Kong carabiner failure

[Mahk_Adams]

Someone forwarded this email to me:


[ QUOTE ]
Please click on the link below to read a report published by the EU
consumer board. This report has been published and discussed extensively
on a UK (sport) climbers forum, but it is relevant to all industries
using karabiners.

[/ QUOTE ]


http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/rapex/create_rapex.cfm?rx_id=182



Scroll to item 4 in the link.

Extracts:

Model No. 0426.

Country: Spain



[ QUOTE ]
Injuries

The product poses a risk of injuries because it does not withstand the static strength test which could lead to falls. The test was carried out on the major axis, and it was noted that the connectors break when the following forces are applied:

- force of the major axis with the gate pen: 6.1 KN (required level: 7 KN)

- force of the major axis with the gate closed: 18.6 KN (required level: 22 KN).

[/ QUOTE ]


and


[ QUOTE ]
Withdrawal from the market ordered by the authorities.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[moss]

The report seems confused about which Kong biner they're recalling, they call it 0426 but that's the Kong wire gate "Paddle" biner. They call it an oval biner and the photos appear to show a non-locking gate version of their oval. Anyhow a little clarification is in order to figure out exactly which biner they're talking about because the part number doesn't make sense with the description and the photos.
-moss

 

[fhfr436]

Troubling, but not a hazard for ANSI tree work.

This site shows the 0426 model as a wire gate paddle 'biner.

[ QUOTE ]
KONG PADDLE BINER
The Paddle carabiners were specifically designed to meet the needs of boaters. The large amount of gate clearance, as well as the deep basket allows for multiple objects to be clipped into the carabiner quickly and easily.
Strength: 22kN
Weight: 80 grams
Wire weight: 71 grams

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[fhfr436]

Kong's website does not list 0426 ... removed?

The EU site shows this:

Zooming in on that photo indeed shows "0426" on the spine.

It looks more like the Kong Ultratop #792 asymmetrical D.

 

[didjon]

I wonder who makes those for Kong "Woof Woof"

It just keeps getting better

Didj

 

[Chris_Cowell]

http://www.kong.it/alert.htm

 

[fhfr436]

[ QUOTE ]

http://www.kong.it/alert.htm

[/ QUOTE ]

Good information - thanks.

 

[tuttle]

I think the 0426 refers to steel or alloy used, as I have a few with that same number.

The pictures below show one that I use at home on my 6:1 rig, gets a regular 200>400kgs pulls, 20 odd times a day, has not failed yet...