New device from ISC

ghostice said:
One thing I've noticed in some online videos, and in use, is that the Reflex appears to maybe have a "sidedness".

The ISC manual shows left handed use of the Reflex links. This would be with the Red side of the Swing Frame towards the user.

Part 21 of the device - ISC calls this the Rope Block, shown on page 3 of the manual - appears to work best when the Pisiform landmark of the palmar hand is near the Rope Block (the "meaty" bit by the wrist).

This requires the user to flip the device over to the black side facing when using the right hand to "cradle" the links. In my use, this eliminates any "jerkiness" in descent and gives really good control pretty much on any rope I have tried.

In my use, it then doesn't matter whether gloves are leather as recommended by ISC in the manual or rubber faced, as long as that portion of the palm is adjacent to the Rope Block. Maybe of help to newer users.

I think . . . or it could be the single malt again.

(with apologies to Grays Anatomy and Henry Gray)
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It does seem to be more comfortable/easier to control oriented so the MRS attachment holes are facing the climber.
 
flyingmosstreen said:
Started getting slip I’m SRT on blue 32 11.7 (with the yellow fleck.) Cleaned it and oiled the port holes on the spring link. We shall see if that fixes it. Will also try it with a wrench above. Figure that would definitely solve the issue but ISC needs to address this sooner than later right?
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Daum it, I have one on order. Any physical signs of wear? Technically is this device like a regular rope wrench where the wrench is ‘not lifesupport’ and the hitch must grab without the wrench?
 
More akin to the zigzag, the links/top lever must function and grab without additional friction, atleast as the manual states currently. Been seeing quite a few posts across platforms of slippage on different ropes the one was 3? Separate lines. Now mind you the rope runner pro had a similar issue until they made the lubrication hole for the “bird” as well.
 
Evo said:
Daum it, I have one on order. Any physical signs of wear? Technically is this device like a regular rope wrench where the wrench is ‘not lifesupport’ and the hitch must grab without the wrench?
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That is a good point about wrench not being life support. I cleaned and lubed. When it was slipping I was able to stop the slip by pushing up on the top link. But hard to think that that was the reason for slippage. It still had springiness when off rope upon inspection. And the rope itself is relatively clean. No sap/pitch really as I am climbing 90% deciduous. Had a honey locust crown clean today and had to come down and switch to the trusty hitch climber and wrench. Like butter.
 
The UK guy got more slippage if he put tension on the rope's tail. Figured it might affect the rope pinch at the bottom. He's got a new vid, two replacement units from ISC and different rope.
 
My theory is that the reflex relies on a prerry sharp ede on the top link to initiate the grab. I notices that i was using that top link to dig into the rope almost as a brake. It is not necesarry to do that but it would give me extra control. Once that edge rounds out, than it will not grab the rope. Just a hypothesis and woukd explain why some peopme are begininnong to slide quickly an others are getting more time out of it. This sharp edge on the top link is what gives the reflex a scrapey feel on decent. You cam round it out more or less depending on how much you use it to brake. IDK.

SC
Bart_ said:
The UK guy got more slippage if he put tension on the rope's tail. Figured it might affect the rope pinch at the bottom. He's got a new vid, two replacement units from ISC and different rope.
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It seems that the top link should be instead essentially a short stubby RW with a well rounded profile, that way it would do more of the heavy lifting. I have had success that way with my original Pulley Rack, and now the Lynx.
 
I ordered one this week, backordered till July but thats OK. Once I've had some time on it, I'll be able to share my thoughts.
 
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Kevin, would you have an opinion to offer on the reflex top link/bird/rw vs the zigzag top link/bird/rw contacting and general geometries? I take the liberty of considering it a rw/bird with near zero lever length and quite loose bollard spacing.

edit - On further thought I may have done a lawyer's asked and answered. And it may be inappropriate to expect a public answer. Apologies. However I did ruminate a further rw concept/relation which is similarity to the extreme case of cabinet maker's clamps where the slideable jaw is the rw/bollards and the backbone pipe/bar is one seriously un-bendable rope. Think of it as hyper rw engagement with lockup drag levels. :)
 
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My input here may not be that informative to the discussion of wear involving the top link, however I will say with light to moderate use of this device so far, I have almost exclusively run the Apex RW above. Have had zero slippage issues when running a RW above and it has performed very nicely. Cannot comment on wear/usage/slippage with the device on its own with no RW.
 
Had my first run with the reflex last week. Just a couple of up and down 50’ conifers.
So far I really like it, it’s going to take some time to dial in but it’s a slick tool.

Used kernmaster red core, srt. Once or twice when weighted planning my next route, it had micro jumps, nothing more than a jolt and yes straight 11mm is probably a bit small. I didn’t feel the need for any secondary friction, wrench or device wrap. Yet I did certainly feel that it was so perfect, that it likely wouldn’t last long after the break in on this line without extra.

I dislike the limited ability of all the extra attachment points, I think it’s a bit over done in that regard. I can where they were going with it but imo it would be better with one or two rated secondaries vs the single rated and two other aux.

What is everyone using for connecting hardware? For the wrench and chestie?
 
Maybe reach out to the U.K. guy and ask if there was anything different he spotted on the replacement units he received. ?

U.K guy is Treesome in Ghostice's post, has 4 reflex vids
 
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