Charly Pin Lock Karabiner

Charly / Finsterwalder Pin Lock karabiners are compatible with all conventional paraglider harnesses.

Drop-forged, not bent from round rods and subsequently embossed as are conventional paraglider karabiners.

Self securing quickpins, long been used by various glider manufacturers. More than 1 million Finsterwalder quickpins in failure-free operation.

Made from the same materials as highly loaded aircraft and rocket components.

Weighs approximately a third of stainless steel.

Weight 80 grams each.

Quickpin security line made from high quality nylon, developed for deep offshore fishing by the company Du Pont.

Finsterwalder / Charly Pin Lock Karabiner > Features 
 
1. Quickpin

Self securing quickpins have been in use for many years in aviation construction. Our quickpins have long been used by various glider manufacturers and utilised for the control bar corners and for the pilot hang in. In the branch of rehabilitation technology more than 1 million of our quickpins are in failure-free operation.

2. Karabiner housing

Pin Lock karabiners are drop-forged, and not bent from round rods and subsequently embossed as are conventional paraglider karabiners.

Whilst bending generally tends to lead to a weakening of the material, drop-forging results in a high material solidification.

The strength of the titanal used lies in the range of good stainless steel, weighs however only approximately a third. This material is also used in highly loaded aircraft and rocket components. 
 
3. Security line

The security line of the quickpin is made from high quality nylon, developed for deep offshore fishing by the company Du Pont.

The security line is replaceable. When correctly inserted and used, it will last for years. 

Finsterwalder / Charly Pin Lock Karabiner > Loading Capacity

Breaking load 2500 kg by a weight of 80 g. That means a weight saving of 100–120g on the harness compared to one with steel karabiners.

Average value of fatigue endurance proven with 425 Kg.

Paragliding karabiners in use are loaded and unloaded varyingly - depending on pilot weight thermal and way of flying this load can lie between 10 and 110 kg and more.

For conventional karabiners in the area of gate play average values of fatigue endurance of only 45-90 kg were ascertained. To be able to exclude brakages due to material fatigue, the points of actuation by gravity of the karabiners currently in use have to be proved. But until now, the karabiner manufactuers had not been up to that.

Finsterwalder / Charly Pin Lock Karabiner > Handling

The attachment of the Pin Lock karabiner to the paraglider risers is similar to conventional karabiners.

The quickpin is self locking.

There are two safety steps preventing unintentional opening: The pressing of the release button and the pulling of the pin in the opposite direction.

The separating of the risers after landing is simpler with the Pin Lock.

In order to assure that the risers are attached properly during strong wind conditions the harness should be kept connected with the paraglider whilst putting on the leg straps. This applies for conventional karabiners as well as for Pin Lock karabiners.

By paying attention to the instruction manual, problems with freezing up can be avoided even severe winter conditions.

Finsterwalder / Charly Pin Lock Karabiner > Safety

The Pin Lock has separate harness chambers. Transverse loading is thus avoided.

The quickpin is integrated in the karabiner in such a way as to eliminate the possibility of paraglider lines becoming caught up.

Finsterwalder / Charly Pin Lock Karabiner > Replacement Range

We guarantee a service life for the Pin Lock of 8–10 years as long as the karabiner is not used in aggressive environments like salt water or sea air.

Price is for one karabiner.