Petzl Rollclip Z issue

climbstihl · Oct 9, 2019

So I recently got a Rollclip Z, used it once, didn't notice any problems, but today I noticed that the pulley is rubbing on the frame of the biner, at the bottom of the spine side. You can hear it grinding, and I can see some wear marks on the sheave. Has anyone else had this issue?

Burrapeg · Oct 9, 2019

It looks like this is the direction it would deform under a heavy load. But you said you only used it once. What did you use it for that time? I have a pair of them and there is no sign of this same issue. Maybe this one was simply defective and they did not catch it.

climbstihl · Oct 9, 2019

Burrapeg said:
It looks like this is the direction it would deform under a heavy load. But you said you only used it once. What did you use it for that time? I have a pair of them and there is no sign of this same issue. Maybe this one was simply defective and they did not catch it.

Nothing extreme. 3:1 for limb walk return and maybe a counterbalance for a rescue, but I think I did that differently. Used it once for RADS at work, but stopped after two strides because the ascender wouldn't advance well.
So everything well under the WLL of 4kN.

climbstihl · Oct 9, 2019

And it just looks like it wasn't milled far enough, and there is that one little spot where it rubs. So I do think it's a manufacturing defect. Don't know why it wasn't there before though.

Jonny · Oct 9, 2019

I hope it’s just a fluke that escaped quality control/ inspection at the manufacturer.

Probably goes without saying, but Petzl almost certainly wants to be made aware of this, and they’ll probably ask you to send it to them. Maybe they’ll hook you up with more than just a replacement.

JeffGu · Oct 9, 2019

Petzl is very good about replacing stuff. Send them an e-mail with your pic and the problem. They will usually send you a link that will let you download and print a shipping label to send it back to them. Yes, they pay the shipping both ways for most returns, especially defects.

Tom Lynch · Oct 9, 2019

I'd call up Petzl, that looks to be a slight manufacturer error. It would be super easy to miss that in QC.

climbstihl · Oct 9, 2019

I contacted the seller about it, they asked for me to send it to them. So you guys think I should take it up with Petzl directly?

JeffGu · Oct 9, 2019

Whatever works best for you... I usually give the seller a chance to fix the issue, then go to the OEM if the seller tells me to piss off.

Burrapeg · Oct 10, 2019

I tried something on a climb this afternoon after reading this earlier. I put a RollClipZ on my rope bridge. Worked pretty well and I was not nearly as tippy as I was when I had a larger pulley on it. Being a biner, it comes right back off, too, if I want to go back to the ring. I have a nano swivel on my Bone instead of the original teardrop and clipped the Z into that.

climbstihl · Oct 10, 2019

Burrapeg said:
I tried something on a climb this afternoon after reading this earlier. I put a RollClipZ on my rope bridge. Worked pretty well and I was not nearly as tippy as I was when I had a larger pulley on it. Being a biner, it comes right back off, too, if I want to go back to the ring. I have a nano swivel on my Bone instead of the original teardrop and clipped the Z into that.

They advertise it for that purpose too. Only for Sequioa and Zigzag of course...

Mowerr · Oct 13, 2019

Burrapeg said:
I tried something on a climb this afternoon after reading this earlier. I put a RollClipZ on my rope bridge. Worked pretty well and I was not nearly as tippy as I was when I had a larger pulley on it. Being a biner, it comes right back off, too, if I want to go back to the ring. I have a nano swivel on my Bone instead of the original teardrop and clipped the Z into that.

Yea I don't like pulleys on my bridge but find the revolver to work good for me... I always keep one with me