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RE- FIXE alien REVOLUTION CAM - trigger component failure
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RE- FIXE alien REVOLUTION CAM - trigger component failure The following items were sold and extensively used in Australia but posted here as no equivalent current forum exists here. The following related to two different Fixe revolution cams - both are blue ("3/8"), double sling variant.    Above: the 'newer' of the two units   Above: the 'older' of the two units Posting this up as was unable to find an existing post regarding this issue (if you know of one please comment below). Odd point of failure, and have seen four cams exhibit this failure (including the two photographed above). Unlikely to be catastrophic during use but obviously would make it difficult to retrieve and basically unusable. Would like to thank Fixe for replacing the cams under warranty (Per FIXE - ““decided to replace the Aliens as this not normal situation and they take it under warranty.”), though unfortunately this took approximately 5 months from first contact to recieving two replacements. Unfortunately I did not receive further information on the likely underlying issue(s) which may have contributed. (limited) History of the units: -The more worn appearing unit with loose heatshrink -Several years of mild use, but including bigwall/aid usage -Sleeve failed during use, cam was retrieved. -The newer appearing unit with incomplete crack -Light use only (no further details available) -Found during inspection Obviously it's very hard to make a flexible, versatile, sticky microcam at a price point climbers are likely to pay. Personally, I plan to continue using aliens in the black-green sizes, but unlikely to recommend them to a friend. Given the follow up required (several months and many follow up emails), I would be unlikely to attemp to warranty them again if they failed. Questions:
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The underlying issue is poor quality control from Fixe… I have an entire set of revolution cams I’ve stopped using because of issues with the triggers and stems. The units are lightweight but not designed for heavy use. I have a set of Totem Basics (similar design) that have seen many falls and years of use and they’re still holding up well. “Aliens” are such amazing cams, it’s a shame Fixe executed on the design so poorly. |
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I'm not seeing the problem with the newer one. Help me out here. |
 Sorry a bit unclear in the previous photos - hopefully visible in this one. |
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Ive see those metal trigger 'sleeves' break before on other small cams that have metal supporting the trigger wires/threads (Metolius). When the small Metolius cam broke, it held a fall (was definitely difficult to get out afterwards) in a small, granite, corner crack—the metal piece was probably over the corner of the crack and succumbed to the force. There's probably some sort of trade off between stability of metal verse flexibility of more plastic compounds. I've been using the green and yellow alien for a season of guiding near the ocean and they've been holding up well. |
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I wouldn’t buy their cams again. I had a problem with one, sent it in to be checked out, and heard nothing from them despite repeated correspondence. I sold the rest of mine except a few offsets I don’t use anyway. Btw, anybody want to pay top dollar for some barely used offsets? |
Josh Janes wrote: Looks like it will still work, once |
Dave Dave wrote: Underlying issue-- yer cam was made by Fixe Secondary cause-- not reading reviews about every Fixe cam model failing in some egregious way, which then results in learning about Fixe customer service |
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Anybody know the story with the Fixe Alien "Lite" version from years back? I bootied a yellow one, has a lot of plastic including that trigger piece that split in OP's pic, but it's held up really well, even taken falls (no aid). |
K Go wrote: CCH Aliens (various versions over the years)... Dave Waggoner passed away/company dissolved/patents expired... Fixe took over and made exact replicas... Totem made a similar cam (the Basic)... Fixe responded by making the Alien Evolution AKA Evo (only produced for a few years, lots of plastic, broken parts)... Kailas copied the Totem Basic and called it the "Nuco"... Fixe discontinued the Evo and improved the design calling it the Alien Revolution AKA Revo (pictured above)... Totem and (apparently) Kailas stopped making the Basic and Nuco. You can now only buy Fixe's copy of the original design and the Fixe Revolution. |
Josh Janes wrote: Close but not quite, totem were making the basics for kailas who would then rebrand them as the nuco. Totem stopped making their basics due to competing with their main product and then stopped making cams for kailas(I assume whne the contract expired). |
Josh Janes wrote: Mb guys I fell too hard |
  A mate just checked his set, only the blue and grey were unaffected. Approx 3 years light use. |
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Market is ripe for a return of the Totem Basic and the BD C3. |
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Bit of a zombie thread - but photos from (yet another) mates alien:   |
Josh Janes wrote: |
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DMM dragonfly is the Alien replacement. IMO Been using them for a while now with no real issues. |
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Is this occurring with the new aliens? I have a couple and the machining seems much better quality than the revos |
Josh Janes wrote: I didn’t know all this, I’ve got a collection of the first Fixe Aliens and have been super happy with them. I’ve noticed that if they get dirty, the action is affected way more quickly than my other cams though |
Josh Janes wrote: Just out of curiosity, is there any way to tell if your aliens are from the fixe "exact replica" phase vs the Dave Waggoner phase? And is there an appreciable difference in quality between the two? |
