Just as an aside I used to use a set of otfur rings
for ground towing. I now use just a loop of rope. It
is surprising how much wear is put into the release
hook by ground towing if metal rings are used.

DAJ

At 02:30 21 July 2004, Nowhere wrote:
Thank you everyone for your help.

I don't actually own a Libelle (got an ASW15, no problem
with weak
links but I have to have the insides of the spars looked
at with a
borescope every year!)I'm just the person in the club
who makes and
maintains our towropes and links so I was asked about
this by one of
our members who does have a Libelle. I thought his
releases were
overhauled just this winter. Now I'm not sure so I'll
check with him.
I didn't think it was the release mechanism itself
which is a problem
because the immediately observable problem was the
binding on the
fibreglass, not in the actual hook. Now I'm going to
check on this
more carefully.

We did have some of the older style when I first took
on the job of
making the weak links but we seem to be very adept
at losing several
weak links a year. The rare older style being the
first to be lost
naturally.

I WON'T use chain myself (I'll never make a weak link
with anything
but the proper Tost or Schweizer part for the reasons
enumerated in
your messages) and all of our club equipment is made
with the correct
parts but I have seen gliders towed by a weak link
which was two links
of hardware store chain on the end of a rope. All the
links I make for
the club are made with the proper Tost or Schweizer
rings (bought them
all from Wings and Wheels and have to buy another batch
so I'll be
calling soon Tim) depending upon which glider they're
intended for.

I'll try to see what I can do about tracking down
the service
bulletin about enlarging the aperature to cure the
problem.

Thanks guys, I was at a dead end there and you've
given me some more
leads to a possible solution.