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Booty Your Own Stuck Cams - Cam out of reach

Original Post
Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

So the most recent booty cam acquisition involved the dreaded cam-stuck-alla-way-in-the-damn-crack. This can be a crack of a size that does not fully bind up the cam lobes, but the trigger is too far to reach with your fingers and one nut tool will not do the trick. So why can't you just snag one side of the trigger bar and pull? Think about the way the trigger works. You use two fingers to bring the bar down evenly, thus engaging both sets of wires on the two pairs of cam lobes (in general). If you only have one side of the trigger bar snagged with your nut tool, the other cams are still motionless...taunting your futile efforts just inches away.

What to do???!!!!

Get your buddie's nut tool as well and hook the other side of the trigger bar. Now, with both nut tools in unison, pull slowly and retract all cam lobes. You should be able to walk that sumbitch towards you now, in whatever direction looks the best. When it gets close to the edge, try using your fingers. ¥ou got it!

The other day I used two nut tools with short keeper cords. I was pulling the cords themselves, the cam was so deep. I guided one tool with a taped on stick as well. On another occasion I swung the nut tool by the cord and hooked the trigger. That only required one tool, as the crack was pretty wide.

So get back up there and get yer cams before someone else does.

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

Tim, maybe "tricks o the trade", eh???

I've used three tools, one clipped to the trigger & my belay loop and two to try and work the lobes.

Stuck nuts??? If it weren't for that one crystal it keeps snagging on! DANG-IT!!!

Anyone come up with a sure fire way for tri cams, they have to be the worst -- I think mapp gas torch with hammer & chisel/punch with a crowbar. Bastard! come out of there!!

Dave West · · Roanoke, VA · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 55

Stoppers are pretty darn handy for snaggin' out of reach triggers as well. I have used the stopper + 1 nut tool combo successfully on numerous occasions.

Sergio P · · Idaho Springs, CO · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 185

I've taken 2 metal stays out of a backpack, taped a nut tool to to each one and walked it out. The stays are stiffer and lower profile then most sticks. Granted this was in the Creek where I could put all this together on the ground and have my partner haul it up. Using the loops on the top of nuts works wonders too.

Wade T · · Grants Pass, OR · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 0

We would tie a piece of 2-3mm cord to each side of the trigger bar, inside the trigger wirepulls, and run it around the end of the cam shaft, through the sling. When those damb things would fall all the way in, you simply had to pull the end of the cord to retract the cams. You can use a nut tool if it's really buried in there. The cord stays out of the way pretty well too.

Will Wallace · · Olympia, WA · Joined May 2005 · Points: 520
Mark Nelson wrote: Anyone come up with a sure fire way for tri cams, they have to be the worst -- I think mapp gas torch with hammer & chisel/punch with a crowbar. Bastard! come out of there!!
My tricams never get stuck because they have never left the gear store.
Micahisaac · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 80
Bill Ballace wrote: My tricams never get stuck because they have never left the gear store.
That's why my hexes don't get stuck either!

For cams I tie a slip knot in one of those super skinny Mammut slings and lasso around both sides of the trigger. Pull cord, use nut tool or two to manipulate cam lobes and voila!
Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

Seems like with tricams you have to know how they were set, and then only pivot it back in that direction. Once they are unset and wobbling around in the crack, then it would almost be ideal if you had some big tweezers to get that sumbitch out.

Justin Dansby · · NC · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 1,530

Yeah so I totally lodged a Metolius yellow way deep into Vision crack in the Red. I've never told anyone till now, but it feels good to get it off my chest.

Kevin Stricker · · Evergreen, CO · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 1,197

Two Quickdraws with the upper biner removed (one for each trigger)can work in a pinch...are stiffer than a sling and work better than a nut tool on those smaller sized cracks.

As for the Tricam, a cordless sawzaw with a metal cutting blade would probably be best. Usefull for getting rid of old stuck cams as well.

Marc H · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 265

Speaking of tricams, anyone played with the new (to me) .25 Camp Tricam? I saw them in the store yesterday and I was gonna pick one up, but then I remember that I hardly ever use tricams anymore.

I'd be curious to know if people find it (.25) to be a useful size though.

--Marc

Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

We talking about SLCD's or tricams?
For SLCD's, YOu get the "head" of the nut tool between the narrow lobes and the rock and pry wile pulling on whatever part of the cam you can reach- it's bootied me about a full indian creek rack over the last several years, despite trying to return the piece to it's owner when I can find the owner...
Works on Camalots, HB's, Aliens, DMM's, Trangos, etc...

For tricams, you hammer them in lightly with a tool between the rounded "rocker" side ane then while "overcammed" you move the flat end of the not tool over the "nose" side of the ends of the orcker facing down and push, to keed it overcammed, and then witdraw. Works 1/2 of the time. The other half, well, clip and go.

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

Pry and Try is the way I go when the cam lobes are nearly welded to the rock. I gave a good effort on a nice #2 Camelot on Great Zot last year, but decided forty minutes was sufficient. Someone else got it the next month, however.

Joe Auer · · Utah · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 375
Kevin Stricker wrote: As for the Tricam, a cordless sawzaw with a metal cutting blade would probably be best. Usefull for getting rid of old stuck cams as well.
heheh, you might get some funny looks toting a sawz-all up to the crag. i think that a couple of hacksaw blades might be the lightweight alpine version. brad, the ranger at the city of rocks, told me he uses this method to get out really stuck cams. sawz-all would definately be quicker, though.

re-acquiring "lost" climbing gear...WITH SCIENCE!!!
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

Hey- speaking of which...

To the owner of the cam I cleaned off of the West Ridge in Eldo a few weekends ago- you mail me a description the piece, markings and climb you left it on, and you can have your cam back.

I'll also show you how I got it out...

Ben Baird · · Boulder, CO · Joined May 2008 · Points: 10

Alright heres what you do take 3-4 feet of thick wire, bend it in half and bend over the ends into hooks. this is what I call a friend finder.

With your nut tool hold the cams sling or thumb loop and then with the friend finder hook the trigger and remove the cam.

Also can get one of the DMM nut tools they have a cam trigger hook

trundlebum · · Las Vegas NV · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 85

Nut tool to start with.
Backed off wired stoppers can be handy but...

Nothing beats zip ties, soapy water and a liberal dose of tweaking behind the errant lobes with a nut pry.

James Beissel · · Boulder, CO · Joined Aug 2004 · Points: 905

Ok, who's got the skills to remove the stuffed .4 Camalot on Breezy?

Dirty Gri Gri, or is it GiGi? · · Vegas · Joined May 2005 · Points: 4,115

I haven't had to leave any of my partners' stuck cams or nuts behind that I've worked on as of yet.

If a cam is stubborn, I try not to mess with it
too much until I closely look at it first, and imagine how
the hell my partner could have slotted it,ie; from up on down, from down, in, up, and out etc...
or if it could have walked from a certain direction more than another.
Then I mess with it ever so carefully, while I'm resting ; ) and watch every
single movement of the lobes to see where I should go from there.

If I can't get it out with my hands, I use two nut tools.

If it is waaay back in a crack, I squeeze as much of my shoulder, and arm into the crack as I can tolerate, after I visualized which direction I will remove it from, then I close my eyes, and feel it move about, making sure it's not getting more stuck, until I decide when to remove it.

In Red Rock, especially with stubborn nuts, you can simply spit a mouthful of water on the nut, and surrounding sandstone
and it will come out like magic!

Stiles · · the Mountains · Joined May 2003 · Points: 845

I get around the problem of cleaning the tricams I love to place and errant cam I stick by always leading. It works great every time!

C Miller · · CA · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 87,830

Sounds like you need a Leeper Friend of a Friend.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Trad Climbing
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