• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

How I get my ROS tight

I've always been leery of that rivet in an OCB. It's a single point of failure and doesn't look all that beefy. Has anyone ever tested it to failure? I'm curious. I was playing around with my OCB today with 2 Ameristeps and had me thinking about it.
 
g2outdoors said:
I've always been leery of that rivet in an OCB. It's a single point of failure and doesn't look all that beefy. Has anyone ever tested it to failure? I'm curious. I was playing around with my OCB today with 2 Ameristeps and had me thinking about it.
Click to expand...
I agree the weakest point would be the rivet or the frame of the OCB in the open to close position.
But as I have been testing this thing I have found if you don’t have to have the OCB strap crazy tight when closing it there seems to be less stress on the buckle and once it’s closed it is much stronger with a straight pull on the strap/buckle.
 
Guys have been using the buckle for years and I can't think of anyone that has actually broken one. @redsquirrel can you?

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
g2outdoors said:
Guys have been using the buckle for years and I can't think of anyone that has actually broken one. @redsquirrel can you?

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I'm not @redsquirrel, but I'm aware of 3 that have broken which is a tiny fraction of a percent of all sold. They all broke during the cam-over process and not after being setup. I believe they were either manufacturing defects or were just being cammed over too hard. I don't think they would ever break after being setup (in our use), so there isn't a safety issue.
 
That's good feedback. It makes sense that they would break during the cam. Seems improbably after that.

Thanks @DanO

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
g2outdoors said:
Guys have been using the buckle for years and I can't think of anyone that has actually broken one. @redsquirrel can you?

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Until @DanO's post above, I have only seen one person reference breaking one. I don't even remember pics so I can't remember if it actually happened. There has been lots of discussion of the rivets being the weak but I haven't seen any problems.

I think i've been using the actual boat buckle for 4 seasons now. I used the original one we found for the first season, and the one that @bowhunter15 found with the plastic on it for the ones since. I haven't bent or broken any of them. The season prior to the boat buckle I used the big 2 inch OCB I had found. It never broke but at the end of the season I had bent it. I had a lot of leverage with that big buckle :).
 
I've had the same OCB for many years. It looks no worse for wear.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
Just an idea, how about using a wedge for the tree cutting industry. Typically they’re made out of a hard plastic, just step it down behind the strap.
dcb5f368287a914a8e782bac4fe0744b.png
dcb5f368287a914a8e782bac4fe0744b.png



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Noonan61 said:
Just an idea, how about using a wedge for the tree cutting industry. Typically they’re made out of a hard plastic, just step it down behind the strap.
dcb5f368287a914a8e782bac4fe0744b.png
dcb5f368287a914a8e782bac4fe0744b.png



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


That might work
 
Those wedges may have the tendency to work themselves out? For weight, packing, and ability to fine tune the tightness I think @Treehopper2 hit it out of the park with this
 
I can't imagine that wedge working. However, if you drilled a small hold in the bottom (thicker part), and ran a small screw threw it like we used to do on the Ameristeps, that might give it some purchase on the bark to keep it from sliding down.
 
Interesting idea. I like the turn screws.

I have never had a problem getting the OCB tight on my ROS. I am always on my LB and pulling the tag end with my left hand to make it as tight as possible. Then, I try to cam over with my right. If it's too hard, I just add a little slack by pulling the buckle and letting a little more of the tag end slide through to make it easier, then I cam over. Lining up the tag end of the strap with the whole strap before you cam over helps.

I have probable done 50-60 climbs with a squirrel step ROS and had no issue. No failures / no near failures.

However, for a while I was using single squirrel steps on an OCB as a climbing step. I did have them release on me twice when climbing. I just hadn't fully cammed them over. They were like 80% cammed and when I stepped on them they uncammed. That caused some tense moments. I don't know if I just wasn't paying full attention when I was putting up multiple straps or there is something about the way the weight distributes from a single step on an OCB vs. 6 steps on an OCB. I stopped using this method.

If anyone invents a silent ratchet strap, send me a link for pre-order! Till then, its OCB for me.
 
I went out today and did some more testing on different types of trees other my test tree I had used up until this point.
It didn’t like really thick bark trees at all it helped some but the bolt wanted to go in that thick soft bark.
A “foot” on the end of the bolt that may give it more surface area to push against but that will require more torque applied with the knobs.
I then went to a smoother bark tree got the OCB strap tight and walked each step in. I then tighten the knobs down tight and that firmed them up.
It’s not perfect but it helps and it made me realize the OCB is a very strong buckle but it will never do what a ratchet strap can by design. Maybe this little device can help bridge that gap between the to.
Moving forward it or another version will stay on my ROS for the times needed. I don’t really notice it’s on there until I use it .
I have talked to a couple SA members with far more ROS experience than I have and I’m trying to get one in their hand to test and find the pros and cons.
I like the thing but my vision my be clouded because it’s my idea. Hopefully he will run it through the ringer and let us know.
The pictures show the trees tested today and the slack it pulled out of the strap from as tight as I could get the
b189665d884517f3a27d299922cd8803.jpg
OCB.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Noonan61 said:
Just an idea, how about using a wedge for the tree cutting industry. Typically they’re made out of a hard plastic, just step it down behind the strap.
dcb5f368287a914a8e782bac4fe0744b.png
dcb5f368287a914a8e782bac4fe0744b.png



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I've tried something like this before. I used rubber door stops. Might have been before I was using an OCB. I can't remember anymore..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top