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First Mechanical Device Failure Tonight (Safeguard)

Glad you’re in good physical standing (literally standing) now. I would have left a little Halloween chocolate in my saddle if that had happened to me.
 
I couldn't find the pieces last night, I'll look some more this afternoon. The way it's built, I think the screw most likely broke in half. The nut appears to be swagged in place after installation.
 
I thought about trying to take my Lifeguard apart to remove the spring but then the Safeguard went on sale and I had a 10% off so I went that way.
I didn't know the nuts were swaged in place.
 
boyne bowhunter said:
I couldn't find the pieces last night, I'll look some more this afternoon. The way it's built, I think the screw most likely broke in half. The nut appears to be swagged in place after installation.
Click to expand...
I took a look at mine last night to see if I could reproduce the failure. From what I can tell the screw/nut can freely turn up to a point then it binds up on something. I'm curious if repeated use over a couple of years with (probably) identical pressures on the lever/screw could get the screw to loosen itself past that binding point.

Given the nature of the device and the fact that the cam screw has similar components I'm sure the manufacturer would want to know about the failure (and I'm curious what their response would be). Heck you might even get some free swag in addition to a replaced safeguard.
 
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UPDATE: After contacting Madrock, they are making good on their lifetime warranty and are sending me a replacement Safeguard. According to them this is the first reported instance of the handle rivet breaking. In my opinion they've handled this very well and have demonstrated excellent customer service!!! :D
 
boyne bowhunter said:
UPDATE: After contacting Madrock, they are making good on their lifetime warranty and are sending me a replacement Safeguard. According to them this is the first reported instance of the handle rivet breaking. In my opinion they've handled this very well and have demonstrated excellent customer service!!! :D
Click to expand...
Very cool
 
boyne bowhunter said:
Thanks but there was no danger, just inconvenience. I carry an ATC and prusik as a backup but didn't feel the need to break it out. I also have a backup Safeguard here in the camper so my weekend isn't even ruined. I really wanted to bring attention to the fact that these things can and will happen so have a backup plan.
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A lot of guys don't know you can descend on a prusik. I've seen different similar friction hitches that work better but I'm not well versed in them. You can also rappel on a caribiner btw. I prefer to keep a figure 8 in my kit for rappelling but I've got a Safeguard on order with plans to try it for SRT up and rap down. I'll keep it attached at hunting height with a knot below it. I use a RCH and home made saddle anyway so 2 points of contact in the tree.
 
robstewart said:
A lot of guys don't know you can descend on a prusik. I've seen different similar friction hitches that work better but I'm not well versed in them. You can also rappel on a caribiner btw. I prefer to keep a figure 8 in my kit for rappelling but I've got a Safeguard on order with plans to try it for SRT up and rap down. I'll keep it attached at hunting height with a knot below it. I use a RCH and home made saddle anyway so 2 points of contact in the tree.
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I'm too fat to rappel on a prusik. I've tried, it binds up too tight. Even my Distel hitch binds awful tight to make it easy to rappel. For the record, I carry an ATC and a prusik loop as a backup (the ATC carries enough load to make the prusik usable) for rappelling if I need it. In this instance I just didn't deem it necessary. I could always tie a Munter hitch direct to a biner and rappel on that if I had to. Bottom line is there's lots of way out of the tree on a single rope, you just want to pick one that you know will get you down at the proper rate. ;)
 
I'm sure Customer Service was gracious because they were relieved you were contacting them instead of your estates attorney! That could have been really bad.
2 questions.....What is an ATC, and is the Safeguard comparable to the GriGri? Glad your ok.
 
boyne bowhunter said:
Tonight I dragged the camper to the area I'm hunting this weekend and arrived right at 6:00. Rushed out to spend an hour in an observation sit. I was setup on the edge of a large clear cut and sat right to last light. When I went to rappel down the lever of my Safeguard came right off in my hand. I wasn't very high so I just one sticked back down the tree. Still it was a bit of a shock.
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That right there is why I use a figure 8 to rappel down with. No mechanical parts to break off.
 
bakin7005 said:
I'm sure Customer Service was gracious because they were relieved you were contacting them instead of your estates attorney! That could have been really bad.
2 questions.....What is an ATC, and is the Safeguard comparable to the GriGri? Glad your ok.
Click to expand...
An ATC is a belay device to create friction in a rope to help hold a load.
www.rei.com

Black Diamond ATC Belay Device | REI Co-op

Often copied but never equaled, the Black Diamond ATC belay device provides lightweight yet durable belaying and rappelling performance anytime, anywhere.
www.rei.com www.rei.com

The rope passes through it and routes around the connecting biner. This carries the majority of the load. When combined with a prusik on the tag end of the rope it allows you to hang hands free on the way down.

The Safeguard is essentially the same as the Grigri less a return spring which improves it performance for work positioning (aka Saddle Hunting).

First off, I'm not a litigious kind of guy but .. . . I don't think I even broke a sweat when it failed. Not much of a case. :)

For the record I have been extremely happy with Madrock's customer service. Replacement Safeguard will be here next week (they were out of stock when I made the claim).
 
boyne bowhunter said:
An ATC is a belay device to create friction in a rope to help hold a load.
www.rei.com

Black Diamond ATC Belay Device | REI Co-op

Often copied but never equaled, the Black Diamond ATC belay device provides lightweight yet durable belaying and rappelling performance anytime, anywhere.
www.rei.com www.rei.com

The rope passes through it and routes around the connecting biner. This carries the majority of the load. When combined with a prusik on the tag end of the rope it allows you to hang hands free on the way down. (adding the Prussik is called an autoblock and should really only be added if you are doing Extended belay. if rappelling off the belay loop of an R/C harness and running and autoblock off the leg loop you run the risk of the Prussik sliding up into the ATC locking the whole works in place (and then you're stuck). You're better off extending the belay by running a climbing rated webbing sling from the ATC 'biner thru the belay loop then back up to the ATC 'Biner - increasing the distance between the ATC and autoblock. if you're running the ATC off your saddle bridge you're probably extended enough.)

The Safeguard is essentially the same as the Grigri less a return spring which improves it performance for work positioning (aka Saddle Hunting).

First off, I'm not a litigious kind of guy but .. . . I don't think I even broke a sweat when it failed. Not much of a case. :)

For the record I have been extremely happy with Madrock's customer service. Replacement Safeguard will be here next week (they were out of stock when I made the claim).
Click to expand...
see the notes in red
 
boyne bowhunter said:
I'm too fat to rappel on a prusik. I've tried, it binds up too tight. Even my Distel hitch binds awful tight to make it easy to rappel. For the record, I carry an ATC and a prusik loop as a backup (the ATC carries enough load to make the prusik usable) for rappelling if I need it. In this instance I just didn't deem it necessary. I could always tie a Munter hitch direct to a biner and rappel on that if I had to. Bottom line is there's lots of way out of the tree on a single rope, you just want to pick one that you know will get you down at the proper rate. ;)
Click to expand...
If the prusik is below the ATC or in my case, Figure 8, then it doesn't hold hardly any weight at all. I connect to my leg strap and use a 8" extension between my RCH and figure 8 to ensure enough separation.

You hit the nail on the head though. It's key to know how to do different methods with whatever you have on you in case something doesn't work.
 
Glad you are safe!
What rope are you using? I've noticed that sampson predator take significantly more "pull" on the safeguard handle than Sterling htp. Not sure if it's the diameter or material that makes the difference.
 
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