Stroud Chute

[lake_harley]

I picked up a Stroud chute at a swap meet last week. The lines and chute are all in very good condition as far as I can determine just by my novice inspection, but I do have some confusion about it.

On Stroud's website there are several videos of chute packing and maintenance, but the chute I have seems different that what is shown in the videos and diagrams in that the deployment bag and pilot chute are attached as one unit by flat nylon straps rather than them being separate pieces with the deployment spring being between the pilot and the deployment bag. The chute didn't come with a chute pack or deployment spring. In the case of the deployment bag and pilot chute being one unit, would a  deployment spring be the first thing into the chute pack and it would eject the whole works out together, or how would that be set up?

I plan to call Stroud and perhaps send photos and likely ship the chute to them to inspect and complete it, but in the meantime could someone satisfy my curiosity about how my chute might all go together?

Thanks.

Lynn

[Supercat]

Pilot chute and spring are generally first out so last in when packing.
I have only had Simpson and Deist chutes no Stoud so may be different?

[msundstrom]

The chute is packed into the bag that has a strap running through it and is attached to the spring/pilot chute. Bag is placed into the chute bag and coil the strap on the bag and place the spring/ pilot chute on top of that and lace the 4 chute bag flaps shut. I have never had mine not deploy correctly.

[wideopen231]

Almost sounds like a chute designed for a air plunger for deployment. Most have no spring. the solenoid throws the chute into the air and as bg separates it opens chute. I have a homemade version on my fed ,but can not say how it works YET,

[lake_harley]

wideopen231....I was thinking the same thing, that it might have been set up for a air launcher, or wasn't there a spring launcher version that had the spring in a "can" built into the front of the chute pack? I don't know what the cost would be, but I'm going to talk with Stroud about buying a new deployment bag and spring loaded pilot chute with the bridle, and also a chute pack since I didn't get one with the chute. I'll see how the cost compares with a new, complete chute system. The chute I have was given to me at the swap meet after I bought a few other items from the kind seller.

I will put a chute on the car but with 1300' of shut down area on an 1/8 Mi. track I don't know if it will need to be used. I'm thinking (per online racing calculators) the trap speed will only be about 100MPH with my modest HP engine.

Lynn

[noslin]

 on a standard setup it is just exactly as msundstrom stated. i have only had strouds and i like them.  a buddy packs his without the containment bag.  neither one of us has had any issues.  i have always used the bag.  its not a big deal to pack and is simple to do.  Stroud has a video on how to pack the chutes on their website. 
dean

[Supercat]

Lynn the nice thing about a chute is, at a point of concern it can be deployed,  and stop/slow you. Safer than using the brakes in an emergency.  I have hit the chutes 2 times under full power, as not to unload the car, making the situation worse.
1 time for extreme tire shake to straighten out the car, almost a barrel roll moment...
The other) right rear tire belt separation at 230mph, 1000ft, left lane. The left wall comes quickly. Stayed off the wall because of the chute deployment, but it was close .

Always have a chute and know where the release is.... Practice this as even at the level you are building, things happen real fast.
Keep having fun

[wideopen231]

If allowed by rules. I run a oh shyt button. Basically, a button that activates the solenoid that deploys the cute. Mine now is T'd to a air line running to solenoid that deploys chute as it slams the manual handle pulling the cable.It use to just slam manul lever and open chute. I may be proven wrong and not like it, but I think it will be great. The electric/air solenoid is pre wired so I can put it on a timer if want.In case of rough track where I know its likely to be needed I can just have it open at stripe. I can also hit button and dump earlier if needed.

 Biggest benifit is chute out while 2 hands on wheel and attention on why I am opening.

[lake_harley]

Thanks for all of the input and comments. I talked with a lady at Stroud this morning and if I described the arrangement of my chute well enough she too thought it was set up as an "air deployed" unit. I already packed it (no pun intended) and shipped it to Stroud for inspection, evaluation and, if it checks out OK, retro-fitting with a spring-deploy pilot chute and providing the chute pack which I don't have at all. Estimated total would be around $250, which is about half of a new chute so I'm pretty happy about my swap meet find.

BTW....I found several other things I needed and wanted at the swap meet. It was the Pate Swap Meet held lst week at Texas Motor Speedway near Ft. Worth. Heading to another swap meet at Franklin, IN in about 3 weeks. Maybe I'll find some more FED appropriate parts and pieces.

Lynn