when to replace equipment

emr

emr

Location
WI
I was wondering how ofter people replace there gear. I like to replace before I see something that sends up a "red flag". How long do you use
Saddles?
Biners?
Ropes?
Laynards?
I understand that frequency and intensity of use are all factors. I am just wondering what others do.....this is not a scientific study.

Thanks
 
when you fall out of the tree... /forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
joking aside, keep checking it, if you're in the UK a LOLER inspection is required every 6 mths anyway so that would rid you of potentially unsafe gear. biners- if they stick even after cleaning or if the gate opens without effort
ropes- if there's lots of snags or changes in diameter or if your mates have used it to tow a landrover out of a ditch...
well, the list could go on forever, I'm sure someone can find a link with details on it, in the meantime, if you look at your gear before the job and your comment is along the lines of "well, it'll probrably hold me..."
then bin it and buy a new one!
 
Saddles should be replaced every 10 years. Nylon degrades 5% each year.
Biners, just check em before use everytime. Use powdered graphite if they stick. The use of petrolium products will attract debris. If you choose to use the Petzl biners with the plastic gate, check the gates for cracks. I have over 50 of them with cracked gates. Found 2 during gear inspection last Saturday at our TCC.
Rope, check before each use. 25% or more wear, discard it and cut it up so no one else will use it. Same with lanyards.
 
Where can you pick up the powdered graphite stick? I have some of the ball lock carabiners that don't snap right closed and are sticking. I saw some guys at the competition using some sort of oil or something on them. Thanks in advance Norm.
 
I've got a tube of liquid Teflon for biners and mechanisms. This was recommended by a buddy who leads canyoneering climbs in the SW US and gets lots of grit in the biners.

After using the Teflon for almost three years I don't notice any dirt collecting on them.
 
You're supposed to replace youe Gibbs ascender every two years.

Mine is going on five years now, and working fine.
 
I dont know about using the saddle for ten years with materials degraded by half. To me that seems just too far degraded.
 
variables like if you work a lot or post alot ? oh yeah , I said it ! where do you get gear with inter net connections ? xcuse me while I kiss this beer !
 
Norm's 5% per year degradation has been published elsewhere-----but I question it because of other published data.-In any case 5% per year does NOT mean 50% loss after 10 years-It would retain 63% of original strength at the beginning of year 10 and finish that year with just under 60% of original.
 
[ QUOTE ]
variables like if you work a lot or post alot ? oh yeah , I said it ! where do you get gear with inter net connections ? xcuse me while I kiss this beer !

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea, something like that.
aaf_whatthehell.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
variables like if you work a lot or post alot ? oh yeah , I said it ! where do you get gear with inter net connections ? xcuse me while I kiss this beer !

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea, something like that.
aaf_whatthehell.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Haha! Where'd that come from? /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I just crack up , knowing that the blaster is always on the reply. There has to be some wireless internet connection on his gear to be able to post so much. Better to be a blaster than a bator. back to my fantasy football team that blows.
 
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