Roll N' Lock not holding....

[Zebco Kid]

Hello All,

Today I took a Rock N' Lock for its maiden voyage. I want to be using it for mechanical advantage on my limb walk return.

Basically, I want to attach it to the rope near the TIP, then attach a carabiner. and clip the running end of the rope into the carabiner. Or...place it on the rope near me, and as I walk back in toward the TIP, slide the Rock N' Lock ahead as I advance.

I tried this today and it worked fine...but then the Rock N' Lock slipped, which spooked/surprised me. I lost my balance, but didn't fall.

My question is whether I'm doing something wrong...or is this a poor use of this piece of equipment.

Thank you.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Pictures are almost required along with name/size of rope/cordage

 

[Tuebor]

You mean a Roll N Lock? It was definitely configured correctly? It's not as obvious which way is up compared to other rope clamps. Maybe unweighting and weighting your system rapidly is enough to make it skip down the rope.

 

[Mike Islander]

Hmmm, I used my new Roll N' Lock and PETZL Rollclip carabiner all weekend while clearing 6 small trees. I used it in the same configuration as you describe, but as a mechanical advantage to put a load on branches/tiny trees to direct their fall. Didn't slip even a tiny bit.

Rope was Hyperclimb Cool. I used arm strength to tension the rope. Repositioned many times. No slip.

 

[Zebco Kid]

You mean a Roll N Lock? It was definitely configured correctly? It's not as obvious which way is up compared to other rope clamps. Maybe unweighting and weighting your system rapidly is enough to make it skip down the rope.

You mean a Roll N Lock? Oops. Yes!

 

[Mike Islander]

Hello All,

Today I took a Rock N' Lock for its maiden voyage. I want to be using it for mechanical advantage on my limb walk return.

Basically, I want to attach it to the rope near the TIP, then attach a carabiner. and clip the running end of the rope into the carabiner. Or...place it on the rope near me, and as I walk back in toward the TIP, slide the Rock N' Lock ahead as I advance.

I tried this today and it worked fine...but then the Rock N' Lock slipped, which spooked/surprised me. I lost my balance, but didn't fall.

My question is whether I'm doing something wrong...or is this a poor use of this piece of equipment.

Thank you.

So it slipped while moving under load? Did it slip then catch or stay loose?

 

[Zebco Kid]

I can’t recall, as I was the load. Once I slipped (not fall), I regrouped and tried to figure out what happened.

Definitely made me pause in terms of how I had hoped to deploy the device.

It surprised me because I know people are hanging from these as seen on numerous rock climbing videos.

I’m thinking the constant load is critical. With the return limb walking motion, the tension changes.

 

[Mike Islander]

I can’t recall, as I was the load. Once I slipped (not fall), I regrouped and tried to figure out what happened.

Definitely made me pause in terms of how I had hoped to deploy the device.

It surprised me because I know people are hanging from these as seen on numerous rock climbing videos.

I’m thinking the constant load is critical. With the return limb walking motion, the tension changes.

You may be right. Maybe it is a system that you need to pull tension on each time you want to move, and perhaps it will take a sharp tug. I haven't used mine enough to know.

 

[Vicente]

I was reading some reviews on treestuff after seeing your post at least one guy was saying if your at the wrong angle it will hit the release mechanism.

 

[JCB]

I returned a Roll n' Lock because it wouldn't hold on Vortex. The vendor admitted that he'd heard of that condition before about larger diameter ropes.

 

[Chris Schultz]

Hand ascender and petzl rollclip z FTW

 

[Zebco Kid]

I returned a Roll n' Lock because it wouldn't hold on Vortex. The vendor admitted that he'd heard of that condition before about larger diameter ropes.

JCB,

Thank you for that. FYI...I'm using Teufelberger Tachyon Ash

 

[Zebco Kid]

Hand ascender and petzl rollclip z FTW

Chris,

I was looking for something super compact. I surprised it doesn't grab more easily. All roads keep taking me back to the Petzl Rollclip. For some unexplainable reason, I have hesitated on that carabiner. Probably because I have a bucket of them that I'm not using...and I don't want to contribute more.

Funny though how we return to "the bucket" from time to time. Yesterday I damaged my ISC Snap locking mechanism on my lanyard, so I dug into the bucket and replaced it with an Edelrid carabiner.

Back in action!

 

[Tuebor]

If you get a Rollclip, get the Rollclip Z and not the Rollclip A.

 

[Chris Schultz]

@Zebco Kid those ISC snaps are notorious for failing latches/mechanisms.

 

[Zebco Kid]

Yeah. It’s interesting how the things I’ve read about become personal experiences over time.

 

[DSMc]

Have you tired to recreate what happened while on terra firma? This may help you understand what happened and why.

Great advice to follow on all aspects of tree climbing whenever possible.

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

....I want to be using it for mechanical advantage on my limb walk return.

Basically, I want to attach it to the rope near the TIP, then attach a carabiner. and clip the running end of the rope into the carabiner. Or...place it on the rope near me, and as I walk back in toward the TIP, slide the Rock N' Lock ahead as I advance.....

Couple of things.
1. RnL is good for 8-13mm rope so I doubt rope diameter was the cause.
2. Make sure it is properly configured, both the RnL and the 3:1 MA. Note the attached photos, look similar but one is set-up like an On-Bight redirect, the other typical 3:1 MA for limb walks. One has little effect if the RnL slips the other will send you to a bad day.
3. I may be way off base and not understanding your configuration.

Edit: You will also notice the cam on the RnL has a 'V' shaped notch, that is what allows the rather wide range of rope diameters.

 

[Zebco Kid]

Hello Richard.

I can't be sure...but I think you might have uncovered my problem. I have the RnL mounted properly on the rope...however, as you pointed out in, "Couple of Things...#2"...I think I was rigged for a "bad day." I wont be doing that again.

I'm much obliged.

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

Hello Richard.

I can't be sure...but I think you might have uncovered my problem. I have the RnL mounted properly on the rope...however, as you pointed out in, "Couple of Things...#2"...I think I was rigged for a "bad day." I wont be doing that again.

I'm much obliged.

I love the On-Bight Redirect (or whatever someone want to call it, but to be clear, it is when someone puts a bight of rope above their multicender) and use it often with a Quickie cinched to a branch. I know they look similar but I wish when people would post about it they would make sure it is understood. I have many videos on its use and precautions as we discussed it years ago. When used correctly it is safe, when not understood, someone could get hurt.
Link to info here. There are lots of ways to set it up and many have found ingenious applications such as S.C.A.M etc.