fuzzybabybunny Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 I'm replacing lines on my Ozone B riser and it has soft links instead of standard metal mallions and it's impossible to figure out how to tie them with the rubber O-ring: http://imgur.com/HSn6dkJ I can't find any instructions on how to tie soft links with the o-ring as shown. Been here at the field now for a couple HOURS trying to tie this correctly. I really should just chuck out all the soft links and replace with metal ones. Anyway, can anyone in the know post a video? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aljken Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 Gin does one for the reserve bridle attachment. It's super easy to follow. Are the soft links on the riser similar? http://gingliders.com/harnesses/harness-accessories/carabiners/gin-soft-shackle/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aljken Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 Ah sorry, just seen your problem is mainly the O ring with the lines. Is it not possible to do it the same as with a metal maillon? It does sound like more faff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzybabybunny Posted January 1, 2017 Author Share Posted January 1, 2017 (edited) I have a Gin reserve and their soft link method is far easier than Ozone's. It's also different, at least the o-ring part, because Gin uses the o-ring to keep the soft link's knot in place while Ozone uses the o-ring for keeping the lines attached to the wing from sliding around in the soft link. I can't use the method a metal mallion would use because a metal mallion remains open during the entire process (until you're ready to close it) while the soft link wraps around twice, so it's already closed during the first wrap even if you haven't locked it closed on the second wrap. Edited January 1, 2017 by fuzzybabybunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Fuzzy I dont see why you cant use metal mallions, i recently replaced my O-rings on my Gradient golden 2 and they use exactly the same design without soft link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzybabybunny Posted January 1, 2017 Author Share Posted January 1, 2017 14 minutes ago, kiwi k said: Fuzzy I dont see why you cant use metal mallions, i recently replaced my O-rings on my Gradient golden 2 and they use exactly the same design without soft link. I can't use metal mallions because I don't have any at the moment . Otherwise I would swap all of them in. For the time being I want to figure out how to tie this soft link thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 As far as i'm aware there is No knots to tie, there's a knot 1 on one end and a loop on the other and just a case of threading 1 thru other and tighten loop. If you put up a picture of your soft link we may possible be able to see if your doing something wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzybabybunny Posted January 1, 2017 Author Share Posted January 1, 2017 30 minutes ago, kiwi k said: As far as i'm aware there is No knots to tie, there's a knot 1 on one end and a loop on the other and just a case of threading 1 thru other and tighten loop. If you put up a picture of your soft link we may possible be able to see if your doing something wrong No, there are no knots, but I can't figure out how to thread a soft link twice through an o-ring that's also holding a group of lines in place. There's an image in my original post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 when i change mine i thread a cable tie thru the centre that way they can't escape, if they were like that from original then must be do-able, and yes i looked at your picture and it looks like back end is threaded thru a loop, but without seeing a picture of soft link hard to tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Fuzzy not sure if you have seen this video, but just wondered if you do this to yours and omit the rubber rings ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aljken Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 I see what you mean - you have the added hassle of having an O-ring. I have fitted soft shackles to reserves and O-rings to maillons but never needed together, but I think this will work if you use paraglider string or cable tie: Basically you'll have to put lines through an O-ring, so it's just sat above the lines with them all passing through it. Next thread soft shackle through all line loop ends (for the 1st time). At this point thread spare piece of paraglider string so it also passes through the line loop ends and you have paraglider string plus soft shackle passing through line loops. Now bring down the O-ring and fit it so that the lines cannot move along the soft shackle -i.e so the O-ring has the 2 twists in it (like you see on a maillon. Next you need to thread soft shackle (but not the paraglider string) through the riser (the 1st time). Then pull the soft shackle then back through one side of the twisted O-ring, the line loops (the 2nd time), then back out the other side of the O-ring - you'll need to use the paraglider string to help lift the O-ring up for this. Then fix the soft shackle together and pull tight, like shown in the video. When you remove the string or cable tie, do it really slowly - you don't want to pull it through fast and burn the shackles. Let me know if this works. Cheers, Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tat415 Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 Hi, I know this is an old thread but as anyone resolved the problem of putting the O-ring over the soft link. I have just replaced an A line on my Spyder which as soft links. But for the life of me I can't get the soft link through the O-ring the second time. Even if I use the method suggested above, the soft link will not go through there is not enough room. Many thanks Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Duffy Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Would a fid be useful? That's the tool I reach for whenever I have to push rope through a small space that doesn't want to accept it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tat415 Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Hi Ace Duffy, The link to vid appears to be blocked/not working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tat415 Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 I did it but what a faff. I will probably change the soft links to malions at some stage. It just needed a bit of deteremination and hooked picked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Duffy Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 (edited) A fid is a hollow or semi-hollow pointy tube for pushing rope through places it doesn't want to go - like a second time through a tight o-ring. https://www.amazon.com/Samson-Rope-Splicing-4-Inch-2-Inch/dp/B002MC2UZW Edited November 5, 2019 by Ace Duffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ferguson Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 I use the outside of a biro pen. Push the cord up the inside at the fat end then use it like a needle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tat415 Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Thanks for the above tips. I managed to do it by using hooked pick. It was a bit of faff but doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Brick Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 (edited) I have replaced a line on my spyder and I used the method in the manual below (scroll down to near the bottom). I know it could be a little late now if you are sorted but could help someone in the future Alpina3_manual_EN_v1.pdf Edited November 5, 2019 by Blue Brick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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