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Metolius Mastercam trigger wire snapping (not during fall)

Original Post
Howard · · Costa Mesa, CA · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 2,695

I had a green Mastercam's trigger wire snap while pulling the trigger to clean an anchor after topping-out Tahquitz through Lunch ledge. There was nothing particularly sharp in the anchor crack.
Anybody have a similar experience or at least an equally strange breakage?

Broken mastercam

Eric Barrett · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Feb 2007 · Points: 5

Looks pretty worn, why don't you send it back to Metolius and see if they can repair it for you...

Mathias · · Loveland, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 306

I've heard Metolius replace trigger "wires" for $5 a cam or so. It's just what I've heard, but I'd contact them and see.

Logan Fuzzo · · Portland, OR · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 437

Metolius has the best costumer service. My red had a similar problem, they re-kevlared the wire, straighten the cable, and cleaned it for free. I think I paid shipping. METOLIOUS

Andrew Williams · · Concord, NH · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 625

It's $8 a cam for Metolius to resling and retrigger a cam. Plus they clean and lube it as well.

Howard · · Costa Mesa, CA · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 2,695

Loganator, what caused your mastercam to break?

Howard · · Costa Mesa, CA · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 2,695

Eric, the cam wasn't particularly worn at all: less than a few years old, I seldom placed it as I prefer my red camalot. (Maybe it's the climbing tape left on there that gave that impression?)

Logan Fuzzo · · Portland, OR · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 437
Howard. wrote:Loganator, what caused your mastercam to break?
Howard-

It didn't break, the sheath on the Kevlar was fraying. The can lobes were still fully engaging when I pulled the trigger, bit I didn't want to have the can get stuck on a climb because the wire finally snaps
csproul · · Pittsboro...sort of, NC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 330

I've had a couple of the kevlar trigger cords unravel (sheath separated from the cord) on lightly used mastercams. I had the trigger cords replaced with wires by Wired Bliss.

Howard · · Costa Mesa, CA · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 2,695

Loganator, not sure that was a similar problem then. I hadn't noticed any wear before it snapped.

Howard · · Costa Mesa, CA · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 2,695

Csproul, how have you liked that? How much was it?

Jon Rhoderick · · Redmond, OR · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 966

I 4th or whatever sending it in. There is a chance that the metal assembly that interacts with the cord could be sharp, it broke right at the metal junction. If that was the case you would get a brand new cam out of it.

I really don't think any trigger wire breakage is that 'strange' those things get a lot of wear from pulling triggers and weird placements. Especially in cams that don't have cam stops as they are the only thing stopping the piece from umbrella-ing

lozo bozo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 30
Jon Rhoderick wrote: Especially in cams that don't have cam stops as they are the only thing stopping the piece from umbrella-ing
You may or may not know this already but all metolius cams have cam stops
bus driver · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 1,516

Here’s the DIY fix instructions if you’re into that sort of thing. 

https://www.metoliusclimbing.com/pdf/Master-Cam-Trigger-Cord-Replacement.pdf

Dow Williams · · St. George, Utah; Canmore, AB · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 240

Metolius had an issue on several sizes, at least of the ultralight master cam.  Some sort of adhesive issue as I recall, where a trigger wire might break just in your bag.    Your cam may or may not be affected by this, but they will most certainly take care of you in any regard.  They are efficient and responsive.  Their customer service is 2nd to none.

Paul Dlug · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 35

I had the same thing happen to a green UL Mastercam, Metolius repaired it (and actually didn't charge since it was a rather new cam).

Ron Edwards · · Pittsburgh, PA · Joined May 2008 · Points: 318

This has happened to me a lot (fraying sheath, then breaks shortly after), now on my fourth one in just a few years.  And light to moderate use. I'm super-frustrated with these cords being so delicate. I'm contacting Metolius again and hope they can do something to permanently fix the issue (use a different trigger wire/cord design), or replace these off my rack. The cost of repair and shipping is $20 on average, so about 30% of the original cost of the cam every time.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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