Spiderjackery III (plus two new SJ mods from ART)

[joe into trees]

G’day all,

 

Sorry for dropping offline for such a long time there. 2012 has gotten off to a very busy start... and there I was thinking that this was going to be a nice quiet year...

 

Just thought I’d drop in and report on how the new modifications go, after a month or so of steady climbing. When I opened the box, I was particularly excited about the dyneema-and-ring add-on, and not so thrilled about the lever with the half-pulley... to be honest, I (naively) thought that I had so few problems climbing against the line with the original lever, that the addition of the half-pulley really wasn’t going to do anything for me.

 

One month down the track, and I still haven’t got used to how smoothly the rope runs when it’s re-directed above you. I think I had just learned how to use the friction of the rope bending over the lever, and being re-directed over the branch, to control my speed in lieu of the wooden block (as seen in the video). Now I’m all jerky again, and having to learn to use the block again when the tail is deflected... back to making little yelps and descending quicker than I wanted to for a metre or so! In other words, the half-pulley on the lever works really well.

 

The new Velcro-replacement works a treat, but you quickly forget it’s there. I suppose that’s a good thing?

 

Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas holidays... it’s nice and warm down here at the moment.

[VEG]

Any prices on these?

[Old Mill Tree Care]

I've just got a Rope Wrench which I'll be using with my lockjack.

These mods for the SJ will probably sway me to get one as I really should retire my LJ now.

Thanks for this thread.

[swinny]

i'm thinking of getting one of these spider jacks but when i look for them the only seem to sell the spiderjack 2 not 3? does anywhere sell the 3? with the mods. cheers

[RobArb]

The spiderjack 3 is actually the spiderjack 2 with addable mods as far as I can gather

 

Sent from Rob's GalaxySII

[swinny]

The spiderjack 3 is actually the spiderjack 2 with addable mods as far as I can gather

 

Sent from Rob's GalaxySII

 

yes but can you get it allready modded? or do you have to get the bits and do it yourself? cheers

[Ross Smith]

Hey joe

Just out of interest how often are you replacing your clutch on the SJ ??

Well done on finishing 2nd in the worlds,I know it was very close point wise wit mr Forrest,hoping to catch up wit la gumpington in feb

Keep on keepin on

[VEG]

I believe the mods are an optional add on.

[atree]

Thanks for the update joe,

 

Do you know when these new mods will be for sale(down under)

 

Hey Ross,

 

Having problems with mine slipping still with new clutch/rope,Is this happening to yours?

[joe into trees]

G'day again.

 

First off, the current version is the Spiderjack 2.1, which is identical to the SJ2 except for the inclusion of the replaceable pin (see picture below). All parts are interchangeable with this, and with earlier models of spiderjack. I did wonder if calling the latest vid 'Spiderjackery III' was a confusing mistake...

 

 

The latest modifications (dyneema strop and metal ring; longer release lever with half-pulley) are yet to be released: formal release will hopefully be in the very near future. I don't know whether they will be sold as standard with every SJ, sold as optional parts with every SJ, or only available seperately. I also have no idea about the price... so not much help to anyone I'm afraid. Will let y'all know as soon as possible.

 

As far as clutch wear, mine is just starting to creep now; I have had it in since August. So five and a half-months or so. Given that the SJ was new in August (when I first traded up to the 2.1) that seems quicker than usual (I reckon I was getting over six months out of the clutches with my old SJ. I have been giving it a proper thrashing however.

 

A few people have emailed re. 'premature creep' (sounds very unfortunate... have you guys tried viagra? Keeps your lines stiff at any rate). When the device still creeps (or starts to creep again very soon) after fitting a new clutch, it (usually) means that either you've put the clutch in upside-down, or the body of the device is worn. Yes this happens!

 

My first SJ became very worn about a year after I first got it, after six months of fire-damaged tree work in Kinglake... ropes (and moustache) black with carbon, lots and lots of long descents... At the time (being in full-time employment and hence spending someone else's money on gear.... thanks Mr Greenwood!) I just got a new SJ. If it happened again, I would know to replace the body of the device. I recommend that you contact your local ART dealer (always support your local dealer!), and if they have no idea, get them to send your request up the line. The bodies are not expensive.

 

What affects clutch and body wear? First off, using the wooden block as much as possible will massively extend your clutch life. (Avoid premature creep by pushing your wood as hard as possible!) Secondly, skinny rope will result in shorter clutch lifespans... you can take an SJ that's slipping on skinny cordage and it will perform well with a fatter, looser braid (Premature creep with a skinny? Why not try it with a fatty?) but that's only a makeshift solution. Your clutch will wear quicker with dirty jokes... I mean ropes, but keeping arb ropes clean is a mug's game.

 

Lastly, two quick SJ tips:

 

Tip 1 is to take a bight of rope from the tail below the device, and loop it over the wooden block. This locks you off completely and can be done in 0.86 seconds, or 1.07 seconds with the off hand*. It works as a makeshift fix for the early stages of clutch creep, but I mainly use it if I'm working level or above the TIP, with a lot of tail below me, and I want to avoid that uber-self-tailing thing where every time the wind blows you closer to the TIP the SJ takes up slack and then you get pulled around the stem you're working on.

 

Tip 2 is that you can re-sharpen the cams. I didn't tell you that. I woz nevah here.

 

*these numbers are entirely fictional, and are intended to bear no resemblance to any other numbers whether real or imaginary.