slipping harness buckles

[RogerBerry]

Had a customer bring in an old Petzl harness that he is retiring. The buckles for the buttstrap loosen themselves up while he's working and end up all the way at the sewn stops in about an hour of hanging.
The harness is 3 years old and has been used every day, but there is no visible damage to the buckles. The webbing is really soft but not particularly faded or fuzzy. The buckles have only been slipping for about a month, but they do it every time now.
The only thing I can think of is that the webbing is too soft for the buckle to hold it any more.
Anybody else seen this happen?

 

[Bsaville]

Oh yeah all the time, try a weaver. Not the most comfortable but it is no worse than sitting in curch pew.

 

[Lazarus2]

I think you'll find petzl recommend the harness be replaced after 3 yrs.

If we can't afford a new harness and climbing line every three years, something is deperately wrong with the accounts (considering the full risk/cost/benefit analysis).

It never ceases to amaze me how some climbers will spend $40 a week on booze, but think saving half of that to ensure their daily comfort and safety, is outrageous.

 

[NickfromWI]

I'd send it back to Petzl. Even if it SHOULD be retired...it still SHOULD NOT be happening. At they very least, they should know about it and have the chance to inspect it. Maybe ask that they don't damage it and send it back if they can't replace it.

love
nick

 

[RogerBerry]

I agree that the harness was past the point of needing to be replaced just based on age, not even mentioning that it no longer functioned properly.
I wish I had gotten a picture of some of the gear he was still using. Everything in his bag was pretty trashed; he had some snaphooks that had broken springs and would no longer close properly. The worst part of it was that his company safety officer had approved the gear for continued use, which was why he'd waited to replace it!
Fortunately, the guy did replace the harness and some of his other gear. I gave him a rundown on how to determine when to take gear out of service and made him read the care instructions for the things he bought so he'd know for himself when to replace things in the future. I think he'll be smarter from now on.
I just have never seen webbing so whipped that the buckles couldn't hold it securely anymore.

 

[The_REVerend]

Petzel is not the only one
We have had three Glides do the same thing
Their solution was to send out these plastic stopper clips which broke in the cold
Guess what nobody here trusts the Glide anymore Strange eh!
Rev