Version A	Version B	Version C

Overview

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Version A
(#180)

Front	Rear

Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired this Version from Ural Sport in November 2004.

The body of the Mouse consists of a titanium spool welded to a 4.4 mm. plate. The spool’s outer diameter is 27 mm., and a shallow U-shaped groove reduces the diameter to 24.9 mm. where the rope rides. The inside of the spool is 21.5 mm. in diameter, and aligns with a similar hole in the back plate. There are six 6 mm. holes in the back plate. The top-right hole has a 12.8 mm. long, 8 mm (stepped to 6 mm.) diameter pin pressed into it to act as a cam stop. The four left-most remaining holes are nonfunctional, while the right-most hole supports the cam axle.

The cam and cam axle are identical to those on the Ural Alp Mini. The axle diameter is 6 mm. where it passes through the front and back plates, 15 mm. in diameter for 1.5 mm. between the cam and front plate, and an intermediate size (perhaps 8 mm.) where the cam bushing rides. The axle is threaded at both ends, with a washer and nut outside the front plate and an bracket and nut outside the rear plate. The bracket behind the back plate limits how far the cam can open. Each nut is staked in place with two center punch marks.

The cam is spring loaded, but the spring is not visible except for where one end can be seen in a small hole in the base of the cam. The cam has 15 teeth arranged in a (3.2)^3 pattern. An 8 mm diameter mushroom head pin pressed into the cam aligns with a notch the front plate.

The front plate is made from 2 mm. engine ruled titanium. An 18.4 mm. hole lines up with the spool and back plate holes. A vertical notch slides behind the mushroom head on the cam pin.

The front plate is stamped "RUSSIA" and "URAL-ALP" inside a round-cornered rectangle.

Comments

The Mouse is a nice, well-made and compact ascender. I like using the Mouse more than I like the Ropeman II., although I’d probably choose an RBS or helical knot over either. The mouse is slightly larger, but only 4 g. heavier. Neither one is likely to come off rope accidentally.

I find that I need two hands to rig the Mouse. The cam spring is strong and the Mouse holds well, although only the top few teeth are engaged when I use 11 mm. rope. The clip-in hole is quite close to the main line and is opposite the cam, so there is little lost motion (just over a centimeter) when loading the ascender.

There was only one production run of Version A before Ural Alp introduced the improved Version B.

[ Top | Version A | Version C | Return to E.C. Ascenders ]

Version B
(#189)

Front	Rear

Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired this Version from Ural Sport in January 2005.

The difference between Versions A and B is the notch in the front plate. On Version B, the notch is arcuate and concentric with the cam pivot.

The front plate is stamped "RUSSIA" and "URAL-ALP" inside a round-cornered rectangle.

Comments

Although the change in the front plate notch appears to be minor, it isn't. When using Version A on small ropes, they would sometimes slip outward and bind between the cam and front plate. The nose created by the change in the Version B notch does much to eliminate this problem.

[ Top | Version A | Version B | Return to E.C. Ascenders ]

Version C
(#3523)

Front	Rear

Top	Bottom

Front: Open for Rigging	Rear: Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired this Version from Ural Sport in January 2005.

Version C uses hex nuts on the cam axle instead of the specialty nuts used on the other versions.

The front plate is stamped "RUSSIA" and "URAL-ALP" inside a round-cornered rectangle.

Comments

Although the change in the front plate notch appears to be minor, it isn't. When using Version A on small ropes, they would sometimes slip outward and bind between the cam and front plate. The nose created by the change in the Version B notch does much to eliminate this problem.

[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version C ]