Compact Bulldog Bone

Now that I'm closing in on a return date, I'm definitely interested in this as none of the other mechanical hitches have come close to the accolades this is receiving. Nice product development process here! Keep up the good work and I'll start saving some pennies.
 
MikePowers321, that's my favorite line for the 5/8" bollard. Descends real sweet on that Lava (Tachyon) don't you think? I have some new Cougar I haven't gotten to climb with yet but I'm hoping it runs similar.
 
I actually run on yale luna....that's just some old lava I had downstairs. But I'll have to try it out on some tachyon now that you bring it to my attention. Not too much bounce on you?

I'm really thinking that petzl Williams biner will be my savior for tending my bone : )
 
I had a little creep with my Luna. Nothing bad, but maybe it's because it was little more worn out. Maybe I'm heavier than you (190) The Lava had been sitting forever cause I didn't like it for DdRT but has a new life now.
Haven't had too much trouble with bounce yet but none of my climbs since the BDBone have been real high. Maybe 60-70' (usually canopy tie). Feels like I got a Ferrari that hasn't even been on the highway yet.
 
Last edited:
I'm about 175. Originally I thought the stock bollard was working well on the luna till I get fifty foot up and it was creeping like a son of a B. I guess I forget to take the low and slow saying literally :hueco:..... but I switched to the 3/4inch bollard on the bone and lubed it up nice with some bearing grease and it grabs perfect.

Ferrari indeed Logic.
 
Mike, I would not recommend tying the tending tether to the bottom arm as your picture shows, I was suggesting having a loop around and under the bottom arm, between the attach point and the climbing line. however, it appears you have an even better solution with the wide biner. Not sure I can get on board with the grease idea, be careful.
 
surveyor said:
Mike, I would not recommend tying the tending tether to the bottom arm as your picture shows, I was suggesting having a loop around and under the bottom arm, between the attach point and the climbing line. however, it appears you have an even better solution with the wide biner. Not sure I can get on board with the grease idea, be careful.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks Gordon. I just put a small dab of grease inside the bollard to help it roll smoothly as I was encountering unwanted friction and the 5/8" Bollard was barely spinning. Figured it would help a little with the 3/4inch
 
Just throwing this out there as I've only had a couple of quick climbs with the BDB, but using a 7/64" amsteel continuous loop girth hitched on seemed to work pretty well. A soft shackle would be another choice.

More climbs when I'm not in a hurry may or may not prove this to be a good choice.

IMG_4825 (Small).webp
 
I got some more time using the BDB today and had one problem. I was using a knee ascender, foot ascender and newly made chest harness to tend the BDB. At one point while climbing I had limbs in the way and leaned back farther than normal while sitting down and the way the tether pulled on the BDB kept the arms collapsed so that it would not grab the rope. I partially stood back up and all was well.

I remember having the same thing happening once the very first time I used the BDB while I was still low and slow.

I descended to a few feet off the ground and did everything I could think of to replicate the situation but could not find a way to make it happen.

Any insight would be appreciated.

I have full confidence in the BDB and see this as user error, just as if I had a hitch not grab with other devices.
 
I believe the problem is that too much weight was taken by the tether at the spine. I am concerned to hear this. A solution may be to lengthen the tether to the spine with bungee, or only pull it along from above, as in over the shoulder.
 
surveyor said:
I believe the problem is that too much weight was taken by the tether at the spine...
Click to expand...

The circumstances certainly support this and it has been my thought as well, but it bugs me that I haven't been able to replicate it to observe exactly what's happening. I will continue to try to figure out what I did.

I wouldn't be too concerned. I haven't seen anyone else mention it and it's only happened when I was connected with foot and knee ascenders and had at least one hand on the rope so I wasn't going anywhere as a result.

Also bear in mind that throughout my life, things have had a way of happening to me that never happen to others. :D
 
Last edited:
Gmcttr, I've found this to be true with the rope wrench as well. My weight is on my lower ascenders and I'm leaned back to allow my climbing device past a limb and the hitch is loose around my climb line (or the BDB in this case). It's just a matter of tending. Am I way off?
 
Bugs me too! I think if the bottom cantilever becomes somewhat unweighted, and the tether pulls the bone spine out of sorts, then it could release as you describe .
 
Usually when i take a break during an ascent, I push the BDB up and spread the arms, before sitting in it, kind of like you have to do with a friction hitch from time to time to get it to bite. Once my weight is on it it performs great limb walking and work positioning. Not sure if that's the same scenario but it might help.
 
Worthaug said:
... Am I way off?
Click to expand...

Not off all all. I have the a RW, HH and RR as well and every once in a while, all of them can encounter a situation where they require tending to grab.

surveyor said:
Bugs me too! I think if the bottom cantilever becomes somewhat unweighted, and the tether pulls the bone spine out of sorts, then it could release as you describe .
Click to expand...

Thinking more about it, along with pulling back on the spine instead of just pulling downward, in this situation, I may have ended up in a position similar to your avatar photo where I really wasn't taking as much weight off the rope below the BDB making it harder for the bollards to bend the rope to gain a bite. Also, with the BDB in a position similar to the climber's hands in your photo, the angle in the rope may "pinch" the arms making it harder for them to separate. Add each small piece to the scenario and the sum must have been just enough to create the situation.

I still call it user error. The BDB is a fine tool and I'm enjoying it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom