Shuttleworth lost rope advice

[amkw]

We (UNCC) were in shuttleworth yesterday and couldn't undo the last maillon on the final pitch. 3 of us tried, but were unsucessful. We don't have any tools with us on our trip to loosen this. We are trying to locate a tool or something to undo a maillon, but we go back to newcastle today and as we are on rented transport we can't come back down to the dales until September. Any advice?

 

[JoshW]

. Any advice?

look after your maillons better so they don’t stick 😉

Sometimes another maillon can be used to undo a stuck one. Alternatively not a terrible idea to carry a spanner/mole grips if using maillons.

Im sure someone on here will be going there soon and will be able to have a go at it for you

 

[Alex]

If you are not bothered about the mallon too much a last ditch effort is literally hit it with a rock, that has worked for me. Of course I would prob not use that mallon after that.

 

[amkw]

Crisis averted. We got it sorted! Found some people who are going to help us get it.

 

[damian]

We (UNCC) were in shuttleworth yesterday and couldn't undo the last maillon on the final pitch. 3 of us tried, but were unsucessful. We don't have any tools with us on our trip to loosen this. We are trying to locate a tool or something to undo a maillon, but we go back to newcastle today and as we are on rented transport we can't come back down to the dales until September. Any advice?

Oh dear! Was down there today and could have sorted it for you. As mentioned above, another maillon opened just the right amount is an excellent 'spanner'.

 

[pwhole]

I generally put a bit of grease onto the thread of brand-new maillons, and screw and unscrew it a few times until it's evenly spread - seems to last an awfully long time and they never get stuck. A bit on old maillons works almost as well. And a 12mm spanner is the one you need in future.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

As above, buy a little tub of silicone grease, can use it on o rings of torches and battery boxes, maillons etc. I also subscribe to the thinking "don't leave maillons unscrewed in storage" or they can warp slightly and be stiff and prone to stick.

Personally I carry a prusik loop, a pen knife and a very small adjustable spanner all on a micro (but strength rated) krab. That way in emergency underground I can undo a stuck maillon *and* remove a stone from a horse's hoof, totally covered!

Edit: you might find a multi tool that has a blade and the ability to undo a maillon so all in one! Multi tools typically will be subject to UK knife laws on "locking" blades, so don't carry it in public without a good reason (like going to/from an srt cave/mine)

 

[hannahb]

As a minor counterpoint to recommendations for using maillons as spanners: we bent one or more maillons doing this recently. If the rope is more important than the maillon, then no problem.

 

[Ian Ball]

You must be Hulk Hogan!

 

[aricooperdavis]

Multi tools typically will be subject to UK knife laws on "locking" blades, so don't carry it in public without a good reason (like going to/from an srt cave/mine)

You can skirt around these restrictions so long as your knives:

• have a cutting edge no longer than 3 inches
• are not lock knives (they do not have a button, spring or catch that you have to use to fold the knife)

Most multi-tools have a blade <3 inches and can be easily modified to disable the locking mechanism, allowing them to be legally carried. Some are even designed with a non-locking blade specifically for this purpose. The smallest/lightest I've seen in this category is the Gerber Dime, although the knife on the SOG Aegis is more practical.

 

[andrewmcleod]

You must be Hulk Hogan!

Maillons are surprisingly easy to bend out of line and very difficult to bend back. You don't have to distort them very much at all to stop them doing up properly. Carabiners with the gate unlocked (or even open) are plenty strong enough normally, but open maillons bend alarmingly under bodyweight...

 

[Ian Ball]

Did you get your maillons from down the market? Maybe I'm just a weak person who can't do them up tight enough to need the force to get them undo that will bend a maillon.
Though actually I think it's probably more that I carry a spaner.

 

[andrewmcleod]

Ah, it's not the maillon that's done up that bends, it's the open maillon that you are using as a spanner (I have also ruined a maillon doing this).

 

[IanWalker]

Agree spanner is the way forward here. I have one that is double ended with two different sizes (12 mm and 13 mm in same spanner) so good for normal bolt heads, my concrete screws, 8mm expansion bolts, one of the Petzl Stop bolts etc

Search DIN 895 or have a look at this beauty:-

DIN 895 12 X 13mm open spanner made in West Germany | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DIN 895 12 X 13mm open spanner made in West Germany at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[IanWalker]

I bend maillons back into alignment by holding them in a vice and giving careful blows with a hammer. Works really well.

Probably best not to 'repair' your club or business PPE in this way. Assuming you are using PPE rated maillons...

A preventative drop of 3in1 machine oil then wiped off is probably best for club gear.