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modified cam

Original Post
pietro carra · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 0

hello, I modified a cam friend to have a rigid stem in insertion and flexible then, a much simpler and cheaper system than the z4 bd, also you do not need the quickdrop ... finally you remove it from the harness and insert it in the crack with just one gesture ... what do you think?

https://youtu.be/ePTujhiQVbs

Sawyer W · · NH · Joined May 2018 · Points: 0

Where is the black keeper cord attached to the cam?

pietro carra · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 0


the lanyard goes behind the block ... if you stop at 0.05 you see it

Sawyer W · · NH · Joined May 2018 · Points: 0

Is there a keeper loop to keep it on the block? 

CO_Michael · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 946
Sawyer W wrote:

Where is the black keeper cord attached to the cam?

The black sling/cord is just looped over the head of the cam.  The stem looks like it was removed and replaced with a straw.

Wild.

pietro carra · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 0

yes it's like this... the black cord is also fixed in order to stay downwards... does wild mean good? p.s. this cam is also lighter

Josh Gibbel · · Rapid City, SD · Joined Jul 2016 · Points: 195

I like it. One improvement that might make it better is improving the carabiner connection to the stem. I could see it getting pulled out while climbing a chimney where your cams are rubbing against the rocks.

dindolino32 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 25

I like that it is outside of the box!!! My quick thoughts are:

How would one go about re-racking it as it seems like that would be hard for the follower...

Also the connection piece to the carabiner would (I think) make it top heavy and flip due to gravity....

The length could get extended on accident and become a potential disaster....

I don't always want a cam extended that long, there is no option to keep it shorter and hold a fall with the option of extending it? 

The Joker Pacin cam has a connection that looks similar in how it hangs onto the lobes separately from the trigger...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p90cfLwac54

I really like the out of the box thinking of it though and maybe it could be refined more?  What steps have you taken on taking it further?

Glowering · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 16

I like the idea. Carrying 2 or 3 biners and a sling for a cam like most people do doesn't seem efficient.

One thing on yours I don't like it the metal bar sticking out of the biner. Seem like you could fall on it and if the biner is against the rock it could puncture you.

Gene Patterson · · Sanford NC · Joined Sep 2019 · Points: 5

What about adding a couple small keepers onto the carabiner to keep the sling and carabiner oriented?

Greg R · · Durango CO · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 10

Nice modification. Dyneema sling with basket or girth hitch to cam would reduce bulk and make it adjustable. I could see the stem on biner being a soft material with some kind of passive catch to prevent falling out addressing a couple of the concerns above. Doesn’t seem like more of an issue for follower to rack than dealing with an alpine draw. 

Ryan Mac · · Durango, CO · Joined Apr 2019 · Points: 0

I think you might have actually come up with the next big cam innovation.

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,100

Could use a Neodymium magnet to keep the stem together. Better than the tube relying on friction.

dindolino32 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 25
Allen Sanderson wrote:

Could use a Neodymium magnet to keep the stem together. Better than the tube relying on friction.

Magnets in the mountains really suck unless designed to avoid picking up rocks... my petzl helmet buckle is always filled with crap and seems to be a problem more than a benefit.

pietro carra · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 0

thank you all for your comment. 

the realization is at zero budget yet crude ... many variations are possible; gusseted sling to reduce bulk, with an intermediate point for clipping, a better system for the carabiner, without spikes etc ... also modifying the trigger it's possible to have a sling perfectly free... recovery of the cam by the second is not a problem: youtu.be/SN_D_x6kcwE

Michael Abend · · Boise, ID · Joined May 2017 · Points: 60

This is an interesting idea! 

I am curious how it would perform in an off axis pull. Without the load going through the stem, the cam might not realign to the direction of pull. It is similar to the cable loading of a Totem cam, but Totems are essentially two two-lobed cams tied together. Though, even Totems get some axial alignment through the block that slides on the mini stem piece. I think I would move the piece that secures the cord further down the stem to offer some axial alignment. 

Good work, keep the out of the box ideas coming. 

Ryan Mac · · Durango, CO · Joined Apr 2019 · Points: 0
Michael Abend wrote:

I think I would move the piece that secures the cord further down the stem to offer some axial alignment. 

Hey I was thinking the same thing. It'd actually be fairly easy to test this with a Dragon or pre-C4 Camalot and some magnets.

Cherokee Nunes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2015 · Points: 0

What's the intended purpose of this mod, please?

pietro carra · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 0
Michael Abend wrote:

This is an interesting idea! 

I am curious how it would perform in an off axis pull. Without the load going through the stem, the cam might not realign to the direction of pull. It is similar to the cable loading of a Totem cam, but Totems are essentially two two-lobed cams tied together. Though, even Totems get some axial alignment through the block that slides on the mini stem piece. I think I would move the piece that secures the cord further down the stem to offer some axial alignment. 

Good work, keep the out of the box ideas coming. 

in the second video you can see the element that secures the cord, is placed into the hole of the head, and goes up and under the head of the cam, bringing both flaps,  in order to guarantee the axial alignement (i hope was clear)... thank for your interest

Mark NH · · 03053 · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 0

I guess I’m not modifying any piece a gear that’s potentially gonna save my life. While I like this idea maybe some gear manufacture will actually make one that’s tested to strength. In the interim I will continue to carry alpine draws as I have for almost 40 years to extend a placement. 

Michael Atlas · · Charlotte, NC · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 85

I can appreciate the out of box thinking on this one, but similiar to Mark above, IMO leave this kind of stuff to the experts unless you  already have a patent on the idea (in that case, sell your idea to the experts or startup your own cam company :)).  I'd buy and use one if it was lighter and properly load tested / certified.

BTW, what does this whole thing weigh?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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