Petal Sequoia Failure

[TreeLogic]

Petzl Sequoia Failure

I've had my Sequoia for probably 2 years now. The saddle is still in good shape but when pruning a red maple Friday, I turned and felt something give way. I was standing luckily. Turns out it was the adjustable webbing that runs between the right bridge ring and the right D. I took a webbing loop, girthed it around the bridge ring, cloved it to the hip d with 2 half hitches. And then clipped the end loop to the hip d for safe measure. I adjusted the length to match the other side, double checked everything and finished the tree.

When I took the saddle home and checked the other side, it's almost half torn too.

I check my gear thoroughly (at least I thought), and daily. But these rips are directly under the hip D's and very hard to see or get at. You nearly have to cut the main belt to get to them. It appears the aluminum D's have corroded underneath the webbing, enough to become jagged. I guess with constant movement the rough edges have cut through the webbing. I'll post some pics soon.

Man this makes me nervous but I really have enjoyed this saddle. Any helpful suggestions?

 

[jefflovstrom]

Yeah, Inspect your gear!,,again!
Jeff

 

[woodchuck357]

Steel

:msp_biggrin:

 

[imagineero]

Would be good to see some photos

Have you contacted Petzl about this? They are generally very good with this sort of thing, they do follow up, work out if it's a one off issue or a broader issue and then may proceed with a general recall or an updated design. If you do contact them you may be saving someone's life.

They may be willing to offer you a new saddle.

Shaun

 

[TreeLogic]

Yeah, Inspect your gear!,,again!
Jeff

wow, snappy comeback.

if you have something helpful, fine. one warning - keep it up if you want me to make a fool out of you in front of everyone.

 

[TreeLogic]

Would be good to see some photos

Have you contacted Petzl about this? They are generally very good with this sort of thing, they do follow up, work out if it's a one off issue or a broader issue and then may proceed with a general recall or an updated design. If you do contact them you may be saving someone's life.

They may be willing to offer you a new saddle.

Shaun

Shaun, thanks! I haven't yet because it was the weekend but I'll contact them today and let you know what I find out. I'll get some pics posted too.

 

[TreeLogic]

pics

Still in decent shape otherwise. On each torn piece there is white corroded aluminum powder. I love how light weight aluminum is but the corrosion should be addressed i think.

View attachment 279884

View attachment 279885

View attachment 279886

 

[TreeLogic]

:msp_biggrin:

Yeah I know, right? The longer I climb, the more I think the extra weight of steel matters more on the ground than it does sittin' in the saddle or climbing - IMHO. I still bring the chainsaw up with me most of the time.

 

[treemandan]

wow, snappy comeback.

if you have something helpful, fine. one warning - keep it up if you want me to make a fool out of you in front of everyone.

Uh dude? All he said was to inspect your gear which I though was pretty helpful.

Now please don't get to bent when I ask how old and how much work has your saddle been put through.

 

[jefflovstrom]

- keep it up if you want me to make a fool out of you in front of everyone.

Go for it,,,

 

[squad143]

TreeLogic

Thanks for sharing. Although I check my gear fairly regularly your discovery is justification to continue to do so, only at a much closer inspection.

Welcome to the site.

I find the thicker I allow my skin to become, the more I enjoy my time on here.:msp_thumbup:

 

[MackenzieTree]

when i took some climbing classes one thing that kinda stcuk with me and is helpfull was to do a BACK check before climbing. hope it helps:msp_thumbup:

Belt
Anchor
Carabiners
Knots

 

[KenJax Tree]

Wow Jeff is gonna get abused by a newb:msp_mellow:

 

[TreeLogic]

TreeLogic

Thanks for sharing. Although I check my gear fairly regularly your discovery is justification to continue to do so, only at a much closer inspection.

Welcome to the site.

I find the thicker I allow my skin to become, the more I enjoy my time on here.:msp_thumbup:

Well said!
I know somewhere in jeff's original reply was some backhanded advice. I appreciate the "advice" part of it. I was clear with my details in the start of the thread and i agree about the thick skin. members like him push well meaning people away from the site when all they want is advice, not to be belittled.
Not really a newb. I used to roam these halls a bunch when I first started climbing 13 years ago. Argumentative posts didnt run me off, but lets just say I found it easier to learn from friends, books, and people who didn't have a chip on their shoulder. Anyway, I've run a tree svc for 11 years now. nobody will ever learn all there is to know, but I love learning about it, so I'm back. I'll shut up and learn now. Thanks for the kind words and help.

 

[woodchuck357]

If I were climbing a mountain weight would be a major concern

but, working and sweating put a lot of extra wear on equipment, thanks for pointing out a hard to inspect, unlikely wear point as well as smart adz remarks that, while they may be entertaining to some, are seldom helpful.:msp_tongue:

 

[jefflovstrom]

Well said!
I know somewhere in jeff's original reply was some backhanded advice. I appreciate the "advice" part of it. I was clear with my details in the start of the thread and i agree about the thick skin. members like him push well meaning people away from the site when all they want is advice, not to be belittled.
Not really a newb. I used to roam these halls a bunch when I first started climbing 13 years ago. Argumentative posts didnt run me off, but lets just say I found it easier to learn from friends, books, and people who didn't have a chip on their shoulder. Anyway, I've run a tree svc for 11 years now. nobody will ever learn all there is to know, but I love learning about it, so I'm back. I'll shut up and learn now. Thanks for the kind words and help.

Dang, I am so sorry! I was not being argumentive or anything else. I tell all my guy's to inspect their gear. I don't know you and wouldn't try to run you off. I also don't have a chip on my shoulder. You don't know me, so don't warn me,,,,
Jeff

 

[treeclimber101]

It's amazing to me that you inspect that saddle daily and didn't see what looks to me as a old tear to the point the inner parts have the same color as the outer material , maybe you should ask someone else to also Inspect your gear , just to be safe ya know !

 

[jefflovstrom]

but, working and sweating put a lot of extra wear on equipment, thanks for pointing out a hard to inspect, unlikely wear point as well as smart adz remarks that, while they may be entertaining to some, are seldom helpful.:msp_tongue:

Seldom helpful? Really,,, I said inspect and inspect again!,, How is that not helpful,, hardly entertaining,,the inspection would of caught this earlier. Smard az.
Jeff

 

[treeclimber101]

but, working and sweating put a lot of extra wear on equipment, thanks for pointing out a hard to inspect, unlikely wear point as well as smart adz remarks that, while they may be entertaining to some, are seldom helpful.:msp_tongue:

The truth of the matter is that wasn't really a smart ass comment , now me saying not seeing that is like Helen Keller missing a rabbits trail through the woods is easier to understand then not seeing that wear . Now that's a smart assed comment ! Said with zest ! :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[KenJax Tree]

Every morning before ANY truck or chipper leaves the yard it gets a walk around inspection no if,and or buts it gets inspected, before anyone climbs or cuts anything all equiment is inspected it should be mandatory at every company.

A real good example is the Carnival cruise ship that just got towed in a fuel line broke and caught the motor on fire and they said if it said properly inspected it would've been found before the ship ever left port and now its gonna cost Carnival millions of $$$ for lawsuits because they didn't take time for a proper inspection.