Gecko Recall

seanlarkin · Nov 27, 2002

This is the text from the official notice we sent out.

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RECALL NOTICE: Gecko Aluminum Climbing Spurs (Sherrill part #25423)
November 2002

Dear Valued Customer,

We recently had a customer experience failure (breakage) of a Gecko aluminum alloy climber after approximately 1 year of use. Although no injury was sustained, and this was the only known failure out of approximately 1,000 pairs in use, Sherrill, Inc. (as well as the manufacturer) feels that further precaution is justified. So, in the interest of customer safety, Sherrill, Inc. is taking all reasonable measures to recall Gecko climbers in exchange for a new product by Buckingham made of high-strength titanium.

In hopes that further information may help improve YOUR company’s safety program, it should be noted that the user who experienced the failure returned safely to the ground because he exercised proper climbing protocol, including back-up safety measures. When the leg iron failed, weight shifted off of the remaining spike and the climber fell into both a secured overhead line and flipline-type strap around the tree. One highly recommended measure that may have avoided the accident all together was a pre-climb equipment inspection. If this practice IS NOT part of your everyday routine, PLEASE institute it immediately.

To take advantage of this recall, seal your Gecko climbers in a sturdy box, adhere the enclosed RS label to the box and call your local UPS office to arrange pickup. When we receive your climbers we will ship you Buckingham’s NEW T2 Titanium climbers along with all necessary pads and straps absolutely FREE. If you know someone who owns Gecko climbers please forward this information.

About Buckingham’s NEW T2 Titanium climbers:
• Titanium is stronger and lighter than steel and does not rust
• Titanium is used widely by the military as armor for tanks and airplanes
• One of the tests required to meet the federal ASTM standard measures metal fatigue. This test requires simulation of a climber in use, by mechanically applying 350 pounds of force 500,000 times. Buckingham stopped testing after over 1,000,000 cycles without failure.
• T2 climbers have screw attached steel spikes slightly longer than Geckos (see image below).
• T2’s are adjustable to fit long or short legs
• T2’s are compatible with most climber pads

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The T2's are now on our website. Clicking on the below link will take you to our website. Please email me if you have any quesstions. Sean.

http://www.wtsherrill.com

Kevin · Nov 27, 2002

Sean;
Are the upper leg straps velcro?

seanlarkin · Dec 2, 2002

Kevin,
The upper straps are not velcro. They are actually regular leather upper straps. The T2's are on our website, though won't be available for ordering until we have them in stock, which could be this week if the manufacturers come through on their promises.
-Sean

Kevin · Dec 3, 2002

Sean;
Let me know when you get your mitts on them.

Ghivelder · Dec 10, 2002

Sean,
A friend of mine has a pair of Gecko climbers bought here in Italy and I also have an old pair myself. I would like to know a bit more about the reason for this recall - if it concerns the production of a specific period or all climbers worldwide.

Sergio

Mark Chisholm · Dec 10, 2002

Good point Sergio! The only thing that I had heard was that there was an accident caused by a failure. Sean, any more on this?

Treebeard · Dec 13, 2002

this just happened yesterday, 1 week after recieving the recall letter, the allen screws that hold the spurs to the shank decided to come out. another reason to religously perform equipment inspection even on things you wouldn't expect to fail. i was tied in twice and was lucklily able to retrieve the screw and have it replaced by groundsman.

Gerald_Beranek · Dec 13, 2002

I recall twice the tapered pin that secures the gaff in the "Brooks" climbers breaking. There's a back up bolt on the strap/buckel that would keep from losing the gaff in such an event. However, I seen once where the bolt failed also, and the climber was put in a real perdicament. 30 feet up on the side of a 6 foot dia. redwood with one spur, hanging on with a flip line. He was OK and we sent him up the remedy to his perdicament, we all got a good laugh out of it. That time. But you know, having a point fail you in a different situation could be disasterous.

Attached is a image of that fellow shortly after remedying his perdicament. His name was Steve Hughs

seanlarkin · Dec 16, 2002

Sergio,
Sorry I didn't reply sooner. The reason for the recall is the ONE leg iron broke. Again, this is a Sherrill recall of all Geckos purchased from Sherrill.
-Sean