Rads Mod

DSMc

DSMc

Been here much more than a while
Location
Montana
Has anybody here ever tried something like this?

I got the idea from Jim Dunlap posting a picture of leaving one side of the pulley open. His was still attached to a carabiner. I had a micropulley that was not being used and so attached the roller directly to the ascender. I have a tendency in the colder weather (even not in the cold weather) to fumble and drop things. So I wanted some way to run a RADS system that didn't require attaching and detaching a pulley from the rope.

This works pretty darn well and is nice and tidy and doesn't jingle when I clip it back onto my saddle.

Dave
 

Attachments

  • 204110-Radsroller.webp
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Dave,

Very clever! Bit by bit...the SRT systems are being smoothed and buffed. Each step gets us closer to the silky smooth setup.

Did you arrange the sheave with shims so that it rotates? There won't be much friction even if you do have the sheave fixed.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Dave,...Did you arrange the sheave with shims so that it rotates? There won't be much friction even if you do have the sheave fixed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, Tom. Yes I did set it up so that the sheave spins. I was able to bush the hole in the ascender with washers that fit snuggly inside so no drilling was done.

It just has a bushing on the sheave and it spins well, though it would be nice to try one with a bearing.

This setup, like most, will not work in all situations but it really tightens up the setup and makes attaching and detaching fast and simple.

Dave
 
Pretty interesting. Certainly streamlined-- when in use and stowed while in the tree.

Would you find the close proximity of your hand to help keep the rope in the pulley? Like in those rare situations where I've seen it flop out. There's one part of the RADS cycle where the rope changes its direction through the pulley and is a little slack and sometimes pops out if you get overly enthusiastic.


"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
 
How do you keep the rope from slipping off the pulley? Any way to keep one of the side plates on the outside? Looks like a great idea!
 
The attachment shows the original RADS setup. Using this modification eliminates gear and makes it easier to switch between ascent and descent. Taking the rope out of the biner/pulley can lead to dropped gear.

Once in a while the rope will jump off the open pulley like Jim uses. I bet it would jump off the washer too. But, in the end, it is an easier setup.

A pear-shaped washer could be fabricated so that there is more material up top to retain the rope. Or, a spring gate could be used...hmmm...would Petzl manufacture this?
 

Attachments

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[ QUOTE ]
Would you find the close proximity of your hand to help keep the rope in the pulley? Like in those rare situations where I've seen it flop out. There's one part of the RADS cycle where the rope changes its direction through the pulley and is a little slack and sometimes pops out if you get overly enthusiastic.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jim, like I said, I don't believe this will work in every RAD situation. As with most things, it has limitations. The washer does indeed maintain the rope on the pulley pretty well as long as it is not sideloaded too much.

And you are correct, the normal RADS movement needs to be altered slightly. Perhaps a more difficult adjustment for someone who has been using a RADS for a long time, but would be easier for someone just starting out with RADS. I adapted quickly, but was also highly motivated to make it work.
grin.gif
I think the side plate could easily be altered as Tom suggested to create a more secure hookup.

My goal with the idea was to create a single unit that would accomplish the same thing as the multiple pieces. It does do that. A side bennie is that in not having to use the top hole in the ascender to get a good length of pull allows you to remove the ascender from the rope very readily. This I find allows me to switch over with less effort.

Dave
 
The flop off comes when shifting from stirrup to the device and one slides their hand up, slacking the tail a bit. This area of the RADS is 2:1, so there's more rope streaming through. No biggie. Its just a little indicator that you're not in the max efficiency 'groove'.

I can see where it lines up better, as you've found. I wanted to put the pulley on this point but it lengthens the reach, allowing less rope to ascend per cycle.
 
Keep in mind this is a new concept that I have just recently put to use. Exposure to its pros and cons have not been enough to say whether the idea has more merits than not.

I figured a lot of you would be able to tweek the idea to its maximum potential, so I love hearing your comments and suggestions; and is exactly why I posted the modification here.

Dave
 
Forwarding the oval or egg-shaped washer idea:
What about fastening one of the faceplates so that it doesn't rotate but keeping it fixed in an upright position? Without taking into consideration how one would make it not rotate, would there be the right space between ascender and faceplate to easily pass the rope. Take advantage of the faceplate's availability, and shape. I'm have in mind one of the CMI ones that's just curved in.

Throw it out here, send it around the world, and see how it mixes.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Would you find the close proximity of your hand to help keep the rope in the pulley?

[/ QUOTE ]

The answer to the above question is: yes, quite a bit. It is right there and depending on the amount of pressure applied can really lock the rope into the pulley. With this in mind, there is not much space there, so you will just have to assess whether using the side plate of the pulley to lock the rope in will still allow you enough room for your hand.

As is, like I said, it works pretty darn well and is easy to produce; a couple of washers and a spare pulley. There is an adjustment in technique because of the fixed position of the pulley. But this does not appear to be hard to overcome.

Dave
 
Maybe a petzl fixe pulley could be modified to fit on there, the rope would be easily taken in and out but would stay put. Excellent idea in the OP by the way.
 
Nice thought on the fixe. You'd have like an inch or two of "guard" to keep it from flopping off accidently.

I like it.

Tom- I think Petzl would never make something like this. Just off the bat and knowing how we want to use it, a lawyer would look at it and think we were nuts climbing with an open pulley like that.

Crazy tree climbers.

love
nick
 
to help keep the rope on the pully might try mounting an fixed pulley on but with the gate or becket (not shure the correct term to use) facing side wase away from the handle. You than may be able to close off the gate and capture the rope with a key chain beener. Mounting the pulley at 90 degreas from the assender might give you more hand clearance. Kind of hard to explain hope you get the idea.
 
I thought I would update this. Changed the location of the pulley. It was too finicky where I had it initially; where it is now works much better.

Dave
 

Attachments

  • 206274-RRmod.webp
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