P-link investigation and SURPRISE

PerPedersen · Post by **PerPedersen** » Mon 28 Jan 19, 17:34

Hi all.

Just wanted to share this. Just recently bought a DF800 FW. Fore and side stays replaced during the last two years, so that's OK.

Wondered about the p-link at the top of the mast. The link is carrying the load from the fore and side stays and the back stays as well.

Looked OK, but since I don't know how old it is, I looked for a replacement anyway.

Got the details from the producers home page and compared to mine.

BIG surprise! Mine was 4 mm longer and 2 mm smaller than specifications! So this link, that is cert. to 1100 kg and have a breaking point of 5500 kg, has been stretched by the heavy load over time.

Needless to say, a new one is ordered.

Recommendation, I believe, is to change every 10 years.

Have you checked yours??

gminkovsky · Post by **gminkovsky** » Tue 29 Jan 19, 16:20

Can you post a picture please. I am not exactly sure what a p-link is. Is it possibly the same as quick link, e.g.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Hillman ... /203810392

Thanks.

PerPedersen · Post by **PerPedersen** » Tue 29 Jan 19, 18:36

gminkovsky wrote:Can you post a picture please. I am not exactly sure what a p-link is. Is it possibly the same as quick link, e.g.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Hillman ... /203810392

Thanks.

Close but it's pear chaped:

http://www.peguet.fr/self-certified-mai ... lon-rapide

moilanen.a · Post by **moilanen.a** » Thu 09 Jan 20, 20:43

I wouldn't be worried about the quick link or the P-link but the mast fitting which is common problem with all older dragonflies with rotating mast.

The hole in the fitting stretches to oval shape and there is really not much room for this stretch.
Simple fix is to weld shackle to the outern edge of the fitting. We had this done two times in 5years on DF800
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vu3ewm5wcu9ie ... 0.jpg?dl=0

Please also note that either P-link or quick link (which we had there originally) is not optimal fitting there. You should replace it with D-shackle(s) instead and put some spacers between to stop the movement of the D-shackle.