Retire this Rope Runner? Replace parts?

[LordFarkwad]

I dropped the lowest 12' or so of a ~20" sweet gum on my Rope Runner Pretty soft/muddy ground, so no visible or otherwise detectable damage...except the pin on the friction plate that limits the plate's travel was smeared as it pushed partly INto the side plate that it is supposed to otherwise bump up against. Pictures show the deformation of the pin and the plate.

None of the other pieces of the Runner bind at all, or appear out of alignment.

So, 1) where can I get these two parts? And, 2) is this potentially okay to climb on still? Of course, I solely am responsible for the consequences of climbing on this thing, were I to do so. However, I'm really wondering if the small amount of deformation, in the absence of other indicators of stress (binding when the various joints are exercised, visible bending of the plates, etc.), necessitates retiring some, most, or all of the device.

@treebing?

 

[treebing]

You fell 12 feet?.

 

[Steve Connally]

Id use it. Micro fractures are a myth

 

[Jehinten]

Sounds like he took it off the rope and dropped the parts. I would file the rough edge off of the body of the runner and still use it. As for the pin, I don't have mine in front of me now, but I think it's just a rolled pin. Easy enough to source and replace unless it was epoxyed in there.

 

[RBJtree]

You fell 12 feet?.

I think he dropped a 12' tall, 20" dia trunk on the runner which, I am guessing, he left on the ground.

 

[LordFarkwad]

You fell 12 feet?.

Haha no - last spar section, which was 12' tall, fell right on a small bag I had this runner in.

 

[LordFarkwad]

Side note - I also am dealing with the worst bout of poison ivy rash I've ever gotten, due to the vines on this tree; apparently you can be not allergic to the stuff, then become allergic. xD

 

[rico]

Go find someone in your area who has goats that feed on poison ivy. Try and purchase some raw goat milk form them and it should help a lot with your reaction to the ivy.

 

[LordFarkwad]

Go find someone in your area who has goats that feed on poison ivy. Try and purchase some raw goat milk form them and it should help a lot with your reaction to the ivy.

You serious? If that works, that is the most awesome thing ever.

I now pity ppl who have this allergy in a way I never did. Holy crap.

 

[moss]

Hottest shower you can stand on the rash areas, itching will intensify with the hot water and then will subside in a few seconds. You'll have relief for approx 12 hrs, repeat every 12 hrs it will take a week at least for it to subside but it will stop the spread and you'll be much more comfortable. Very effective, confirmed by a dermatologist. If it goes systemic, face, all over everything etc. see your doctor.
-AJ

 

[LordFarkwad]

Hottest shower you can stand on the rash areas, itching will intensify slightly with the hot water and then will subside. You'll have relief for approx 12 hrs, repeat every 12 hrs it will take a week at least for it to subside but it will stop the spread and you'll be much more comfortable. Very effective, confirmed by a dermatologist. If it goes systemic, face, all over everything etc. see your doctor.
-AJ

What does that indicate, it spreading to face, etc.? In blood?

I got a 6-day course of Prednisolone, and that seemed to wipe it, or at least halted the spread of the blisters, but then - I think - I developed a slightly itchy rash on my side as a reaction to the Pred. I just went ahead and finished the course since it was only about 2 days left, and stopped using the steroid cream, and it's all clearing up. Secondary rash did not look like PI rash, but at the time I assumed it was. I'd do much rather just eat good food and do things like @rico's goat milk thing than taking pills!

The hot water did help. Seemed like it was both causing it to itch more but also scratching the itch simultaneously. This definitely doesn't cause spreading? Great to know.

I literally don't see how you guys function for a week after getting a big rash of this stuff. Trees aren't my main thing, so I could take all the time I wanted - had it from my forehead to my beltline, since I literally took no precautions on avoiding it while taking down those trees

 

[rico]

You serious? If that works, that is the most awesome thing ever.

I now pity ppl who have this allergy in a way I never did. Holy crap.

Works great for my wife and many folks I know. Just make sure the milk is raw and the goats have been feeding on poioson ivy/oak. I myself dont have to worry about it as I can wipe my ass with poison oak and chew on the stuff with no worries.

 

[rico]

How did you feel on 6 days of Prednisolone? That shit can make some people get squirrelly real quick. It also gawd awful for your immune system.

 

[DumpyMcDoodleface]

What does that indicate, it spreading to face, etc.? In blood?

I got a 6-day course of Prednisolone, and that seemed to wipe it, or at least halted the spread of the blisters, but then - I think - I developed a slightly itchy rash on my side as a reaction to the Pred. I just went ahead and finished the course since it was only about 2 days left, and stopped using the steroid cream, and it's all clearing up. Secondary rash did not look like PI rash, but at the time I assumed it was. I'd do much rather just eat good food and do things like @rico's goat milk thing than taking pills!

The hot water did help. Seemed like it was both causing it to itch more but also scratching the itch simultaneously. This definitely doesn't cause spreading? Great to know.

I literally don't see how you guys function for a week after getting a big rash of this stuff. Trees aren't my main thing, so I could take all the time I wanted - had it from my forehead to my beltline, since I literally took no precautions on avoiding it while taking down those trees

From what I understand, poison Ivy, Oak and whatnot essentially causes an allergic reaction to the oil on the plants. Some reaction can be delayed. The primary danger in the reaction being systemic or affecting a large portion of your body is the allergic reaction getting out of hand, and it can set your body into fever, etc. If you breathe any of it it can affect your ability to breathe (so never burn the stuff). It's not actually spreadable from the blisters - but what typically happens is that oil is on your clothes, or your stuff as well as your skin. You scratch at all and now it's under your nails and you spread it around the rest of your body before getting it off. Scratching the blisters could cause infection which is also problematic if it gets out of hand.

Basically the only actual way to combat it after the fact is the steroid which you were on. All the rest of the stuff basically helps you cope with it until it goes away. That said, the hot water thing has worked for me in the past.

Hope you get it whipped.

Cheers~
Dumpy

 

[LordFarkwad]

How did you feel on 6 days of Prednisolone? That shit can make some people get squirrelly real quick. It also gawd awful for your immune system.

You are lucky, indeed (referring to not having a reaction).

I generally am uneasy about being on strong stuff like that anyway, so probably some of me feeling anything could be psychosomatic. However, I didn't really feel anything. I just don't like the concept of anything suppressing my immune system; I want that guy to be as active and healthy as it can possibly be! Plus, with the secondary rash (presumably from the Prednisolone since it did not look like a PI rash, and looked similar in appearance to some online searches for rashes caused by the steroid), I was doubly ready to be done with anything but letting my system deal with the remainder of it naturally.

I spoke with a buddy of mine who is a Dr., and showed him the package of Pred, and he said it was a relatively low dose (whatever that means, and if that means anything, given the range of things it is used to treat).

Hope you get it whipped.

Thanks, DMD. It's basically gone. No blisters, no additional 'spreading', etc. I've gone over the exterior and interior of my vehicle, as well as my rope, lanyard, saddle, and equipment with alcohol on a washcloth, then again with a weak solution of Dawn (last night for the Dawn, actually) in a squirt bottle (and washcloth) - I did not go over it again after the Dawn with alcohol or water, so I hope there are no unintended consequences from that :| But after reading multiple sources recommending a surfactant such as Dawn, that convinced me to do another pass after the initial rubbing alcohol pass.

 

[treebing]

Phew! That's a bummer about your runner. The best I can think to do would be to go to the other side and put another stopper in. Without the stopper , it really binds on ascent. They used to sell spare bodies at treestuff but I've had several people complain to me that they have been out of spare parts for some time. @bonner1040

 

[bonner1040]

We have babybumps. If you email in we can sort you out with a replacement body.

 

[bonner1040]

oh, and just use Oral Ivy.

 

[LordFarkwad]

Thanks a lot, @bonner1040 and @treebing. Will do!

Phew! That's a bummer about your runner. The best I can think to do would be to go to the other side and put another stopper in. Without the stopper , it really binds on ascent. They used to sell spare bodies at treestuff but I've had several people complain to me that they have been out of spare parts for some time. @bonner1040

There's enough of a stopper left to prevent the friction plate from going much past where it originally did, but I've not tried it while climbing yet, to see if it sticks in the folded up position much. I can foresee that being a little bit of a pain, potentially.

 

[islandarb]

Buy a baby bump and get a machinist to make it a flat smooth plate. just sold one I did years ago. It was a spare. Worked great.