splice slipped on NE Fly rope

[John Paul Sanborn]

At the WAA conferance I was told by a vendor that a factory splice on the new "Fly" rope slipped. NER told the vendor that it was human error in the making of the splice.

It did not fail completely, but the climber to whom it happend was some 40 ft in the areand felt it jerk, so immidiately got an older rope sent up to him.

This vendor then contacted all the few people who had perchanced the rope from the and recalled it. I understand that the spile is now stitched different and they are using clear shrinkwrap to cover it so visual inspections can be made.

I'm forwarding this page to the vendor and to NER to see if they need to comment.

 

[TREETX]

Great info since I was pulling up to the computer to order some Fly with a splice today.

Where is a good place to order it (Sherrill doesn't have it on their site). And who will have it with the "new splice"?

Please keep us posted

Nate

 

[seanlarkin]

We have the Fly rope, and I've just made it available online. Just enter "fly", into the search field, and that will return a page with the Fly ropes and probably some FlyLite throwline. The rope comes in 120, 150, 200, and 600 foot legths, although we currently only have 120 and 150 foot lengths in stock. Also, our splicers have been trained and authorized to splice the rope. Thanks.
-Sean

 

[treeclimber165]

Sean,
Since this rope's advantages really shine on taller trees, will it be available in 200' lengths soon? I can use any old climbing line for shorter trees but prefer the Fly for those 100'+ monsters. Or will I have to buy a 600' spool?

 

[seanlarkin]

It comes in 120 150 200 and 600 foot lengths. What I meant to say was that we only have 120 and 150 in stock at the moment.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Sean, are you using clear shrinkwrap on the splice? (it sure looks funky!)

Alexander Equipment has the latest one in stock. I worked at their booth for the WAA tradeshow (will work for stuff!) and they went home with only one hank left over.

this is thier email address [email protected]

 

[budroe69moni]

i was just thinking the same thing dan!
why trust some unknown when you can
trust yourself???????
what exactly are the advantages of using
a line w/ an eye spliced in?????
budroe

 

[Frans]

Hey all
Take it easy will ya!
this is starting to sound like a witch hunt.

Budroe, the advantages of a spliced eye are well documented in this web site's archives as well as many others.
splices have been in use for as long as humans have been handling rope.

this issue of the 'fly' rope splice coming undone is very serious. I for one will be using this rope (spliced by myself according to NER directions) on friday for a climb.
But I seriously dont belive for one minute that Sherrills, NER or any other vendor would EVER promote a product or method that was unsafe and tested.

Sherrills for one has a long history of responsiveness, accountability and safety.

NER has probably been around for a lot longer than we have been alive. And has been making splices for the same amount of time.
So please, dont join in the witch hunt mob mentality.
Lets find out what is going on with this in a responsible, thoughtfull way.
Folks put their life on the line with these products and that is not to be looked at lightly.
Frans

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I got a auto responce from Howard's email at NER so he will not be able to answer until his return next week.

I just remembered that the rope needs to be whipped, not lock-stitched. The core has very paralele strands in it so the lock stitich is not efficient in holding the splice together.

BTW, when I first get on a splice I will bounce on it a few times and work low and slow with it befor doing anything when failure will risk my lard a$$.

We trust our saddles stitching and the carab's manufacture, I see no reason for not using a manufactured prodduct if it is inspected and self tested rigorously before use.

Just like giving a crotch a bounce test before ascending.

 

[Frans]

JP:
"Just like giving a crotch a bounce tes before ascending."

JP, is this a premarital test?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I thought that was "riding a horse before buying it."

I hope I never experiance limb failure in the ambiguity you found

 

[NickfromWI]

Originally posted by TreeCo

Would you jump with a parachute that some unknown person packed?

Funny you should mention that....tomorrow (saturday) I am going skydiving for the first time. I will probably be jumping just out of faith. Let's hope I live to climb another tree!

love
nick

 

[treeman82]

I had heard about this when I was up at the Sugar Shack with Nick earlier this month. I think Tim W. knows a bunch about this. I think he had said that the guy who's splice failed was able to grab onto the rope on his way down and avoided serious injury. However I COULD be mistaken. Any word on what happened Tim?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

This splice did not fail, My understanding is that he had a rope sent up to him, but I can see him olding on to the spliced end till he got his feet onto something

 

[treeclimber165]

This is the scary part about people starting their climbing careers on spliced ropes and ascenders. They don't learn things like HOW TO TIE A KNOT. Amazing how he was unable to continue working on that rope and needed another rope to get down. I guess he forgot how to TIE A KNOT because he was freaked out about the splice? Doesn't sound like a climber I would want on my job.

Oh, if anyone needs the splicing instructions for the Fly rope, I have the newer version. Just email me and I'll forward it to you.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

He's a very good climber who grew up in the trade. He probably sent the line down because he prefers the eyesplice and wanted to return the rope. Why flip the end and put in a knot when you can get another rope in 5 min?

I've flipped the rope when I dropped a split tail and kicked myself the whole climb, doing it oldschool.

 

[treeclimber165]

I wasn't implying he should have flipped the rope and climbed with a tautline hitch. Simply unclipped the eye, pull the spliced eye and some rope through the carabiner and tied a double fisherman's. About 90 seconds if he was nervous.

 

[tjk]

Lets clear a few things up. The splice in question was mine . Like jps said I felt a slip and noticed the splice shifted. I got my weight off climbed back to the main stem, fliped on my lanyard. Then installed my prusik, cord and footlocked up to my tye in point. Then had another rope sent up because I was using a rope guide, I had alot more work to do in the tree. Sent the rope back and recieved a new one in two days. Been using it since Nov. no problems. I was told it was not buried enough. The point is check your gear often. I inspect my all during the day. The splice was not going to fail just freaked me out alittle. oh yeah lets not bash peoples skill levels with out all of the information, or better yet at all. work safe

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Originally posted by tjk
oh yeah lets not bash peoples skill levels with out all of the information, or better yet at all.

That will never happen around here

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

How much was it not buried enough? It's only a six inch bury to start with.
So it was buried 5" or 4", then it slipped more? At what point do you feel it would fail? I must be missing something.