JLCR and Rocketman parachute packing.

[Tractionengines]

Ok. JLCR and "standard" flat-sheet rip-stop parachute and braided nylon lines is no problem. Lots of ways to pack, no issues passing "shake test"...and "puff test"....
But I now have a few Rocketman parachutes. 3', 4', & 5'. These only have 4 shroud lines made of 3/16 tubular nylon. trying to figure out how to pack, them. It's not working. No matter how tight I get it, or which layer I pack the shroud lines into. It partially failes shake test. The shrouds work themselves out over 30 seconds of vigorous shaking.
So I am looking at 2 things.
1) Any recommendations on how to get them to stay in the bundle?
2) What about leaving them out of the bundle, and letting them extend to full length right away. Just have JLCR hold the chute closed. Thoughts ?

 

[JimByrne]

Rubber bands around the shroud lines works

 

[crossfire]

I switch my JLCR to .75" elastic in place of the rubber band. So much eaiser to adjust it from one chute size to another. A few weeks ago I used it on a 50" Recon chute from Wildman. The elastic worked great I will never go back to the rubber bands.

 

[teepot]

I have silicon bands of different lengths. You could try to bury the shroud lines deep in the folds.

 

[Tractionengines]

I tried "hair tie" and elastic strip on the JLCR. Even VERY tight (to the point the pin didn't release), when shaken the lines would work out more than I expected.

Has anyone left lines out of the bundle, and just let the restrained chute flap around at full extension until release altitude?

 

[crossfire]

I tried "hair tie" and elastic strip on the JLCR. Even VERY tight (to the point the pin didn't release), when shaken the lines would work out more than I expected.

Has anyone left lines out of the bundle, and just let the restrained chute flap around at full extension until release altitude?

I have never had an issue when wrapping lines with in the chute in the bundle. There should really he nothing pulling on shroud lines

 

[bobbyg23]

I have never had an issue when wrapping lines with in the chute in the bundle. There should really he nothing pulling on shroud lines

Same here.

 

[David Schwantz]

I use my JLCR on a 9' Rocketman chute. It is a NASA style one though. My lines are folded up in a gore and back down a different gore.

 

[bobbyg23]

When I pack my chute, it lays flat and folds over so it is skinny and long. I put the lines up on the chute and then fold the sides over the lines. The tip then gets folded down to the base and then repeated. This way the lines are inside the chute and do not pull out.

 

[Tractionengines]

THANK YOU ALL. will try a few more arrangements.

 

[John Beans]

When I pack my chute, it lays flat and folds over so it is skinny and long. I put the lines up on the chute and then fold the sides over the lines. The tip then gets folded down to the base and then repeated. This way the lines are inside the chute and do not pull out.

I like this method.

Here’s me doing pretty much that on a smaller chute, so that the JLCR’s job is just to prevent unrolling, not prevent shrouds from spilling out.

 

[bobbyg23]

I like this method.

Here’s me doing pretty much that on a smaller chute, so that the JLCR’s job is just to prevent unrolling, not prevent shrouds from spilling out.

Yup. The cr tether should not have any pressure on it really. Just there to keep it with the rocket after opening. The cr is just there to hold it closed like you said.

 

[Dane Ronnow]

Rubber bands around the shroud lines works

+1 -- I use orthodontic rubber bands from Sonic Dental:
https://www.sonicdentalsupply.com/pages/elastic-size-information
I use 3/8" light. They work great on my chute, which has 12 1.8mm braided nylon shroud lines.

 

[jd2cylman]

I switch my JLCR to .75" elastic in place of the rubber band. So much eaiser to adjust it from one chute size to another. A few weeks ago I used it on a 50" Recon chute from Wildman. The elastic worked great I will never go back to the rubber bands.

Gary, .75" elastic like shock cords used to be made out of?

 

[crossfire]

Gary, .75" elastic like shock cords used to be made out of?

You are so right young man. But it worked very well on the JLCR. Much better than rubber band. Its very easy to adjust it. I like it. To each their own.

 

[jd2cylman]

You are so right young man. But it worked very well on the JLCR. Much better than rubber band. Its very easy to adjust it. I like it. To each their own.

Thanks Gary. I think I still have a spool(!) of that in the basement somewhere...

 

[MikeyDSlagle]

Try it with the shroud lines not inside the chute, as you say. Bundle only the chute with the JLCR and then do the shake test, see what it does.

I've had one chute shake loose and that was recently, it may have been a Rocketman but don't remember.