Tips for protecting your equipment
You too can help prolong the lifetime of your products. To succeed in this challenge, several aspects must be taken into account: product usage (intensity, frequency, conditions etc.), and also the transport, storage, care and maintenance. Taking care with all of these aspects helps avoid premature wear of the equipment. Here is a summary of precautions recommended by Petzl for maintaining your equipment. Basic principles • In general, take care of your safety gear. Do not leave it lying about anywhere.
To find out the year of manufacture, refer to this detailed serial number in the following manner: Example for recent PPE: 09 365 AB 1 234 The oldest harnesses may be marked this way: 99 289 A Older connectors may be marked this way: 05 06 09 365 AB product 1234 99 year of manufacture 289 day of manufacture in that year A code of the person who inspected the product 05 06 year of manufacture day of manufacture in that year person who inspected the month of manufacture year of manufacture individual
Maintenance In general, when used in amateur sports, Petzl products do not require any special maintenance, outside of cleaning, except for metal products (see paragraphs: belay devices, descenders, carabiners, pulleys, ascenders, ice axes, crampons, ice screws). Advice by product family Helmets Care and maintenance tips • You can personalize your helmet by writing (for example) your name, address, blood type, etc.
Maintenance • After use in a salty environment (seaside), rinse with fresh water. • Wash helmets in lukewarm soapy water (ph neutral, 30 °C maximum), then rinse thoroughly with fresh tap water. • Use only household face and body soap. All other cleaning products, for example solvents, stain removers, degreasers, etc. are not compatible with polycarbonate, polystyrene, or nylon, and can weaken the helmet. • The shell of ABS helmets can be cleaned with a cloth lightly moistened with rubbing alcohol.
Harnesses Usage tips • You can personalize your harness by writing (for example) your name, address, blood type, etc. • Marking is authorized only on the labels and the comfort parts, and not on the safety parts. Refer to the recommendations in the Instructions For Use. A blank space is available on the harness label. You can also use cable ties. • The chemical components of markers, paints, adhesive tapes, and stickers may be incompatible with nylon.
Maintenance • Regular cleaning preserves the legibility of identification, traceability, and standards markings. Additionally, it is easier to inspect the stitching and condition of the straps on a clean textile product. • After use in a salty environment (seaside), rinse with fresh water. • Wash harnesses in lukewarm soapy water (ph neutral, 30 °C maximum), then rinse thoroughly with fresh tap water. • Use a small brush to remove stubborn spots (oily dirt or mud).
Ropes Usage tips • Do not walk on the ropes • When tying-in repeatedly,tie into alternate ends of the rope on each pitch to avoid creating twists. • Avoid descending too fast on a rope as this heats the sheath and accelerates wear (rappelling, or lowering a climber on toprope). During very rapid descents, a rappel device can become hot enough (230 °C) to melt the nylon fibers of the rope. • Store your ropes in a proper bag that will protect them from dirt. • Store ropes in bags, uncoiled.
• To protect your ropes from abrasion, for example on edges, use PROTEC, CATERPILLAR, OR ROLL MODULE protectors. Particulars of semi-static ropes: Before the first use, soak a static rope in water for 24 hours. This creates a better bond between the sheath and the core and helps remove lubricants (particularly slippery) used during manufacture. Let the rope dry slowly. It will shrink by approximately 5 % (5 m for every 100 m). Take this into account in calculating the required length.
Metal equipment Identification Petzl metal products are marked with a laser engraving, a label, or a stamp indicating the model name, standards references and the serial number for traceability. Usage tips If you want to personalize your metal gear: • Engraving a carabiner or other metal equipment is not recommended as this is a modification of the product that can weaken it. Do not use a stamp or punch.
You can use adhesive tape on the areas where the rope does not run. Maintenance • After use in a salty environment (seaside), rinse with fresh water. • Use a small brush to remove oily dirt or mud. • Wash your gear in lukewarm soapy water (ph neutral, 30 °C maximum), then rinse thoroughly with fresh tap water. • Do not use acid or harsh cleaners. Do not use WD 40 type degreasers as these products remove lubricants and their abrasive effect can accelerate wear. • Certain metal gear also has plastic parts.
Belay devices, descenders Maintenance When a belay device has developed a sharp edge on the body, the Instructions For Use indicate that the product must be retired. In fact, we recommend retiring any metal product that has wear greater than one millimeter deep on its body. As with all descenders, the rope rubbing against the body of the REVERSO wears the metal. To prolong the use of your descender, you can round sharp edges by hand (using fine grit sandpaper). The edge is thus less harmful to the rope.
Carabiners Maintenance • Lubricate the hinge to restore spring action. • After lubricating, clean oil residue with a cloth to avoid getting oil on slings or ropes. • Do not use WD 40 as it can dry out the hinge and spring, thus accelerating aging. • Do not use a high pressure water sprayer. A high pressure spray will dry out the gate hinge. Pulleys Maintenance • No specific lubrication is necessary as the sealed bearings are pre-lubricated and bushings are self-lubricating.
Ascenders Maintenance Use a small brush to remove mud. For proper function and good grip on the rope, the teeth must be clean. Ice axes, crampons, ice screws Usage tips • Wipe ice axes and crampons with a dry cloth after use. • Do not store crampons with wet slings. • Remove and wipe the ice screw caps. Let ice screws dry completely. • Carry ice screws in a protective case (ICEFLUTE) to avoid damaging the threads or dulling the cutting edges.
Maintenance Sharpening ice axes and crampons • To remove picks, you can use a tube socket to facilitate loosening the nuts. • File by hand to avoid heating which can affect the properties of the steel. • Use a flat file for use with metal. Indice 1 - 18/06/12 • It is necessary to cool the assembly frequently to avoid overheating and affecting the properties of the steel. The teeth will dull easily if they have been heated.
How to sharpen axe blades for climbing? New pick Pick in acceptable condition, to be sharpened. The first tooth is far too high (not hooked enough). To be retired. The first tooth is too worn. To be retired.
• Sharpening the pick Top view Pick before sharpening 90° 1- Straighten the side under the first tooth Put the blade upside down in a vise. File very gently, carefully following the original angle of the pick, and filing perpendicular to it. Remove the least amount of metal possible to prolong the life of your pick. 2- Restore the tip edge File the edge of the tip to restore the original angle.
Sharpening ice screws • Use a fine file (flat file and 3 mm maximum round file). Take care not to damage adjacent teeth with a file that is too large. • Secure the screw in a soft-jawed vice to preserve the threads. • File only toward the outside of the screw. Spare parts for ice axes and crampons • Many spare parts are available for the ice climbing line: - Antibotts. - Ice axe picks, hammers and adzes. • When replacing parts or accessories, follow the advice given in the Instructions For Use.
Headlamps Read the specific recommendations for each lamp in the Instructions For Use and follow the battery compatibility recommendations. Use • Carry your headlamp in a specific pouch to protect the lens. • After use, lock your lamp to avoid accidental switching on. The locking method is specific to each lamp. Optimize the life of rechargeable batteries • Completely charge a battery before first use. • Do not submerge a rechargeable battery in water.
• A negative temperature below 0 °C reduces the lamp's battery life because the faster discharge dims the light output. However, these are temporary drawbacks. Once the Lithium Ion molecules are re-warmed, the battery regains its previous capacity. • Elevated temperatures above 50 °C can permanently damage batteries. However, this doesn't happen instantly; repeated use at elevated temperatures must occur to cause damage.
Maintenance • After use in a muddy or salty (seaside) environment, rinse with fresh water. • Remove the batteries. • Dry the lamp with the battery case open. • Do not close the battery case of a waterproof lamp with moisture inside. • Wash the outside of the lamp (lamp head and lens) with lukewarm soapy water (ph neutral, 30 °C maximum). • Wipe the lens with a soft cloth. Do not wipe the lens with an abrasive product. • Avoid any prolonged contact of grease with the lens.
Petzl contact Petzl International 132 rue du Pré Blanc Cidex 105A - ZI Crolles 38920 Crolles - FRANCE Tel: +33 (0)4 76 92 09 69 Fax: +33(0)4 76 08 82 04 Indice 1 - 18/06/12 Photos Petzl © Lafouche Photo Petzl © Kalice
