Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lock

T

TMW

Location
OH
http://www.lyon.co.uk/custservices/shownews.asp?sectionitemid=483&id=57&languageid=UK



Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lock



Revised User Information



Following recent customer feedback and testing it has been found that there may be potential for the gate locking system on the new version of the Petzl Ball-Lock connectors to operate incorrectly.

This is a quality issue – not a direct safety issue.

Both connectors are designed to require three separate actions to open the gate.

In some cases it may only require one or two actions to open the gate.

In these instances the connector will still meet the major and minor axis strength requirements of EN362:2004 and EN12275 :1998.

Products affected by this notice are;



Am'D BALL-LOCK (M34 BL)

WILLIAM BALL-LOCK (M36 BL)


You are invited to return any used or unused connectors to your point of purchase for a full credit.

This notice only applies to connectors supplied since February 2006 with a knurled metal locking sleeve and a green button.

This notice does not apply to any other Petzl connectors, including the earlier version of the Ball-Lock with a nylon locking sleeve.

For further information please feel free to contact us by e-mail petzlconnector@lyon.co.uk or contact us by phone on 015396 25493 ask to speak to 'Customer Services'.
 
I've not noticed anything like that. Darn it, I've been feeling quite safe on mine. Both the Williams and Am'd have seemed to function excellently since my purchase. What KBs do you guys use. Time to weigh my options
 
Yeah i know, its called push on the gate, I had one open wide up on me brand new, then the cam closed but caused that caused the gate to stay open. I was dissapointed with petzl, becuase when i took pictures of the biner, brand new bought it 5 days prior hadnt been used, and sent it to them with an explanation of what had happened i got no response.
 
Alves,

Could you give a more detailed description of 'push on the gate' ? I want to be able to duplicate this before I consider sending any biners back in.

Can the same 'push on the gate' open the plastic sleeve biners?

Given some combination of circumstances ANY biner will open.
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

I agree...please tell us how to make them fail. I bought two and have used them for several months with no problems...maybe I didn't find the right/wrong combnation of moves yet?
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

I have 2 Am’D Ball–Locks with plastic sleeves and the sleeves of both consistantly fail to close when released. I have to bump them or turn them manually every time. My metal sleeved William however closes like a champ and shuts with that feeling of certianty you want for your main tie-in. I am dissapointed and confused that the metal sleeve has been recalled and the plastic one has not.
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

[ QUOTE ]
I have 2 Am’D Ball–Locks with plastic sleeves and the sleeves of both consistantly fail to close when released. I have to bump them or turn them manually every time.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just retired one doing the same thing. No visible damage.
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

I had a plastic sleeve ball-lock open on me once when I was learning to use a munter hicth. I did it wrong some how and the rope ran across the gate and it opened up. luckly a was only a couple of feet off the ground.
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

Sorry tom, mine was the plastic ones, ive posted this twice, but it seems not to like doing that.
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

I have used the plastic ball-locks for years. Sometimes after much use and little bits of debris they have stopped locking, I think the debris prevents the sleeve from turning far enough to engage the ball.
Last month I bought three of the new metal sleeve ball-locks. Two are fine (I hope), but one, from day one, did not lock. The ball looks like it's setting in the sleeve, but I can turn the sleeve without depressing the ball. So this would be a two action opening. I've been meaning to send it back, but haven't yet. I stopped at a Vermeer store today and bought another to replace it, I told the guy there about my defective one. I didn't know about the recall then, and apparently he didn't either. I wonder if it's a design flaw or manufacturing defect?
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

[ QUOTE ]
I have 2 Am’D Ball–Locks with plastic sleeves and the sleeves of both consistantly fail to close when released. I have to bump them or turn them manually every time. My metal sleeved William however closes like a champ and shuts with that feeling of certianty you want for your main tie-in. I am dissapointed and confused that the metal sleeve has been recalled and the plastic one has not.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not to get off topic, but did you try DRY graphite lube. It comes in little tubes (its a powder not a liquid) that you can buy at the hardware store. I've had the same problem and just give it a couple puffs and they work like new.

Steve
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

Mine failed after the first use, twice, once was simply on inspection, I flat out refuse, to buy the petzl ball lock carabiners. The first rolled open on simple rolling action as i worked in a tree, I believe it was my other carabiner going past the other, i dont really know. The other time the spring on the inside wasnt working. In either case, i was disappointed in the response i got from petzl themselves, the local dealer replaced the second one, but not the first.

I guess i really dont trust the ball lock system itself, I dont know thats just me.
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

A friend of mine is the Rocky Mountain region Petzl industrial representative. I wrote to ask him about this biner issue. Here's his reply, it seems like the sky is really not falling after all.
*******

Sorry gang...I jumped the gun. My friend asked me to hold off on posting his remarks so I deleted the post. As soon as I find out more and I have permission, this will be the first place that I'll post.
 
Re: Recall Notice - Petzl William and Am’D Ball–Lo

I've been trying to get one of my four to "fail" since this post was issued...I failed every time :)
 
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