Hitch hiker cammimg on carabiner?

[1bigtree]

Alright, maybe this has already been discussed but I wanted to ask?
Really had a chance to break in my hitch hiker today and found that the Carabiner would occasionally cam onto the velocity jamming temporarily until the hitch would release. Seems like the majority of the load is being carried on this point making for a "jumpy" ride. I was able to alleviate some of the issue by tesioning the line below giving (I believe)more hand to the rope. I realize the rope plays some role in this issue.
What do you recomend?
Is this an issue with double braid?

 

[pctree]

I have heard a couple of people report this, I think that if the contact area with the carabiner is not totally smooth then the biner gets stuck. I have been told if you smooth the contact patch down with some fine emory cloth this should resolve. If you want you could send it to me and we can polish it.

Paul Cox
Ropetek

 

[bonner1040]

My experience has shown that it only takes a bit of the hitch grabbing to hold the pinching action up. Sometimes it just takes a shake as you are disengaging the hitch to make sure the DB and carabiner separate and everything engages well.

 

[OldMillTreeCare1]

On the basis that we are talking about the HH sticking when trying to ascend, I too have had this problem. PCTREE suggested I look at the area of contact between the HH and the Oxan biner. There was indeed a slight bump which I have smoothed off but it didn't make any difference.

I have since paid particular attention to everything and I'm now convinced that the reason for the problem is due to the angles that I subject the equipment to.
Mine only ever sticks on the rare occasion that I tend slack by lifting the tail up to advance the HH. This action turns the Oxan from it's design angle of verticle to an angle around 45 degrees towards me. This means that my harness is pulling the Oxan into the spine side of the HH while my arm tending slack is trying to pull the Oxan in the opposite direction. At this point my harness wins because it was holding the Oxan before my arm lifted.
Also, my slack tending arm is turning the HH out to the side slightly whilst the Oxan is being held straight by the harness, thus introducing a twist.

The HH was not designed to be used this way (I think) and it functions like polished glass if I tend slack by sliding the HH up the rope. I should add though, that if tending slack by lifting the tail, the Oxan biner only sticks 1% of the times.

My conclusion is that this is a non issue and is due to a technique variation.

 

[oceans]

I wonder if a 'biner shaped like this would help, but one made of steel, with a round cross section (bar).

http://www.iscwales.com/product/KH215-Link-Karabiner/?from=%2fby-type%2fkarabiners%2f

Still need to figure out the "detent" in the frame, which might (I said MIGHT) be caused by a curved 'biner reorienting repeatedly and creating wear.

 

[pctree]

OM I dont believe it is because you are tending slack that way, I have always done that with mine and it has never jammed. DMC reported that he had one that jammed quite regularly but after polishing the carabiner wear surface it stopped jamming completely....

 

[Adam_P]

I also polished mine and it hasn't jammed since.

 

[OldMillTreeCare1]

I have convinced myself that technique was the issue but I have also gently rubbed down the area to make it smooth although I have not polished it.
No more problems though.
I guess it wasn't technique.

 

[scrat]

[ QUOTE ]
I also polished mine and it hasn't jammed since.

[/ QUOTE ]

Adam
I heard you polish yours on a regular basis ;-p

what hitch cord have you been running and liking? I finally got a piece of the 10mm Beeline that it originally comes with and have been having consistant success with it.
Todd

 

[Adam_P]

I do think that Nick is onto something with his HRC. I haven't had much time on the HH lately but I did mess around with some HRC last week an was surprised how smooth it was. I've tried a lot of others in my search for my ideal setup.