Problems with Countycomm gate-clips.

[coby1man]

I have recently aquired a size one (20mm) and size 2(25mm) clips from countycomm and was very dissapointed. The 20mm clip had a very shoddy gate that was very loose(slid around in its holding holes) and the tension of the gate seemed to be too light.

I then selected the 25mm clip to hold my arc aaa to my keychain but have recently noticed that the gate on this clip was loose and actually fell off when I attemted to adjust it. I am pretty dissapointed with the quality of these clips.

I am wondering if anyone has similar experiences and also if anyone has used the nano/pico clips from berkely point?. I have a mini clip from them from a while back that would work perfectly but it was a bit too large for my keychain.

 

[McGizmo]

coby1man,

This is the first I have heard of some gate problems with the clips. The gate is just formed stainless wire and its shape is all that holds it in place. I have removed them in the past and made adjustmenst to both the tension as well as how tight the bent dog legs seated into the holes. I am sorry that you have found them less than acceptable! If I am not mistaken, the clips at Berkeley point are the same as those you got from CountyComm. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

 

[GJW]

I've never had a problem with the 20 or the 25mm but the nano and the pico indeed have very weak tension.
I think I bought 8 of each and about 1/2 of each were completely unusable.

 

[03lab]

I have problems with my pico and nano clips too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[McGizmo]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif Well thanks at least now for the feedback! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif Can you be more specific about what isn't right? Is the tension too week for your application? I won't try to force an understanding of how these work on any of you but the design is really quite simple and straight forward. If the legs in the body of the clip have too much friction in the holes, this can be a problem for the spring action. The springs are also pre loaded with tension and if you pop out one leg you can increase this tension by bending the gate far enough to set it with a greater angle between the legs. I am really sorry that some of you have had problems with these clips! If you are so inclined, you can master these poor performers! I will be the first to admit as well as warn that these clips are not the right solution for many attachment systems and geometries. The smaller ones by nature are not as positive or secure if the gate tension is important for function.

 

[Darell]

Dang - I have a small handful of all sizes, and beyond just a couple that needed minor adjustment, the rest have been perfect right out of the box. I trust these clips to keep some irreplaceable lights on my person, so I don't screw around when I say I trust them! Wonder what's going on... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

Remember that the gate doesn't need all that much tension to be effective. If there is pressure against the gate, the gate stays closed. The correct size needs to be chosen to prevent having the gate capsize, but once that's done, there seems to be no way for me to remove my lights without me really wanting them removed.

 

[03lab]

One of my pico clips gate was just flapping around with no tension whatsoever right from the beginning. The mirco clips have been working great though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[McGizmo]

O3lab,
If you want to, I believe you can fix the clip yourself. I first encountered this torsion gate system almost 30 years ago on a gate snap made by Wichard for sail boats. I was so impressed that I finally had to take it apart to see how it worked. Once I figured out the magic, I started using this design on clips and hardware that I made for myself. I don't know who came up with the idea originally but who ever it was has my undying admiration!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif I have yet to see another example of such a simple and elegant solution to a mechanical function. I have seen poor applications and executions of the design and the capsize of which Darell speaks is a reality that must be understood if one is to keep their gear attached!

 

[Wolfen]

I had problems with the County Comm titanium screw to close clips. The screw wouldn't stay well, "screwed".

 

[Lunal_Tic]

Wolfen, I had probs with the Ti clips too. The wire was so short that when you close it there was a gap. I only use 2 of the 10 I bought.

The pico clip is the only one so far that was too weak to really use. The rest have been good but I've got more coming so we'll see.

-LT

 

[coby1man]

The main issue I have is the gate comming off when I removed my Arc AAA from it. There seems to be too much space for the gate to slide in its holes while closed and if I push it twoards one end the gate actually angles enough for me to be concerned that it would fail by itself.

(I think it was the gate was slightly angled when I attempted to remove my arc from the gate when it popped off)