PMI Arrestor

Left Side, Closed for Use

Right Side, Closed for Use

Right Side, Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my Arrestor from On Rope 1 in January 2003

The PMI Arrestor looks and functions like a Type 1 Lever Cam Ascenders, but it is marketed as a rope grab. The frame is milled from aluminum (much like the Rock Exotica ascenders), and is identical to the frame for the .PMI Progressor, version A.The flat-based rope channel is 14.4-mm wide. The right side has a raised mound that houses a spring-loaded pin that holds the axle in place. A small button threaded onto a side piece into the pin lets one retract the pin.

The cam has 12 rounded teeth, and is held by a piece of 1.5-mm accessory cord pinned to the frame. The teeth are very shallow - only about 0.25 -mm deep.The cam rides on a 10-mm diameter stainless steel axle that is held in place by a 1.5-mm plastic-covered cable keeper pinned to the frame. The end of the pin is tapered so that the restraining pin does not need to be manually retracted when assembling the Arrestor.

The left side of the frame has a screened design with a cam logo (matching the cam on the PMI Progressor, not the cam on the Arrestor), "Arrestor", and arrowhead with "UP" nearby, a "feather" logo, "PMI WALES", "CE0086", "ANSI z359.1 1992 (R1999) 10.5-12.7mmØ," and "EN 353-2 10.5-11mmØ."

The spine of the frame is stamped "M7963." It is also screened with the "reading is dangerous" icon, "Read instructions before use," aand "Use ONLY with ropes approved to EN 892 or CI 1801."

Comments

The Arrestor is similar to the PMI Progressor, but the latter has a better-looking cam. PMI must have a reason for marketing both devices, but since they sold these without instructions, I don't know what that reason is (possibly design differences needed to meet different certifications).The teeth on the Arrestor are so shallow that the cam functions almost as if there were no teeth at all.

I do not like the accessory cord keeper for the cam. PMI should use a cable keeper like they do for the axle on the Arrestor or for both cam and axle on the Progressor. PMI should also consider rounding the top and bottom edges of the rope channel. Mine has a sharp edge here, and I would not use it without rounding this with a file first.

The button for retracting the axle retaining pin is small and rounded, so it is difficult to operate with gloves or muddy hands.