WC Cam Trigger Weight (very heavy)

Hi all, 

I got a new WC Friend #2 cam the other day, was noticing today (just playing around with it) that the weight on the triggers is at least 3,4X that of my other Friend Cams. Basically, with one hand, I can retract the lobes until they're just touching, but then to fully retract the cam, I have to actually use two hands to pull the trigger. Is this normal? Is there like a "break in" period for new cams? And finally-- anyway to fix this? My only thought has been to store the cam between a piece of furniture so that it just stays there with the lobes 100% retracted, perhaps weakening the springs?

Thanks!

TC

Got no problem fully retracting my newish #2. You're sure there's not some unintended friction preventing the retraction? 

Not sure, I lubed the cam about 5 times with silicone, but maybe I'll have to try giving it a proper soak later, although it's never been placed before (got it after the last time i went climbing) on real rock.

Update: just cleaned cam in hot water, working trigger action, no difference, it’s still very hard to pull

See if these are bent into the lobes and causing friction. If so bend them away enough so they don't rub. 

I think we just have to conclude that your grip strength is crap!

Jokes aside, I imagine if it's feeling stiff through the whole range you just caught a tight spring or something. Maybe they'll swap it out for you?

F Loydwrote:

See if these are bent into the lobes and causing friction. If so bend them away enough so they don't rub. 

It doesn’t seem to be this... if it’s truly a case of a sticky spring, would storing the cam in a retracted position help to loosen the spring? Or is returning it the best bet?

Terrible Climberwrote:

It doesn’t seem to be this... if it’s truly a case of a sticky spring, would storing the cam in a retracted position help to loosen the spring? Or is returning it the best bet?

No storing it retracted at normal temperatures won't do anything. If it somehow did that would mean you damaged the springs and that would happen on the initial retraction anyway.

Mikewrote:

No storing it retracted at normal temperatures won't do anything. If it somehow did that would mean you damaged the springs and that would happen on the initial retraction anyway.

Oh well, I guess I’ll have to return, have had bad luck buying cams since I just got an alien whose trigger mechanism broke right out of store...  

Have you considered trying cams before you buy them? 

You're not crazy, I have some WC friends in #1-3 with a 2017 manufacture date that have noticeably easier trigger pulls than the newer ones I just bought that are 2018-2019 made. The last bit of the lobe retraction is hard to do one-handed but that's in the overcammed range so I didn't worry about it. Actually I didn't notice until after I used them for a couple dozen leads so probably too late for a an exchange.

I had a similar issue with a #1 Camelot many years ago. It was a manufacturing defect. I had the cam easily exchanged/replaced.

I have noticed something similar but not as extreme. My C4’s are for sure easier than my WC, not enough to impede me placing them though.

Resurrecting this b/c I’ve had the same issue with the exact same cam (WC#2 purchased fall 2024) and had a rough time finding answers. I’ve now tried a bunch of things and had the most success with dry graphite powder lubricant. Still a bit annoyingly stiff, but noticeably better.

I’d reach out to WC for a warranty on this. 

Mike Cwrote:

I’d reach out to WC for a warranty on this. 

It’s right on the edge of being worth the hassle to me. Plus, I have used it a few times. So, I’ll just live with the slight fleeting annoyance every time I reach for it while maintaining everlasting hope that it will wear into it’s own soon…and if it doesn’t, it just means I’m not climbing enough.