Popped a main grip link in flight - E7

[Aterren]

A few weeks ago I had the swash side of the main grip link pop in flight.   Fortunately I kept it out of the 6' tall corn field and only damaged skids the 52T tail drive gear.
I would say my good luck continues.

Now for a question: why?   I did a thorough pre flight including giving the head / links a good tug.   The links were new maybe 100 flights ago.   I was running ~2050 RPM and the link popped as I rolled aggressively on the down line of a big cuban eight.  It was an agressive roll using full stick travel (vbar, 8 degrees, 100 pct agility, 30 pct paddle sim).   

What are your thoughts / experiences / recommendations?  Should i be replacing my links more often?  Did I get too agressive? 

Thanks!
Adrien

[curmudgeon]

Sorry about the crash.  It's very unnerving when a crash is due to a mechanical failure.  Is it possible you may have Boto-Sized that particular link a little too loose?

[Mike Spano]

Sounds like that may have been what happened. Just one turn too many with the sizer. Glad to hear that you saved it as well as you did though!

[Aterren]

Yes, I suppose that is possible.  I have always sized so they just fall under their own weight.  Is that looser than you guys go?


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[curmudgeon]

I size the tail links loose, but not to the point they fall on their weight.  I size the head links a little tighter, and let them loosen up after a few flights. 

[Aterren]

I will replace them all before flying again.  Thanks

[Rodney Kirstine]

Yes, I suppose that is possible.  I have always sized so they just fall under their own weight.  Is that looser than you guys go?

That is looser than I shoot for on mine. 

[Cliff Chmiel]

In my old nitro days, if you could pop It off with you fingers it to loose, and with the head speed you run now, I would think you need tighter, back then if you were running 2100 or 2200 it was screaming, had no govs then

[Aterren]

...if you were running 2100 or 2200 it was screaming, had no govs then

I was running around roughly 1950 when it popped.   2200 on a 700 is screaming in my book.