I've never had an accident or even near accident using autolockers, but I have been extremely frustrated with them on the few occaisions I've been forced to use them. Is there an option for that?
Where's the option for "There was an accident because there was a dipshit using a piece of sophisticated and specialized equipment and he felt the gear was to blame and not himself"?
Anyway, I've seen that a few times.
edit: word choice
(This post was edited by mushroom on Dec 13, 2008, 1:24 AM)
I use them and have had no accidents with them. Any incidences? Yes there's been times with both screw and auto lockers that there was a momentary battle opening them. Neither time did I blame it on the lockers or any mystical powers attributed to them. Doesn't matter which kind either, I still look to see that their locked properly. I've seen someone think they were screwing their locker closed while they were inadvertently pushing the gate open. Can't blame that one on the locker either.
Do auto lockers lead to people operating on auto pilot?
When first BD autolocking biner came in mid 90s, I was rapping with an ATC (double rope) and do not know what happened but once I reached the floor, the gate was not locked. My assumption was that the rope motion somehow push the lock down and rotate it to open position but gate itself did not become open while rapping . I stopped using the autolocking biner after that incident .
I had a couple OP auto-lockers. I didn't really care for them, and then found myself not locking other non-auto lockers a couple times. Set those aside and went back to screw gate lockers. Tried again later with a Petzl. I had a finger injury at the time and everytime I opened the damn thing it hurt my finger. I took a hammer to it then threw it away.
I have a couple Petzl biners with that quirky (and discontinued) locking gate, the ones with a button/ball but not auto-locking. Spinball they're called. I love them, especially clipping the rope at the crux. Screw the second, that's my mantra.
I've never had an accident or even near accident using autolockers, but I have been extremely frustrated with them on the few occaisions I've been forced to use them. Is there an option for that?
Nope, frustration's not the issue, nor is being a fumble fingers!
I agree that generally Petzl makes good stuff, but the Williams TRIACT LOCK (first generation at least) may be the exception. I bought two of the pear-shaped biners and both would not fully close because the auto-closing orange gate would snag on the keylock portion of the biner. These were the model where the opening on the orange lock gate is shaped like an upside-down keyhole.
The new pictures show that there is no longer a constriction in the orange locking portion of the gate, making the opening rectangular rather than keyhole-ular. I would guess this change addresses my issue.
You can compare by looking at alltrec.com for a picture of the old, and the Petzl site for a picture of the new gate style.
I am sending the two kinda-sometimes locking biners back to Petzl, we'll see what happens.
(This post was edited by jamatt on Dec 14, 2008, 7:13 PM)
this shouldn't be a heated debate at all. apparently 4 people on this site had an issue with an autolocking biner. alot of people don't use them and find them frustrating. these same idiots couldn't figure out laces and now use velcro on their shoes. 50% of people using them don't have a problem with them. this isn't about operator error... it's about preferance.
I have one dedicated to my Gri-gri, and it never comes off.
I have three extras for random duties including ascenders, daisies, masterpoints, 2nd tie-in, tagline, ect.
I know this carabiner so well that I can always open it one-handed; no matter it's orientation. I can even get it one handed from my partner's harness. I can't say that of screw-locks. And with the tri-motion action, it will never come unlocked.
and I have the pear version for my belay device:
I don't know anything about any other auto-lockers. I don't recommend them or otherwise. I just know I like mine.