Petzel Ascender Failure

so...i've noticed that my ascenders slip these days. meaning that after i move it up the rope, i have to conciously pull it back towards me as i'm waiting it to ensure that the ascender bites into the rope. if i just move it up and weight it, it slips and does not catch.

my buddy was telling me about another thread, where there was an accident due to ascender slip, and eventually catching and cutting the rope.

i am wondering the following:

1) if anyone else has noticed their ascenders slipping. mine are probably 5-10 yrs old
2) what size rope was cut?
3) is there any kind of fix for this? will petzel take them back? has anyone else had their's repaired?

thanks all - S

Which model do you have. I have the handled ones(blue and yellow) with actual teeth, and I've always had them bite hard, but I don't really use ascenders in adverse conditions, so I don't know about their performance on icy/wet/muddy ropes.

Some things to consider are the possibilities that thinner ropes aren't catching as well, or that during a fully weighted jug, the rope stretch could, in effect, make the rope a smaller diameter. Possibly, with age, the springs in the cam lob aren't as "springy" and thus not making as good of contact on the rope. Just possibilities as I'm not an expert in the subject.

That said, I think calling it a "failure" is a little misleading. Failure, to me, means the cam lobe/clip in point/body or the unit broke or deformed. Also, I would never consider a device that relies on camming the rope or biting down on the sheath to be fully trustworthy like a knot. I always short clip myself on ascenders(and grigris for that matter).

As far as fixing or getting free replacements, I think you have to consider the cost to possible accident ratio. I would just drop 120 on a new set. You have to consider that gear has a life expectancy and 5-10 years seems like a good service life to me.

Evan

I have the blue/gold set. Mine still have good teeth, but even so they're not 100% in any aspect. You should allways have a back-up. Never trust the ascenders by themselves. With your situation, can them and buy new ones. My two-cents.....