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Madrock Safeguard Failure

BowhunterXC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Messages
1,034
Location
N.W. Ohio
I was climbing with a Summit platform only, while in my saddle and using my 9.5mm Sterling rappel rope. When I reached the top, I attached my pull-down cord to the Maverick Hitch and started to rappel back down. However, the Madrock release handle would not release. :confused: I had the handle pulled back as far as it would go and nothing happened. It was tending just fine during the climb, but when I put my weight on it and pulled the release handle, it did nothing. It acted like it was locked up, so I stood up, tended the rope a few inches and tried it again.....nothing. :rolleyes:

I set up a Munter Hitch, just below it, pulled the Madrock and rappelled down. :) In the last couple of months, I've noticed that the Madrock was "creeping", while I was standing on my platform and leaning. I felt some motion, looked at my rappel rope and noticed it creeping thru the Madrock. I replaced it with a Longhorn Agile Hitch and never gave it another thought. I'm assuming it's some sort of mechanical malfunction and so I've made the decision to permanently park it.

Has anyone else had their Madrock start slightly slipping or more like creeping?
....or just lock up and not release?
 
Seems like i have seen someone else mention their madrock creeping on here recently. It's part of what made me decide to start using a figure 8.

Have you contacted Madrock? I'd be curious to see what they say. Better it locked up than the opposite!

ETA: found it. This is the thread I was thinking of- recent posts starting on page 7 -



BT
 
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@Black Titan
Yep, I've read through some of that post too, thanks for re-posting it. :)
I'll find the contact info for Madrock and see what they have to say about it.
 
I had the handle come off one once, a long time ago (2019) and couldn't rappel down. Madrock replaced it and I've been using the replacement without issues ever since.

 
Curious- what type of tree were you in?
I don't even have a guess as to what the type of tree I was in, has to do with the Madrock failure, but if it makes you feel better it is a Hackberry tree. It's a very rough bark tree that's hard on ropes, but a tree stand bites into it very well.
 
I don't even have a guess as to what the type of tree I was in, has to do with the Madrock failure, but if it makes you feel better it is a Hackberry tree. It's a very rough bark tree that's hard on ropes, but a tree stand bites into it very well.
I asked because of the potential for sap to be on your rope and get into your device. I've had the same thing happen with a $400 descender during a job. It's almost always a foreign object (or operator error).

BTW: Rope creep is usually caused by a dirty rope. I have videos of rope access equipment slipping with KMIII max. Strangely, it makes it difficult to descend on in this state (seems counterintuitive, but it's not). Try a new rope through that Madrock and you'll likely be ok
 
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I asked because of the potential for sap to be on your rope and get into your device. I've had the same thing happen with a $400 descender during a job. It's almost always a foreign object (or operator error).

BTW: Rope creep is usually caused by a dirty rope. I have videos of rope access equipment slipping with KMIII max. Strangely, it makes it difficult to descend on in this state (seems counterintuitive, but it's not). Try a new rope through that Madrock and you'll likely be ok
I was squinting… thinking possibly sap related!
 
I’m guessing Madrock will tell you to always keep your brake hand on the rope, per their instructions.
Understandable, if I was in the act of rappelling. However, I was just leaning on my platform, when I noticed some movement and looked at the rope slipping thru the Madrock. :rolleyes: This is a new rope, purchased this year and has been climbed on a several times, but the rope itself shows no sign of wear, dirt or other deterioration.

I'll test it at ground level a few more times, but for my own peace of mind, the device has been parked....permanently. I've replaced it with non-metal hitches for ascending and a simple carabiner and a Munter Hitch for rappelling. :)
 
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