Need a new mechanical

[96coal449]

Last week I was riding the ball and setting straps for our new climber. He stayed in the crotch making the cuts. I like this method as it practically doubles production. Also much easier to bomb out of the long horizontals and not walk back to the base.

Removed a big cotton wood with sprawling leaders. Tree was on the edge of a sloped hill. On the backside, my 150' Yale almost ran short. I had 2' left before the stopper knot would have kissed the ZZ. I have a 200' I never used yet and decided to get a bag for it and put it in service.

Need a MRS mechanical for it. I could buy another tried and true ZZ but would like something mid line attachable to easily move around on different ropes if I choose to. Any new news on the Buckingham Throttle? Other suggestions welcomed too. I do want the spliced eye to terminate on the device and not on the bridge. Seems like the ZZ, Throttle, Uniscender, and Spiderjack 3 are the only real options. I realize the zz and Spidy are not mid line.....

Am I forgetting any.
Feel free to share any experiences on these devices.

 

[RyanCafferky]

Lockjack from ART is the OG mechanical. Midline attachable. Same design with improvements over the decades. Every component is replaceable on the device but it does start adding up over time especially compared with the seemingly bombproof zigzags that last so long. Keeping ropes clean certainly helps with longevity on components.

I was a Lockjack aficionado for a very long time but now just climb on the Zigzag 99% of the time. If you want to try one out or buy one let me know.

 

[96coal449]

Lockjack from ART is the OG mechanical. Midline attachable. Same design with improvements over the decades. Every component is replaceable on the device but it does start adding up over time especially compared with the seemingly bombproof zigzags that last so long. Keeping ropes clean certainly helps with longevity on components.

I was a Lockjack aficionado for a very long time but now just climb on the Zigzag 99% of the time. If you want to try one out or buy one let me know.

I have a Lockjack on a shorter 16-strand. I do not remember it being midline attachable. If I switch this over to my 200' I would need the smaller cam for 11.7 rope.

Just coming back from viewing it online, I realize it is a midline device. Brings me more options. I may just get another rope entirely.....
I don't recall how it behaved in descent. Wearing gloves with the ZZ I find myself bombing out at times.

Purely undecided. I have time though. For the rest of that tree, I switched to longer slings so cabling down would get me closer to earth.

 

[Serf Life]

Bdb

 

[96coal449]

Forgot about those .....

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Bdb

Second this. My next purchase.

 

[Serf Life]

I have two and the older model runs a bit smoother drt (prob just worn) but both are stellar srt without adjustment and good with wet or pitch. Midline attachable and no need to switch devices!

 

[96coal449]

I'm leaning a bit towards another ZZ .... to live on the rope.
I like my Lockjack but I see it wearing excessively fast, for crane work, with it's aluminum components.
Considering the BDB.

 

[RyanCafferky]

I'm leaning a bit towards another ZZ .... to live on the rope.
I like my Lockjack but I see it wearing excessively fast, for crane work, with it's aluminum components.
Considering the BDB.

One thing I think would be cool to try is a crane tie in point that has a built on rope wrench or another type of friction device on it. Then you could bomb down with a device and it would add a little friction up top rather than your device having to take all the heat.

 

[Chris Schultz]

One minor annoyance of mine with the ZZ for a crane configuration is having to feed all the rope back through for each crane ball flight… I just use the RRP for daily driver and does great for crane work IMO.

 

[96coal449]

One thing I think would be cool to try is a crane tie in point that has a built on rope wrench or another type of friction device on it. Then you could bomb down with a device and it would add a little friction up top rather than your device having to take all the heat.

Like a 3 hole Safe block ..... or whatever those were called. I like this idea. I use gloves to provide the extra friction now. Would prefer bare back hands tough. I burn through a couple pair a month.

 

[96coal449]

One minor annoyance of mine with the ZZ for a crane configuration is having to feed all the rope back through for each crane ball flight… I just use the RRP for daily driver and does great for crane work IMO.

I prefer my spliced tie in on the device instead of 2 points on the bridge.
I'm used to pulling the rope through the ZZ and don't mind so much.

 

[Matias]

I prefer my spliced tie in on the device instead of 2 points on the bridge.
I'm used to pulling the rope through the ZZ and don't mind so much.

I'm constantly dealing with gobs of sap so I find it hard to feel happy with anything but the ZZ. On pitchy removals I go up MRS, though often with a leg of SRS at the start, or lately, a ride on the wraptor, and come down SRS, and I too much prefer the connection to go back to the device and for the changeover to be simple. I am curious to eventually try the throttle, but I am not keen to pay even close to full price for it, as it would be a novelty for me at this point.

 

[chiselbit]

Yeah for $500 ! Screw that. I’d like to try the throttle but not at that price or anything even close. That’s ridiculous

 

[96coal449]

Saw a negative review of the Throttle via youtube. He called it high priced garbage .... or something like that.
He only tried 2 different ropes but then again, it's supposed to be a rope friendly device. I should have offered him $250 for it.

 

[Matias]

Saw a negative review of the Throttle via youtube. He called it high priced garbage .... or something like that.
He only tried 2 different ropes but then again, it's supposed to be a rope friendly device. I should have offered him $250 for it.

The review from the guys at treestuff seems to indicate that it is pretty fickle. They went as far as saying that they really only loved it on Yale 11mm, and the ten other ropes they tried it on presented an array of issues. That said, I like Yale Blaze, and would consider getting a hank of it if I could get a throttle for under $250 landed.

 

[96coal449]

The review from the guys at treestuff seems to indicate that it is pretty fickle. They went as far as saying that they really only loved it on Yale 11mm, and the ten other ropes they tried it on presented an array of issues. That said, I like Yale Blaze, and would consider getting a hank of it if I could get a throttle for under $250 landed.

Yea I hear ya but, meh....if I'm buying a device to live on a rope, it'll be the ZZ. And my 200'er is a Yale.
A virgin Calamine. But the Throttle may not like it? Except for MRS....which would be the purpose. Still defeats the hankering for a midline removable to share with other ropes.

ZZ or BDB. Leaning towards the ZZ.

 

[Treezybreez]

I have two BDB’s and they last longer and give me way less adjustment trouble than any other device I’ve tried.

 

[ghostice]

Cross post to comments on ZZ and Arbsession Caralink II tether with ISC Apex for SRT - you'd still have the ZZ for DdRT and together with a friction saver (I'm partial to the leather rope sleeves with my ZZ) you have an easy to switch over system, for both SRT ascent and working the tree DdRT if you wish.

 

[96coal449]

you have an easy to switch over system, for both SRT ascent and working the tree DdRT if you wish

Not with a crane.
I have sooo much rope, I have dedicated lines.
I do need to replace 2 of them but, having so many to choose from, and assigned to certain tasks, makes them last much longer.

My 200' rope will be dedicated to setting crane slings with it's device. This one will be fore a 2 climber scenario. One setting slings and one cutting. Perfect for trees with a sprawling canopy and multiple leaders.

Also considering getting a different 200'er for the crane. 11.7 Yale flies through the ZZ. I'll keep the Calamine for its intended SRT.