help with the Ekka pulley advance

sawsong · 4th April 2008, 06:40 AM

hi guys. all my new gear appeared today so after a couple of weeks getting used to the blakes, i thought i would try as per Ekka's video, advancing it with a micropulley. couple of gratuitous photos to follow.

problem is, im not sure if ive got anything wrong on it, but it seems mightily hard to advance the knot with the pulley compared to the amount of force on it to do it with my left hand if that makes any sense. perhaps now im pulling with both hands, im being more lazy with my bodythrust. is this common?

heres a couple pics for you to see if ive got it set right

cheers

jim

Ekka · 4th April 2008, 06:44 AM

Buddy, you got that Blakes tied WRONG!

It's in SUISLIDE mode.

The tail of the blakes has to come out the other side of the climbing line, the LH side and out the back if you know what I mean.

Ekka · 4th April 2008, 06:52 AM

Also try with the pulley flipping around 180 degrees.... so the biner attaching it etc is at the back of the bridge on the Blakes.

sawsong · 4th April 2008, 07:01 AM

ah thanks a million dude. ive been looking at it and wondering what wasnt right about it. it would seemingly grab fine but it never seemed to dress quite right.

having the photo in front of me now and the tc companion by my laptop here, i can see exactly what i keep doing wrong. as i tie it, im bringing the downward loop of the blakes in front of the working end of the bridge instead of behind it.

yeah i had the pulley behind the bridge to start with, and thinking that was the problem, i brought it to the front. I shall remedy it and report back.

I guess this is why we start low and slow. I feel like a right dummy

btw im finding this kolibri saddle very comfortable indeed. i find the very fixed side Ds make the saddle pull in a lot more when stropping a narrow trunk but no uncomfortably so due to the size of the back strap

newguy18 · 4th April 2008, 07:10 AM

I use a screw link for self advancing knots and used a combo of blakes/tautline yesterday and both worked great.Ekka [as usual]hit the nail on the head.its funny how i still find myself using tautline even though i know of several knots i have used that are 10 times better.I use tautline on all my td's.Just old habits i guess.

sawsong · 4th April 2008, 07:18 AM

right, i believe i've now done it by the book. if ive got this right, great, cos ive just tied it and retied it a dosen times. first 3 with the book, following 9 without

Ekka · 4th April 2008, 07:21 AM

Yeah, that looks right.

You'll have to run up that rope and down get some polish off it and that blakes worn in a bit. I rarely untie them, just leave it on the climbing line but do check them now and then then ditch them.

The VT / hitch climber guys will be straight onto you any minute.

sawsong · 4th April 2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Yeah, that looks right.

You'll have to run up that rope and down get some polish off it and that blakes worn in a bit. I rarely untie them, just leave it on the climbing line but do check them now and then then ditch them.

sounds like a good excuse for putting in some more climbing time! not that i need one particularly.

Quote:

The VT / hitch climber guys will be straight onto you any minute.

now that DOES sound dangerous. the number of things ive heard about VTs, apart from the fact theyre french

makes me wonder if the supposed 'ease' of using them is kinda too unbalanced by their lets say 'quirky' nature. certainly not something i'll try for a few months probably

newguy18 · 4th April 2008, 07:33 AM

vt is a great hitch but definatly not for beginers stick with the blakes and get the hang of it for awhile.Better to use something fool proof that something as fussy as a vt that can hurt you if misused.

sawsong · 4th April 2008, 12:23 PM

right. here come my findings.

im sorry to say that my pulley still isnt advancing my blakes sufficiently easily. in fact the rope is very hard to pull through even with both hands. if i switch back to doing it manually it's far easier. i can only think either the pulley is the wrong shape to advance it, or more likely im not bodythrusting in the same way as i do when using my left hand to advance the knot.

any thoughts?

thanks

newguy18 · 4th April 2008, 12:54 PM

Try running the prusik directly through the pulley[i.e get rid of the snap,biner,screw link.]

sawsong · 4th April 2008, 01:07 PM

yeah i'll try that tomorrow. thought about setting it up that way in the first place but it makes it less easy to assemble cos i'll have to put the biner into the prusik loop. no biggy. was just a keychain biner, which is cool with it not being safety related i guess?

Ekka · 4th April 2008, 02:12 PM

In our video Brother Colin did have a different pulley but it slid pretty easily.

Try with switching out the Blakes for a Klemheist. You'll need a loop for the klemheist.

dannyboysfc · 5th April 2008, 12:22 AM

Not to sound negative, but you may end up just stopping trying to make this work, I did. I got it to work OK, but for ascending DdRT I can go much faster with the blakes tied at arms length and just body thrusting. Now for moving around the tree I like the blakes tied close as possible with a micro pulley just below for taking up the slack one handed.

quercus · 5th April 2008, 02:11 AM

Like Ekka said... The VT crew is here....

aaaaaaaah young wallaby's gear came through ay....

Nice gear mate. Nice setup too. Bit bulky for now but hey, you are doin' it safe. The reason why this could be difficult to advance is because the sheaves of that pullet touch each other when in closed position. You need to check if the climbing line doesn't touch the sheaves when it's advancing. If it does, that could cause some additional friction.Best pulley for a self advancing knot is the petzl fixe.It has fixed sheaves but the are some 1.5 cm's apart at the tie-in point so they don't touch the rope when advancing.

I hope this helps out....

quercus · 5th April 2008, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sawsong

yeah i'll try that tomorrow. thought about setting it up that way in the first place but it makes it less easy to assemble cos i'll have to put the biner into the prusik loop. no biggy. was just a keychain biner, which is cool with it not being safety related i guess?

Everything in a primary life support system is safety related. The way I see it, you shouldn't incorporate anything in your primary or secondary life support wich is not certified for actual climbing use. I'm a bit allergic to that.

4th April 2008, 06:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
sawsong Cruisin' Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lincs/Leeds England Posts: 67	help with the Ekka pulley advance hi guys. all my new gear appeared today so after a couple of weeks getting used to the blakes, i thought i would try as per Ekka's video, advancing it with a micropulley. couple of gratuitous photos to follow. problem is, im not sure if ive got anything wrong on it, but it seems mightily hard to advance the knot with the pulley compared to the amount of force on it to do it with my left hand if that makes any sense. perhaps now im pulling with both hands, im being more lazy with my bodythrust. is this common? heres a couple pics for you to see if ive got it set right cheers jim

4th April 2008, 06:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance Buddy, you got that Blakes tied WRONG! It's in SUISLIDE mode. The tail of the blakes has to come out the other side of the climbing line, the LH side and out the back if you know what I mean. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

4th April 2008, 06:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance Also try with the pulley flipping around 180 degrees.... so the biner attaching it etc is at the back of the bridge on the Blakes. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

4th April 2008, 07:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
sawsong Cruisin' Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lincs/Leeds England Posts: 67	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance ah thanks a million dude. ive been looking at it and wondering what wasnt right about it. it would seemingly grab fine but it never seemed to dress quite right. having the photo in front of me now and the tc companion by my laptop here, i can see exactly what i keep doing wrong. as i tie it, im bringing the downward loop of the blakes in front of the working end of the bridge instead of behind it. yeah i had the pulley behind the bridge to start with, and thinking that was the problem, i brought it to the front. I shall remedy it and report back. I guess this is why we start low and slow. I feel like a right dummy btw im finding this kolibri saddle very comfortable indeed. i find the very fixed side Ds make the saddle pull in a lot more when stropping a narrow trunk but no uncomfortably so due to the size of the back strap

4th April 2008, 07:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
newguy18 Tree World Icon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,196	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance I use a screw link for self advancing knots and used a combo of blakes/tautline yesterday and both worked great.Ekka [as usual]hit the nail on the head.its funny how i still find myself using tautline even though i know of several knots i have used that are 10 times better.I use tautline on all my td's.Just old habits i guess. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

4th April 2008, 07:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
sawsong Cruisin' Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lincs/Leeds England Posts: 67	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance right, i believe i've now done it by the book. if ive got this right, great, cos ive just tied it and retied it a dosen times. first 3 with the book, following 9 without

4th April 2008, 07:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance Yeah, that looks right. You'll have to run up that rope and down get some polish off it and that blakes worn in a bit. I rarely untie them, just leave it on the climbing line but do check them now and then then ditch them. The VT / hitch climber guys will be straight onto you any minute. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

4th April 2008, 07:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
newguy18 Tree World Icon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,196	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance vt is a great hitch but definatly not for beginers stick with the blakes and get the hang of it for awhile.Better to use something fool proof that something as fussy as a vt that can hurt you if misused. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

4th April 2008, 12:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
sawsong Cruisin' Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lincs/Leeds England Posts: 67	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance right. here come my findings. im sorry to say that my pulley still isnt advancing my blakes sufficiently easily. in fact the rope is very hard to pull through even with both hands. if i switch back to doing it manually it's far easier. i can only think either the pulley is the wrong shape to advance it, or more likely im not bodythrusting in the same way as i do when using my left hand to advance the knot. any thoughts? thanks

4th April 2008, 12:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
newguy18 Tree World Icon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,196	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance Try running the prusik directly through the pulley[i.e get rid of the snap,biner,screw link.] __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

4th April 2008, 01:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
sawsong Cruisin' Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lincs/Leeds England Posts: 67	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance yeah i'll try that tomorrow. thought about setting it up that way in the first place but it makes it less easy to assemble cos i'll have to put the biner into the prusik loop. no biggy. was just a keychain biner, which is cool with it not being safety related i guess?

4th April 2008, 02:12 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance In our video Brother Colin did have a different pulley but it slid pretty easily. Try with switching out the Blakes for a Klemheist. You'll need a loop for the klemheist. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

5th April 2008, 12:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
dannyboysfc Fly'n Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 108	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance Not to sound negative, but you may end up just stopping trying to make this work, I did. I got it to work OK, but for ascending DdRT I can go much faster with the blakes tied at arms length and just body thrusting. Now for moving around the tree I like the blakes tied close as possible with a micro pulley just below for taking up the slack one handed.

5th April 2008, 02:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
quercus Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: belgium Posts: 414	Re: help with the Ekka pulley advance Like Ekka said... The VT crew is here.... aaaaaaaah young wallaby's gear came through ay.... Nice gear mate. Nice setup too. Bit bulky for now but hey, you are doin' it safe. The reason why this could be difficult to advance is because the sheaves of that pullet touch each other when in closed position. You need to check if the climbing line doesn't touch the sheaves when it's advancing. If it does, that could cause some additional friction.Best pulley for a self advancing knot is the petzl fixe.It has fixed sheaves but the are some 1.5 cm's apart at the tie-in point so they don't touch the rope when advancing. I hope this helps out....

5th April 2008, 02:21 AM	#17 (permalink)
sawsong Cruisin'