[ Top | Version B | Indy | Return to Bobbins ]
I acquired this descender from Speleoshoppe in about 1982.
The side plates are very long, with a cast iron autostop cam mounted above the two bollards. The pivoting side plate pivots about the cam bolt rather than the lower bollard bolt as in most other designs. The upper bollard is bolted through its center to the fixed side plate, with two roll pins provided to prevent rotation. The lower bollard rotates on a custom axle bolt bolted to the fixed side plate. A handle assembly mounted on the outside of the fixed side plate rotates on the shoulder nut attached to this bolt. A shim serves as a spacer between the side plate and handle assembly. The handle grip is molded phosphorescent green plastic. A second bolt passes through the handle, a connecting arm, a shim, and into a threaded steel insert in the lower bollard. A second insert is provided for reversing the bollard. The other end of the connecting arm is riveted to the autostop cam. Friction from the passage of the main rope causes the lower bollard to rotate, rotating the handle and pulling the connecting rod down. This pulls the autostop cam against the rope above the upper bollard, thus ideally arresting the descent. The handle is used to keep the cam disengaged during normal descent.
The attachment point is a 15 by 22 mm. oval hole near the bottom of the two side plates. The hole is oriented horizontally, allowing two maillons to ride side-by-side. Below these holes is a 6 mm. hole in the fixed side plate for attaching a piece of accessory cord. A cutout in the pivoting side plate provides clearance.
The pivoting side plate is stamped "KONG," "BONAITI-ITALY" and "Kg 1500". The plastic handle has "PHOSPHORESCENT".
CommentsThe autostop feature on this descender differs from the others, and has several disadvantages. First, and most important, I find that it simply does not work. I can easily rappel with the autostop feature fully engaged. Second, it greatly increases the length of the descender. Finally, it is too complicated, with too many pivoting joints for mud and sand to enter.On the positive side, the workmanship is good, and I like the idea of a phosphorescent handle, even if its practical utility is negligible. The accessory cord hole should be used to tie the descender to one's harness, since there is no quick attach feature.
Kong recommends rigging this stop bobbin in the standard "S"
configuration when using ropes ranging in diameter from 8 to 12 mm.
They recommend using two wraps on the bollard for ropes in the
5 to 7 mm. diameter range. I consider most such ropes to
be too thin for safe rappelling and recommend against their general
use.
[ Top | version A | Indy | Return to Bobbins ]
I acquired two of these descenders from Inner Mountain Outfitters, the first in 1996 and the second in 1997.
The side plates are shorter than in Version A, and the pivoting side plate pivots about the lower bollard bolt as in most other designs.
The upper bollard is bolted through its center to the fixed side plate, with two roll pins provided to prevent rotation. The upper bollard is 45 mm. in diameter and 13.6 mm. thick, with a 10 mm. wide, rounded V-shaped groove turned to give an inner diameter of 35 mm. The lower bollard is 50 mm. in diameter, with a shallow U-shaped groove giving a 45 mm. inner diameter. Two cuts reduce the lower bollard to a wedge shape. The upper cut is 28 mm. long, the lower 34 mm., and the angle between the cuts is about 30 degrees. The lower bollard rotates on a custom axle bolt bolted to the fixed side plate. A handle assembly mounted on the outside of the fixed side plate rotates on the shoulder nut attached to this bolt. The handle grip is molded black plastic. A second bolt passes through the handle, a connecting arm, a shim, and into a threaded steel insert in the lower bollard. A second hole (sans insert) is provided for reversing the bollard. The other end of the connecting arm is riveted to the autostop cam. Friction from the passage of the main rope causes the lower bollard to rotate, rotating the handle and pulling the connecting rod down. This pulls the autostop cam against the rope above the upper bollard, thus ideally arresting the descent. The handle is used to keep the cam disengaged during normal descent.
The attachment point is a 13.4 by 26.9 mm. vertical oval hole near the bottom of the two side plates. The hole on the pivoting side plate is cut away to form a hook, and a spring-loaded stamped gate is fixed to the side plate.
The pivoting side plate is stamped with the Kong logo, "ITALY," an icon showing how to rig the device, "Max <-> 22 kN," and "USE ROPE ø 9-12 mm."
Somehow I accidentally acquired two of these, so I disassembled one and reversed the lower bollard. In the process, I found that the bollard was soft and easily damaged. I can't say that I've noticed a great difference in friction between the two arrangements.
[ Top | version A | Version B | Return to Bobbins ]
I acquired this descender from Inner Mountain Outfitters in 2001.
The Indy is similar to Version B, with the following main differences:
The pivoting side plate is marked with the Kong logo, "Italy," "INDY double brake," the serial number "01004452," a rigging diagram with an arrow that points down, the "reading is dangerous" icon, a rope icon followed by "max 100 mt.," "max 1,5 kN," "CE0426," "EN341 class A," a rope icon followed by "ø 10-11 mm.," "prEN12841 type C, and another rope icon followed by "ø 10-13 mm. "
As with the other descenders on this page, I find that the stop feature does not provide a secure stop; however, it will slow the descent. I prefer the bolted bollards on the earlier models, since the rivets on the Indy make it difficult for the user to replace a worn bollard.
[ Top | Version A | Version B | Indy ]
