Hitch Climber Pulley

Bear

Bear

Location
New England
I climb trees looking for Asian Longhorned Beetles in Worcester. Our climbing team does a gear inspection once a month.

My hitch climber pulley failed inspection due to separation of the plates away from the bearing. It is quite significant compared to new and slightly old ones. I can understand why the inspector failed it, but it got me to thinking...can anyone share their experiences with longevitiy of use in comparison to wear and or damage?

Thank you
 
Hello Bear,
Are you using the Hitchclimber as a slack tender and connecting saddle and climbing system in the traditional manner or are you using the rotarting sheave on your saddles bridge as a slider. If you are using it as a fairlead, then failure of the bearing would not cause a fall.
 
Hi Bear, how are you and Melissa doing? I still credit you and her for helping me get my feet off the ground. Thanks. (My climbing has improved a lot since then.)

I don't think I've put the miles on my hitch climber to see any damage to it. It's good to get a heads up on what can happen. Casey is right a pic would be helpful. PrimeApe is right too, how was this hc used.
 
Mines nearly 2 years old now I believe, used as a slack tender, and other than some of the anodizing worn off around the holes and where the rope runs over it, don't see any issues. Along with all my other hardware I'll clean it out with fresh water and blow it out with compressed air now and again to keep things working nicely.
 
If you have separation of the plates on a relatively new pulley, you should contact the manufacturer an/or the store you bought it from. It sounds pretty unusual for it to have worn that way. My guess is that it will get replaced for you. Do you have documentation of its date put into service?
 
Hi Bear,

I would take a few high quality photos and contact DMM directly through their website. DMM

Not sure exactly what you are describing. However, due to the nature of swing type side plates, there will always be a natural amount of "slop" (if you will) in one of the plates in relation to the spindle. Perhaps this is what was flagged during the inspection?
 
Interesting!
I just went out to look at my hitchclimber pulley, mine's two years old, into service Oct. 2008. One side plate has about a 1-2mm play in it, the other side doesn't move at all...
Always used as a slack tender.
 
Hi All,
Thank you so much for your feedback.

Adkpk: You are so welcome! Anytime. Glad to hear the trees have pulled off the ground! :) Melissa and I are doing great.

To clarify some of your questions...I put my hitch pulley into service in Aug 2009 (w/documentation). My system consists of a tenex knut and petzl oval, and a Madrock steel triangle for my termination. I use the hc as a fairlead...and love it.

I have not measured the amount of play in the plates, but I will pull out my ruler on Monday...for that is rather interesting.

The inspector and I discussed in length about what would happen if the plate sheared off the bearing for what ever reason. We collectively decided that I would not be in danger of a fall. However we did conclude that depending on where I was in the tree and depending on the move I might need assistance dealing with a major cluster of rope and gear tangle. With the whole system under tension, it makes you wonder what would be the outcome.

I will try to take some pictures Monday, and share them as soon as I can.

Thank you again,
Bear
 
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