BEWARE: cheap snatch blocks

[BDinTX]

I have, correction “had” a couple of Smittybilt snatch blocks I bought 5 years ago. I figured they were inexpensive and if I needed one, they’d be better than nothing.

Yesterday my friend @Oh_Jeepers and I cleaned my winch lines, then proceeded to reload the winch under tension. We used a tree saver around a light pole with a 7/8” shackle connecting both ends to the snatch block. The Jeep was in neutral with the parking brake partially set to put some load on things.

When we got to the end and took tension off the snatch block, it fell apart. One of the shackle c-clips had come off and the center pin, without tension, came out on that side releasing the pulley. (sorry no pics of this)

The only other time I had used these was 4 years ago while helping install an emergency siren electronics box. If one of these snatch blocks had failed under load someone could easily have been hurt or killed. They now sit in the trash bin and will make a trip to the landfill tomorrow.

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[Terrymo]

I have, correction “had” a couple of Smittybilt snatch blocks I bought 5 years ago. I figured they were inexpensive and if I needed one, they’d be better than nothing.

Yesterday my friend @Oh_Jeepers and I cleaned my winch lines, then proceeded to reload the winch under tension. We used a tree saver around a light pole with a 7/8” shackle connecting both ends to the snatch block. The Jeep was in neutral with the parking brake partially set to put some load on things.

When we got to the end and took tension off the snatch block, it fell apart. One of the shackle c-clips had come off and the center pin, without tension, came out on that side releasing the pulley. (sorry no pics of this)

The only other time I had used these was 4 years ago while helping install an emergency siren electronics box. If one of these snatch blocks had failed under load someone could easily have been hurt or killed. They now sit in the trash bin and will make a trip to the landfill tomorrow.

Thanks for that reminder

 

[BDinTX]

You bet! I thought about keeping them for “just in case” but figured if literally anything got damaged because it failed it would be much more expensive than the $37 snatchblock.

So I added another Factor 55 RRP to the kit. I think 4 pulleys should be enough…

https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/winch-accessories/00264-factor-55-rrp-and-soft-shackle-kit

 

[Jad4275]

Not a good idea to use a telephone pole as your anchor. Those things are not in the ground very far and if you had knocked it over you’d be responsible for paying for it and the repair to the utilities on it. Use a tree or another vehicle.

 

[BDinTX]

@Jad4275 - when tensioning the winch it was a metal light pole, bolted to a cement base. My tree saver was around the bottom of the cement base. I wasn't terribly concerned about pulling it over but valid point.

The images above are from when I used the snatch blocks on a pole dedicated to a storm siren. According to the person servicing the storm siren, the pole was in the ground about 6 feet. The side load at the base of the pole would have been the weight of the box which was about 100 lbs plus any frictional losses so maybe 110 lbs total.

 

[mgroeger]

@Jad4275 - when tensioning the winch it was a metal light pole, bolted to a cement base. My tree saver was around the bottom of the cement base. I wasn't terribly concerned about pulling it over but valid point.

The images above are from when I used the snatch blocks on a pole dedicated to a storm siren. According to the person servicing the storm siren, the pole was in the ground about 6 feet. The side load at the base of the pole would have been the weight of the box which was about 100 lbs plus any frictional losses so maybe 110 lbs total.

Personally I always tension the line pulling up hill. Find a slope, anchor it to your buddy's vehicle and pull yourself up. That will tensions the line sufficiently. Pulling yourself across a flat surface isn't really putting a ton of tension on the line.

 

[BDinTX]

The parking brake was partially engaged to add tension...

Good grief this is exactly why I considered not even posting about dangerous snatch blocks which is the POINT of this thread ffs...

 

[mgroeger]

The parking brake was partially engaged to add tension...

Good grief this is exactly why I considered not even posting about dangerous snatch blocks which is the POINT of this thread ffs...

OK let's talk about your dangerous snatch block. Sounds like you are the real problem, clearly you didn't examine the snatch block before you used it. Maybe the C clip popped off during use you say? Possible but as you noted under tension there was no issue so really it's kind of a lot of drama inducing behavior to start a post about "dangerous" snatch blocks. My snatch block has a problem too, I NOTICED the zerk fitting had come out... that's because I inspected it before using it. And is also serves you right for buying Shittybilt. That's all. Love you.

 

[BDinTX]

You're right, it does serve me right for buying it.

Just trying to let folks know to be careful with their recovery equipment, regardless of how they are being used.

 

[Terrymo]

You're right, it does serve me right for buying it.

Just trying to let folks know to be careful with their recovery equipment, regardless of how they are being used.

Dang tough crowd. Try to be helpful and…well…now you know. Woulda shoulda coulda and a lot of jumping to conclusions.

 

[mgroeger]

You're right, it does serve me right for buying it.

Just trying to let folks know to be careful with their recovery equipment, regardless of how they are being used.

If you are using synthetic rope this is the simplest and safest snatch block to use...

 

[Radioman]

Not a good idea to use a telephone pole as your anchor. Those things are not in the ground very far and if you had knocked it over you’d be responsible for paying for it and the repair to the utilities on it. Use a tree or another vehicle.

I agree that it is not a good idea to use a utility pole for an anchor. As a former lineman, though, the pole should be in the ground a 10th of its length plus 2 feet. A 45 foot pole will be in the ground 6.5 feet.

 

[Rubi6mt]

You're right, it does serve me right for buying it.

Just trying to let folks know to be careful with their recovery equipment, regardless of how they are being used.

Pretty crazy how it fell apart. My recovery gear consists of Factor55 and AEV. Spent a pretty penny on both but with the piece of mind they are quality parts engineered for the recovery task at hand.

I have this snatch block and to date its been solid on the rare occasion I've used it

 

[BDinTX]

If you are using synthetic rope this is the simplest and safest snatch block to use...

Bang for the buck that’s probably a winner. Those Smittybilt things were the first and last recovery items I skimped on.

I like the Factor 55 RRP though, the little rubber nubs really do help keep the rope in place while setting up. I already had 3 plus the two el cheapo’s. I tossed those and ordered another RRP yesterday. I if I can’t get out with 4 pulleys I might need help.

 

[Oh_Jeepers]

Hey all
I was with @BDinTX when he discovered that the pulley came apart and was shocked to see the snap ring off the pin and separated from pulley. When we connected everything worked as it should have with nothing indicating that snap ring was lose if I had to guess the load that we put in the block caused ether the pin to flex or snap ring to flex off.

Also down in TX not a lot hills around our neighborhoods without traffic to put a load on so the use of the concrete base of the light pole and with me in the jeep with the parking break almost fully applied it had a good load on the line.

The point of all of this is to pass along things we all find to look out for our fellows in the 4X4 community so no one gets hurt.

I'm going to do some looking at the AEV snatch block so thanks for the info.

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