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I acquired my Kaunas Polytechnic Institute ascender from Gintautas Švedas in 2019.
The Kaunas Polytechnic Institute ascender is 100 mm. tall, 60 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 184 g. The rope channel is 15 mm. wide. The cam radius increases from 28 to 39 mm. over an angle of 37°, giving a 27° cam angle. The tooth pattern is (4Z)^9.
The ascender is left-handed. It is 100 mm. tall, 60 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 184 g. The ascender shell is milled from aluminum alloy with a U-shaped rope channel on the caver’s left and a cam channel on the right. The back of the ascender shows marks that indicate it was faced on a metal lathe. The rope channel is 15 mm. wide. The two attachment points are 13 mm. diameter holes. They are not just drilled, but have rounded edges. A hole drilled through the cam channel accepts a 6 mm. press-fit pin. The cam and cam spring are mounted on this pin. The pivot is centered 37 mm. from the inside of the rope channel.
The cam is made from alloy steel. The cam radius increases from 28 to 39 mm. over an angle of 37°, giving a 27° cam angle. The cam has nine rows of milled teeth in a (4Z)^9 tooth pattern. A spring-loaded pin mounted to the shell acts as both a cam safety and cam hold-open pin. The pin extends through the milled shell. A cover screwed to the back of the shell holds the spring and in in place.
The rear of the ascender is stamped "06" (or possibly "90").
According to Gintautas, this ascender was manufactured in the metal processing laboratories of in the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute, in approximately 1987. It was used 10 years in active deep caving before being retired.
The pin works effectively as a cam stop, but its small size makes it difficult to depress, especially when wearing gloves. The hold-open function relies on friction only, and may not always be reliable.
The cam shows some light surface rust, but no pitting. The teeth are still sharp.
This ascender weighs more than most stamped-frame chest ascenders, but less than most extruded frame chest ascenders.
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