WK Klassen Flex Vest - Socket Block right angle?

[Norwin Hatschbach]

Hey everyone,

i'm wondering if any of you Walter Klassen Vest Owners has similar "issues" with the angle of the socket block coming from the backmount arm. It appears to me that in order to stand up straight, weight on both legs with a good hip/Spine alignment i need to get to upper screw almost all the way out (around 2,5 full turns) and lower one almost all in. so the socket block seems to be way too angled the way it's installed.

any of you can share how you find your arm positioned in the socket block when you try to get a good straight up posture with the rig in position, weight on both legs equaled?

 

attached is a pic. thanks for sharing! best

Norwin

ps.: it's kind of an old goofy WK vest with ratchets still only on one side not like the new ones with four ratchets.

[Maxwel Fisher]

Norwin,

Is this vest new to you or have you had it for a while? The reason why I ask, is because it might be the crossover block.

I had a similar issue with my flex vest after buying it second hand. It was set up for a goofy operator (I operate regular). I was able to switch the carbon fiber vest arm of course, insert my arm, but in order to get the rig to float properly off my body, my socket block looked similar to yours. I realized after that the angle of the vest's arm changed just enough due to the crossover block. I ordered a regular side crossover block and that fixed the problem.

Hope this helps! I'll also try to find a photo or take one later today.

[Norwin Hatschbach]

thanks for your quick answer Maxwel,

the vest is new to me, i bought it second hand which was declared as goofy, just like me. so i didn't change sides or anything. your lead is a good tip, i'm finding mine with a pretty straight block in the back, not sure if this old version of the harness works with a crossover block, but logically it should do just that, changing the angle of the socket block so the upper end of the block moves away from the vest while the lower part moves towards it, am i right?

 

since this is a 3" dropdown arm there's little use in switching sides no matter what block is used in the back?

 

thanks for your help!

[Maxwel Fisher]

Norwin you're very welcome!

As far as I know, the crossover block is a universal item for all the vests. Attached is what the regular (top) and goofy (bottom) crossover blocks looks like. I've also added photos of what my arm looks like in the block. I noticed that you in a goofy position have the longer threaded side to side adjustment on the vest in the lower position where I have mine on the regular side in the same spot. That is a little interesting to me. 

Quoting you here - "changing the angle of the socket block so the upper end of the block moves away from the vest while the lower part moves towards it, am i right?" - this is correct. It is exactly what my vest arm does. 

As far as the klassen drop arm goes, I don't know what it's overall purpose is other than to get the arm lower. I don't know if it has any effect on the side to side angle. I have the standard arm on my vest. I also use a flex vest. So our designs are a little different. 

[Norwin Hatschbach]

thanks again Maxwel,

really appreciate you taking the time for this detailed answer! looks like you found the solution immediately. i will get in touch with WK about that adapter. take care! :)

best

N

[Maxwel Fisher]

You're welcome! I'm happy I could help!

Cheers,

Maxwel