PARAGLIDER LINE FIT (DIY)

Paraglider line installation (also known as Line Fit) is a task that most pilots can handle with sufficient time, space, and patience. It can be incredibly frustrating to discover that a paraglider line is damaged and needs replacement before you can fly safely again. Moreover, sending your paraglider to a service shop can be time-consuming and quite costly, especially when factoring in additional costs for the line installation and shipping in both directions. Fortunately, you can avoid these costs by ordering the paraglider lines online and performing the installation yourself.

While this approach saves both time and money, there are three (3) pitfalls to be aware of.

1. **THE FIRST PITFALL TO AVOID:**

Be precise in identifying which specific line segment is damaged or broken. Review your glider's rigging diagram (also referred to as the Line Map or Line Plan) found in its user manual. Many manufacturers provide downloadable manuals on their websites, featuring rigging diagrams that designate a line reference code for each individual line segment. Always double-check the location of your damaged line against this diagram to ensure you obtain the correct line map code. Note that line map codes may be case sensitive and utilize letters, numbers, and Roman numerals, so accuracy is key!

To obtain further essential data on the paraglider lines (such as line type and length) at a discounted price when ordering online, visit the manufacturer's website and look in the "Download" section for your specific model and paraglider size. If not available, contact the manufacturer directly by email or their website’s contact form.

2. **THE SECOND PITFALL TO AVOID:**

Before replacing the damaged paraglider line, ensure that the new line's length matches the damaged line's length precisely, or is looped down with an appropriate line loop. To make this easier, first secure the risers. Then, attach the end loop of the new line within the correct riser maillon or soft link (making sure it matches the existing maillon loop on the damaged line) and pull both lines side by side with equal tension (approximately 5 kg or 11 lbs.) to compare lengths. It's common to find that the replacement line is slightly longer; if so, proceed to fit or loop the line down appropriately, as shown in the images in the next section.

Keep in mind that all lines will shrink unless the wing is under power or frequently towed up. Typically, the most significant shrinkage will occur at the beginning of a line's life span, with the process stabilizing afterwards, but still continuing at a slower rate. Dyneema lines can shrink noticeably within their first 50 hours of use, while Aramid (commonly known as Technora or Kevlar) lines may start to shrink around 100 hours. However, both types can shrink more than expected when exposed to water, ocean air, high humidity, and extreme temperatures.

Remember, fitting a new paraglider line isn't merely a matter of ensuring it's the same length as the old one. If you simply replicate the old line's length, expect the new line to shrink, similar to its predecessor. Consequently, within the next 50-100 hours, the new line will be significantly shorter than the existing line set, which has already shrunk and stabilized. This leads to the need for another replacement later on.

To address the issue of line shrinkage, if your glider has less than 150 hours of use, order replacement lines at the original factory length. You can then fit the new line with a suitable loop at the riser maillon or during the line-to-line connection to reduce the factory length to match the old line. Images of various loops are available in the next section below.

If your glider has over 150 hours, I recommend taking the existing line length and adding 5-10mm. However, you will need to measure the damaged line or its counterpart for this adjustment. Click on the underlined term for a video on "Measuring to replace a damaged line."

For mid-lines or upper line replacements, the fit is generally less concerning since these shorter lines shrink much less. However, if there is a notable length discrepancy, ensure you add an appropriate loop in the line-to-line connection. Lastly, during the next scheduled trim tuning of the glider, the added loop(s) will be re-evaluated and adjusted accordingly.

While there are various types of loops utilized in the industry, the ones shown below are among the simplest to create and function well on the riser maillons (shackles) and at line-to-line connections. Keep in mind that the effect of these loops can vary; examples include tandems, paramotor wings, and risers with soft shackles (link lites), where the impact of any loop can be more pronounced. Conversely, smaller diameter lines and shackles typically exhibit a lesser effect.

If your glider employs Link Lites (soft shackles) for line connections to the risers, we have included Ozone's directions at the bottom for proper opening and closing procedures.

3. **THE THIRD PITFALL TO AVOID:**

After fitting the new line, double-check that it is positioned correctly and not crossing over another line improperly. It’s essential to verify this again during your pre-flight inspection when you inflate your wing before taking to the skies.

**CONCLUSION:**

Remember that manufacturers allow a tolerance of +/- 10 mm for overall line lengths from the maillon to the surface of the wing, mainly to accommodate variations during usage rather than discrepancies in manufacturing. For instance, in my workshop, I aim for replacement lines to be within 1 mm of specifications. Nonetheless, factory tolerances demonstrate that there's some leeway if the replacement line varies slightly in length.

**CAUTION:**

Paraglider lines inevitably change in length due to aging and external influences. Therefore, I always advise performing a trim tuning when replacing four or more lines.

**VIDEO LINKS:**

A. Beginners: Overall line repair process.

B. Main or lower line replacement video.

C. Measuring to replace a damaged line.

D. Adjusting lengths on new mid or upper lines.

E. Paraglider layout for line replacements.