hitch climber nightmare

[tony053]

hi guys, i havent had my hitch climber long but i have got yale xtc plus 13mm rope with ocean polyester 8mm hitch cord. Im using 8 wraps and 2 braids and i still find i have to set the vt so that it will grip, it also gets quite tight and is a bit hard to descend on after climbing for a while. I dont care about the self tending feature just want it to grip without having to touch it. Anyone have any ideas of what i can do to get it to grip by itself.

cheers guys

[MattyF]

4 wraps, 4 braids on xtc with 8 mm cord about 50cm long from eye to eye or fishermans!! Or try 5 to 4 for ultimate grip but the hitch bite like an over tight Prussik IMO .

[Tommy_B]

If you want it to grip without touching it, a Distel could be better than a VT

[MattyF]

Try 8mm roblon or some liros from my experience XTC and OP was not a good combo and the other two are far cheaper , available from honey brothers or tree worker.

[alex_m]

I definitely think a shorter cord helps. the pre made e2e kits are 90cm, but i find them too long (similar problems to you, having to set the hitch for it to bite etc). experiment with different lengths!

[Joe Loggs]

I have 4 wraps and 2 braids mine bites every time as long as it is tied correct so far I'm aware of 3 different variations, my bottom tail always touches the rope on the braids and the top tail over the top.

[tony053]

i think the length of my cord is whats wrong then i tied my own and it is 150cm without the fishermans in it. I think i will shorten it and try the 4 wraps and 4 braids. if i dont get on with that then i will try different cord or hitch.

cheers guys

[Tom Mabbutt]

Had the same issue mate. Was using 8mm Ocean polyester and just couldnt get it spot on the way i wanted, also tried 10mm OP and still wasn't happy. Then switched to 10mm Yale silverstreak and its great, just keep the legs of the cord as short as you can above the pully. I don't use sewn ends on it either but fishermans instead, this allows me to adjust the length of the cord ever so slightly which is almost like fine tuning the set up - I doesn't look as pretty but its a darn sight cheaper. On a distel too.

[MattyF]

i think the length of my cord is whats wrong then i tied my own and it is 150cm without the fishermans in it. I think i will shorten it and try the 4 wraps and 4 braids. if i dont get on with that then i will try different cord or hitch.

cheers guys

 

Way to long !! 4-2 should work really well on XTC at the proper length.

I used to find 3-3 worked best ... But that's what I love about the vt , you can tune it to your needs... I had the most fun on XTC and 8mm cord!!

[Rich Rule]

Mine is 24" eye to eye. OP 8 mm tied with 3 wraps and 2 braids. But that is on tachyon so thinner than your line. Works great.