FITTING A REPLACEMENT LINE
PARAGLIDER LINE FITTING (Do-It-Yourself)
Damaging a paraglider line can be so frustrating when you realize it needs to be replaced before you can safely fly again. And we all know that sending your wing to a service shop can become time consuming and quite costly. Especially when you consider that you will be paying extra for the line installation and wing shipping costs in both directions. Of course, this all can be avoided if you mail-order the line and install it yourself. Paraglider line fitting is something that can be done by most pilots given enough time, space and patience.
While there are money savings and time advantages to this approach, there are three (3) pitfalls you need to become aware of. Note that it is best to read these pitfalls first and only review the underlined video links, down at the very bottom, if you still do not understand fully on what to do.
1. THE FIRST PITFALL TO AVOID
Make sure you name exactly which individual line segment is damaged or broken to the paraglider service shop. To do this, just review your wing's Rigging Diagram (aka Line Map, Line Plan), in its user manual. Often, you can download the wing's user manual from the manufacturer's website. These rigging diagrams will denote a line designator or line map code for each and every individual line segment. However, double check your damaged line's placement in relationship to the rigging diagram to be absolutely sure you obtained the correct line map code. Please keep in mind that the line map codes may use letters that are case sensitive, numbers and roman numerals. Be exact to obtain your desired lines from any paraglider service shop.
2. THE SECOND PITFALL TO AVOID
Before you replace the damaged line, make sure the new line's length is fitted, or looped down with an appropriate line loop, to match the damaged line's length you are replacing. To simplify this process, first, secure the risers. Then, secure the new line's end within the desire location (riser's maillon link, riser's soft link, line-to-line connection point). With the new line, match the existing line's maillon loop on the damaged line and pull the lines side by side by hand with equal tension (roughly 5kg or 11 lbs.) to compare their lengths. If you find that the new replacement line is slightly longer than the old existing line (or its corresponding one on the opposite side) then you should do the same as we would in the workshop and fit or loop the line down appropriately. The loops to choose from are pictured in the last sections below.
3. THE THIRD PITFALL TO AVOID
After fitting the new line, double check that it is in the correct location and not crossing another row or line inappropriately. That is worth checking right after fitting the line and again when you inflate your wing next, as part of your pre-flight inspection, just before flying.
CONCLUSION
Bear in mind that manufacturers specify a tolerance of (+/-) 10mm for the overall line lengths from riser maillon link to the surface of the wing, but that is primarily intended to allow variation in lengths that arise in use, and not from manufacturing inaccuracies. For example, when we make a replacement line in the workshop, our standard is within 1mm of specification. However, the manufacturer's tolerances show you there is leeway here if the replacement line differs slightly more in length.
CAUTION: Paraglider's line lengths change due to aging and external influences. Thus, we always recommend a trim tuning when replacing four or more lines.
TRAINING VIDEOS
Attached are a few underlined video links that can help you out substantially:
MAILLON LOOP SEQUENCE OR THE SHORTENING ORDER
CLOSE UP VIEW OF SOME MAILLON LOOPS
