQuote I will go on the record again to say that I think any soft link with a loop/ring/keychain/etc as the "tab" is prone to a hard to see rigging error. Hmm, it is at least worth a close inspection. I also once found a reserve with that "free end through the ring" error, done by a well respected local rigger the first time he encountered such soft links. It would be interesting to know how much that error affects the "strength", whether the tab vs ring design is different, and if it changes depending on where the tab/ring is located. It might be surprisingly strong, which would be nice for the designs to be fairly tolerant of that error.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dpreguy 14 #15 November 20, 2011 To all: Reserves: W/o checking, I guess the Precision version is only approved by Precision for it's own Reserves, PD's Slinks for PD reserves, Aerodyne's for theirs, etc yadda.? Am I right on this? Mains: I'm not sure if mfg's care, as there are many main parachute mfg's that don't make their own soft links. The installer, rigger, (Am I correct?; new FAA reg now says the jumper can't do this install by himself if he's not a rigger?) installs a soft link on a main canopy, relying on it's TSO as part of general TSO C23C category B or C?? Then, if an accident occurs, and the post-accident equipment inspection shows that, for example: A PD soft link -Slink- was on a, oh ...say an Icarus main Crossfire canopy(example only). Even if that soft link had nothing to do with that accident? Thoughts? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,048 #16 November 20, 2011 Hi dpre, Quotean accident occurs, and the post-accident equipment inspection The local FAA has contacted me a number of times to look at the gear after a local fatality. The only thing that they have ever asked me to look at was if the reserve was in date or not. Nothing else. IMO this is because they ( the FAA folks ) really know nothing about gear & rely on the rigger who packed it last as being 'their' inspector. YMMV JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #17 November 22, 2011 Be careful which soft links you install on reserves, because not all are approved for reserves. For example: Performance Designs makes two versions of their "Slink": main and reserve. Only install reserve Slinks on reserves. Similarly, knotted/tied (reuseable) soft links from a couple of manufacturers (Hiper and Flight Concepts) were never certified for reserve use. By "knotted" I mean that they only have large, ugly knots on their ends ... no metal rings or tabs of sewn tape. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
