biner opened

[Adkpk]

Had a ISC Mongoose open up on me today. Thought I ordered a quadlock, but I am not sure now. I will check the receipt tomorrow. Can anyone tell from here if this is the quad or the tri lock.
The tail end of my rope got between the biners of the dees. Using a split tail. I was just leaving a branch after splitting tailing around a branch about 60' up a white pine. I was watching as I always do to check the knots and system are in order and low and behold I watched as the biner lock twisted, lifted and the rope slipped into the mechanism. I had to push the rope all the way inside the biner to get it unstuck from the locking mechanism then repelled (only about a foot) to the branch below. Where I removed the tail end of the rope from the biner and continued the climb. Needless to say this biner will be retired and I will go back to my ball lock biner. It was only the second time I climbed with this type.

 

[treemanb]

not a quad lock from what i can see... with the quad lock the entire gate gets covered by the lock

 

[Bermie]

That is a quad lock, I have a quad lock on my lanyard and the gate is the same, pic attached of a quad lock on the left, tri lock on the right.

I have had a trilock open only once, sliding past a branch, the branch rubbed over the gate pushed it up and it twisted as I slid down the side. Like you I was watching and checking as I repositioned and saw it happen.

ANY biner can open given just the right set of circumstances, this is why we keep our eyes open, I wouldn't rush to retire it, just know what can happen.

 

[woodchuck361]

Glad it turned out alright. Good on you for watching and preventing an accident.

 

[Adkpk]

I wouldn't rush to retire it, just know what can happen.

Retire it from my life line. The ball lock seem to me to be less likely to open.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Retire it from my life line. The ball lock seem to me to be less likely to open.

Just watch out for snowmelt from warm fingers getting into the lock. I've had ball locks freeze up.

 

[Lawnmowerboy48]

I believe it was petzl who has recalls on their ball locks as well, I don't trust them.

 

[rbtree]

Even the new ball locks are poorly designed. On two of the four I have, the ball fell out, which is one piece of plastic, only held in by two small tabs (one piece, all part of its shape) that are too thin. I discussed this obvious defect with Petzl reps, told them they need to retool the design....maybe make the tabs a mm thicker would be enuf. Except for this , I like the new design, hated the old ones...which were hard to open with one hand..and the plastic gate was always suspect.

 

[Adkpk]

It's official. I ordered a quad and I got a quad. Purple gate is quad, maroon is tri. I will still reinstall the ball lock to my life line.
In all the reading I have done on this site concerning biners I never read or bothered to ask if biners bend if they become unlocked. Now I know.
Anybody one ever see one bend? Rigging or otherwise.

 

[ddhlakebound]

It's official. I ordered a quad and I got a quad. Purple gate is quad, maroon is tri. I will still reinstall the ball lock to my life line.
In all the reading I have done on this site concerning biners I never read or bothered to ask if biners bend if they become unlocked. Now I know.
Anybody one ever see one bend? Rigging or otherwise.

The last issue of Tree Services magazine has an article called "The Right Connecting Links for the Job" The header pic shows 4 different broken or bent biners, listed as a result of overuse, overloading, or side loading.

Even the new ball locks are poorly designed. On two of the four I have, the ball fell out, which is one piece of plastic, only held in by two small tabs (one piece, all part of its shape) that are too thin. I discussed this obvious defect with Petzl reps, told them they need to retool the design....maybe make the tabs a mm thicker would be enuf. Except for this , I like the new design, hated the old ones...which were hard to open with one hand..and the plastic gate was always suspect.

I definatley agree, the new version is much better, easier to operate, and more secure. Here's to hoping Petzl listens to you, and improves them a bit more.

 

[treegal1]

stainless steel 56Kn and a triple lock at that, the safety thing is no joke with me, had an aluminum one open and stretch on me once, maybe a pear link would be better if its a fixed position. $0.02