The equipment failure tread!

[MasterMaker]

Reading the "My SOG EOD multitool experience" http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=86571tread it occurred to me that I haven't seen a dedicated equipment failure tread on ZS so I'm starting one.

Basically a tread to post info on an item of equipment or tooling that didn't survive something it should have survived.

I have always liked SOG and always considered it to be a good brand, which the tread linked above proves might not be the case with everything they make.

I haven't had any major failures happen to me(beyond finding out that gerbers of 15 years ago didn't hold an edge for long, and the multiplier from the same era having very loose blade-locks)) but I know that this tread would help many in avoiding a particular product from a manufacturer who otherwise makes good gear.

Any takers???
(this tread might be good candidate for a sticky)

[praharin]

This is a good effort, but I don't think this is a good thread. Let me explain why:

Equipment failures are usually pretty few and far between. I think it's better to have them each in their own thread, so it's easier for potential buyers to find them. Rather than having to wade through a dozen pages in one thread to find the one product they are looking for, they could do a search and find a bunch of threads on that particular item, and choose accordingly.



Also, requesting your own thread be stickied is pretty lame.

[Black Optimus]

This is a good effort, but I don't think this is a good thread. Let me explain why:

Equipment failures are usually pretty few and far between. I think it's better to have them each in their own thread, so it's easier for potential buyers to find them. Rather than having to wade through a dozen pages in one thread to find the one product they are looking for, they could do a search and find a bunch of threads on that particular item, and choose accordingly.



Also, requesting your own thread be stickied is pretty lame.

Personally I think this is an awesome thread. A lot of my equipment failures are tent based (i.e.; broken tent poles).

Also I've injured myself due to improper equipment use (i.e.; cuts from knives and such)

I will also say that any tools bought at the dollar store...you can expect poor quality and that will result in eventual failure.

Also, Praharin...that's a pretty dick move to assume a thread is "lame" just because you don't approve.

[mk_ultra]

Failure... I noticed you spelled "thread" as "tread" once in the title and 6 times in the text .

[majorhavoc]

The tread on my tire delaminated once. That would have sucked if it had been a bug out situation.

[Jeriah]

Set up a pistol belt (a la Murph and Sigboy) using an ALICE belt, SOB, and suspenders. Used the original ALICE clips because I was like, "Hey if the military used 'em for a long-ass time and still does, they can't be all bad." Did one easy day hike in the setup, wearing a thin, light linen shirt: my favorite hot weather shirt. On the way back, I noticed something like a loose thread on the back...thought nothing of it. A few minutes later, Steph pointed out to me that there was a giant rip in my shirt. A little while later I got hot, took off my shirt...there were three massive rips, right where the ALICE clips rub. (It takes 4 clips but one came loose earlier and I hadn't put it back on.) So that's an instance of a gear failure that didn't itself break, but broke something else. (I immediately replaced them with zipties.)

[Kutter_0311]

ALICE clips are pretty FAIL, especially the cheap ones.

Sorry, bro, wish I coulda told you before you lost your good shirt to it!

[praharin]

Personally I think this is an awesome thread. A lot of my equipment failures are tent based (i.e.; broken tent poles).

Also I've injured myself due to improper equipment use (i.e.; cuts from knives and such)

I will also say that any tools bought at the dollar store...you can expect poor quality and that will result in eventual failure.

Also, Praharin...that's a pretty dick move to assume a thread is "lame" just because you don't approve.

1: I didn't say that the idea was bad, just the execution, and I explained why.

2: I never said the thread was lame, only suggesting it be stickied so early was lame. I stand by that, and still believe that this thread is superfluous.

3: I refer you to the second quote in my signature. That should be all you ever need to know about me.

[Big Gulp]

I have a few things that are not so much failures as they are poor engineering and R&D.

1) The stupid long, skinny, fold out screwdriver on my Leather-man Charge broke just by looking at it. The 2 other guys that I know that own one had the same problem so it is not just because I was trying to use it as a tiny pry bar.

2) I recently bought a LWRC M6A3. Right out of the box I was having FTE problems. I had to send the upper in to LWRC (on their dime) so they could replace the fancy combat bolt out for a standard bolt. They re head spaced the barrel and test fired it before they sent it back to me. I have to check their website periodically to see if they have come out with the new bolt and then I have to contact them and beg for the new one when it does. So if anyone plans on getting a LWRC rifle be prepared...

3) The pump for my Whisperlite international stove broke. It is a common problem that is remedied by forking out more cash to buy their upgraded unit.

[Shroud]

...
1) The stupid long, skinny, fold out screwdriver on my Leather-man Charge broke just by looking at it. The 2 other guys that I know that own one had the same problem so it is not just because I was trying to use it as a tiny pry bar.
...

I find this funny because others on the SOG multitool thread that is linked in the OP (and elsewhere) stand by the Leatherman as the superior multitool. I'm not one to argue either way, but I think it goes to show that any product can have malfunctions and that this thread should be used as a data point only in conjunction with further research.

[MDCCLXXVI]

Fenix LD20 R4 failed on me pretty badly in a time of need, 4 days from nearest road.

Fenix LD05 also failed me, but it wasn't in a tight situation. It fell off a couch and died.

[HKTackDriver]

Failures:

Guns: None

Ammo: Wolf on occasion won't light off, some milspec 50bmg has primers that are too hard.

"Camping" type stuff: None, but my lighter ran out of fluid once. I also got cold once. It was unexpected weather and I wasn't prepared for it. Owner fail.

Maybe I'm lucky or maybe I don't run my equipment enough or hard enough. Either way, I consider myself lucky.

One area of concern is stoves. I have a Dragonfly multifuel that can get gummy if it's not cleaned and I use anything but white gas. I keep a rebuild kit on hand, which is lightweight and can sit in the bottom of my bag. 3 years and no rebuild necessary, but I'm meticulous with my cleaning.

[Dooms]

I find this funny because others on the SOG multitool thread that is linked in the OP (and elsewhere) stand by the Leatherman as the superior multitool. I'm not one to argue either way, but I think it goes to show that any product can have malfunctions and that this thread should be used as a data point only in conjunction with further research.

That's kind of an apples to oranges comparison though. He's talking about the needle-size glasses/watch screwdriver on the Charge, which was obviously designed with wear/breakage in mind, hence why it's easily user replaceable. That's a bit different from the plier jaws shattering under normal use.

I will say though, that Leatherman's definitely aren't infallible. I haven't had any luck with their Juice line. The first one I had, the pliers jaws over-extended themselves, so the tip wouldn't match up. The second one I had, the bottle opener slipped passed the slip-joint, so it would no longer lock up. I sent 'em back and got a third one, but I don't trust it.

[Shroud]

I find this funny because others on the SOG multitool thread that is linked in the OP (and elsewhere) stand by the Leatherman as the superior multitool. I'm not one to argue either way, but I think it goes to show that any product can have malfunctions and that this thread should be used as a data point only in conjunction with further research.

That's kind of an apples to oranges comparison though. He's talking about the needle-size glasses/watch screwdriver on the Charge, which was obviously designed with wear/breakage in mind, hence why it's easily user replaceable. That's a bit different from the plier jaws shattering under normal use.

I will say though, that Leatherman's definitely aren't infallible. I haven't had any luck with their Juice line. The first one I had, the pliers jaws over-extended themselves, so the tip wouldn't match up. The second one I had, the bottle opener slipped passed the slip-joint, so it would no longer lock up. I sent 'em back and got a third one, but I don't trust it.

The original post on the SOG thread was about the screwdriver. The plier breaking amazed me actually. I would say that is an anomaly for the SOG, as that is widely regarded as it's strongest characteristic. If they are that unreliable I haven't heard enough about it. Either way, my point is to not take any example presented in this thread (already stated or yet to be) too seriously without doing further research. Glocks can fail although many agree they are considered reliable. That's all I was trying to say.

[Big B]

Fenix LD20 R4 failed on me pretty badly in a time of need, 4 days from nearest road.

How did it fail you? What was wrong with it? Did Fenix make it right?

More details would be helpful for those that own or plan to buy Fenix lights.

[painiac]

Maglights.

I've owned many over the years when I was young, before I knew better. I've had about 5 mini-mags (AA and AAA), a Solitaire, a 4-cell D and a 5-cell D. My dad had a couple 4-cell Ds also. Every single one of them has failed and is no longer in use. Crappy components make unreliable flashlights. My experience has usually been switch-related failures. Maglights tend not to tolerate even short drops. Also, the incandescent bulbs fail frequently. The LED conversion kit is an improvement on that issue, but it's not nearly as bright as many competing LED flashlights.

[DeadCanadian]

I have seen Leatherman pliers broken but not by me and I am still a big fan. That is why this is kind of a bad thread, just because something broke doesn't mean it is as bad tool. I expect an axe to chip if I hit nails or rocks with it, I expect a tent to tear if I poke a sharp enough stick through it, I expect everything to break when abused past its limit. In martial arts I expect you to break when I kick your floating rib

[MasterMaker]

Should have added that everything can break

The idea was catastrophic failures or the kinds of failures that were more than likely caused by a less than ideal design, poor quality control or cut corners.

My intention was to see if I could get a thread(english is not my first language btw) going that would serve as a knowledge bank of things to watch out for/keep in mind when considering a certain product, such as multipliers(if someone needs them primarily for the pliers then the occasional weakness that pops up in certain brands would make it a safer bet to stay away from those brands).

Most manufacturers make some really good products, some that are lemons, while others have a higher than average occurrence of lemons with a product that is otherwise known as being really good.

I have certainly gotten some useful info out of this thread already, which was my original intention, to start a thread that would help people by alerting them to potential problems with certain products.

[Jeriah]

ALICE clips are pretty FAIL, especially the cheap ones.

Sorry, bro, wish I coulda told you before you lost your good shirt to it!

No worries, man. I've been told and decided to try 'em out anyway just to see for myself. I've used 'em before without any real problem, must have been the combination of wearing my belt a bit high, and the very thin shirt. It'll be fine, though; Steph's already patched two holes in it, so what are three more? I didn't know there were good vs. cheap ALICE clips. They all seem the same to me, and so simple it's hard to imagine getting them wrong...or right.

Maglights.

I've owned many over the years when I was young, before I knew better. I've had about 5 mini-mags (AA and AAA), a Solitaire, a 4-cell D and a 5-cell D. My dad had a couple 4-cell Ds also. Every single one of them has failed and is no longer in use. Crappy components make unreliable flashlights. My experience has usually been switch-related failures. Maglights tend not to tolerate even short drops. Also, the incandescent bulbs fail frequently. The LED conversion kit is an improvement on that issue, but it's not nearly as bright as many competing LED flashlights.

I've had two fail, both for reasons I think were partly my fault. Solitaire, I loaned to a friend (my mistake), and it didn't work after he lost the spring, but still didn't work after they sent me a new one. 4D, the batteries corroded (not the Maglite's fault, but mine for leaving batteries in it while storing), but the light still worked, so (my big mistake) I scrubbed the corrosion off the batteries and put 'em back in...okay, okay, I know, my bad. So now I have a club.

I like this thread.

[Big B]

I have seen Leatherman pliers broken but not by me and I am still a big fan. That is why this is kind of a bad thread, just because something broke doesn't mean it is as bad tool. I expect an axe to chip if I hit nails or rocks with it, I expect a tent to tear if I poke a sharp enough stick through it, I expect everything to break when abused past its limit. In martial arts I expect you to break when I kick your floating rib

I think this thread has potential, AS LONG AS PEOPLE PROVIDE ADIQUATE INFORMATION!


Lets take your Leatherman situation for example,

What model of tool was this?
How old was the tool?
What were you (or who ever was using it) doing when it failed?
What/where specifically failed on the tool?
Did you contact the who made/makes the tool, if so did they do anything?


If we all provide as much quality information in our posts I see some serious potential for this thread. If we just say "I saw brand-x fail" that does nothing as far as sharing info with your fellow preppers.

DeadCasnadian, I really don't mean to bash on your post. I'm simply using it as an example. Sorry if I come accross as a jerk

[ednemo]

I love Maglights. And I have never had one fail on me. With one exception. I have had multiple die due to corroded batteries. This is not the Maglight's fault, but it uses so little power, the batteries tend to work past where they corrode and I have to throw out the flashlight. Speaking on which, time to buy another 5D maglight due to the aforementioned problem.

[Kutter_0311]

ALICE clips are pretty FAIL, especially the cheap ones.

I didn't know there were good vs. cheap ALICE clips. They all seem the same to me, and so simple it's hard to imagine getting them wrong...or right.

The difference is in bend quality, mostly. Perhaps materials, too, but not sure. Propper clips are shaped so they slide straight into the hole, cheapies need to be pressed inward before closing. These cheapies are the ones that "pop" outward when slid open. The body of the clip wasn't bent to the propper spec, with right angles. I suspect you'll find these mostly on cheap, non-issue knock-off products, but they may also be present on used issued gear, as clips are lost/broken and replaced frequently.

I try to replace them with MALICE clips, anyway. Far more secure, less failures.

[ForgeCorvus]

Nite Ize LED Upgrade Kit

I bought two of these over a year ago


One worked just fine in one torch (2 D cell) but when I put the other one of them into another flash-light (4 D cell) it didn't work
I thought perhaps I'd got a pup, so tried it in my 2 cell to make sure (still dead)
So, I put the one that I knew worked into the 4 cell.... It died instantly

Claims to work in any D or C 2-6 cell torch that uses a PR type flange....Doesn't

Contacted the company, they sent me a nice email directing me to the UK distributer.

UK company didn't even reply..... Not happy still

The parent company has good customer service in that the reply was within the working day, but the UK side is crap (was crap at the time, not given them a second chance)

[painiac]

I've had two fail, both for reasons I think were partly my fault. Solitaire, I loaned to a friend (my mistake), and it didn't work after he lost the spring, but still didn't work after they sent me a new one. 4D, the batteries corroded (not the Maglite's fault, but mine for leaving batteries in it while storing), but the light still worked, so (my big mistake) I scrubbed the corrosion off the batteries and put 'em back in...okay, okay, I know, my bad. So now I have a club.

I love Maglights. And I have never had one fail on me. With one exception. I have had multiple die due to corroded batteries. This is not the Maglight's fault, but it uses so little power, the batteries tend to work past where they corrode and I have to throw out the flashlight. Speaking on which, time to buy another 5D maglight due to the aforementioned problem.

Maglite does not consider battery leakage to be covered by their warranty. However, if the leak that destroyed your flashlight happened with Duracell, Eveready, or Ray-O-Vac batteries you can send the flashlight back to maglite and the battery company will pay them to replace your flashlight.