DANGER please check these pics out

[ACMESkydiver 0]

If you have kids, neices, nephews, friends, WHATEVER that have a play system, 'Rainbow' or other, PLEASE let them know to check this!!

The rope swing FRAYS very quickly with regular use.

I called Rainbow and asked if there was a consumer alert or warning or recall, and they told me that the system should be inspected once a year. I asked if it specifically TOLD people that this was an INEVITABLE problem, not a 'maybe' thing, as it is very dangerous. They told me that it is "in the back of the owners manual under 'warranties'."

"So you're not telling people that this will become dangerous?" I asked them. "You need to inspect the system yearly, and you will need to replace the frayed ropes."

WTF, I'm kind of pissed. I don't CARE about buying another damn rope, NO BIG DEAL! But SHIT something should be told when they are installing it that the damn rope will fray!

Please just let people know.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[rehmwa 2]

Seems like common sense to me to check this stuff. Without big brother whispering in my ear.

I built a swing set from scratch for my daughter and most every week while working in the yard or when she's playing on it, etc, without thinking about it, eyeballed the ropes and chains, play components, structure, etc. No time wasted, just look at it while doing other stuff. Fix what you see as you see it.

Some of us also wax our car, sweep out the garage, change oil, add salt to water softeners, wash dishes, do little household repairs, etc without any labels or warnings at all. Why just the other day I changed a lightbulb without any e-mails or communications whatsoever from General Electric.

I even look at the velcro and kill line and three rings, and canopy lines, and tabs, and closing loops, etc. For expected regular wear and tear of material.

You get the idea. There's a big difference between defective parts and normal wear and tear. (on the fair side, was this just after a couple weeks, or was it more than a year?)

Sometimes you city folks just amaze me.

In any case, still nice of you point this out - and it applies to any swingset (chains corrode, screws loosen, wood rots, etc.)

Flame away, but that's my position. More labels don't help those who don't watch out for themselves.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[IanHarrop 43]

Gotta to agree with you on this one. Normal wear is exactly that - NORMAL

I don't think that putting stickers on things will help those you aren't proactive to protect themselves by checking out the equipment they use. The next thing would be that the stickers would fade from exposure to sunlight and there would be complaints about the sticker not being good enough.

Warning people to use common sense is a never ending battle that can't be won. Not sure where this line came from but... Common sense isn't common.

Inspecting equipment is common sense.



Waiting for the flames...

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[ACMESkydiver 0]

You built one from scratch? I doubt it was as big as this system. No, I don't regularly look up 15 feet to the tops of these things every week. This swing is at the end in a shadowy corner, and I would have expected a better design from Rainbow. A simple plastic or metal tube coating the rub area would have worked. I didn't expect the 2" rope to fray this quick. -Supposedly Rainbow has done all of this 'research' on play systems in their designing, I have no idea how the hell this part escaped them.

The rest of the system is amazing, but the shoddy rope swing is a disappointment, and could have been dangerous if we hadn't caught it.

For $4000 I just kind of expected this fucking thing to work properly for better than a year (it has been closer to 2, come to think of it). This is the only wear piece on the whole thing, and YES I would have expected a simple heads-up while they are installing this pricey fucking toy that I will need to EXPECT this to fray quickly, even though it is a big rope.

Edit to add: It is touted as a 'maintenance free' unit. 'Years of worry-free maintenance', to be exact. That was one of it's biggest selling points; NOT needing to constantly maintain and upkeep.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[buttercup11 0]

Wow, no sympathies from you Bill! Gotta love it! C ya tonight?

[BIGUN 1,500]

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For $4000 I just kind of expected this fucking thing to work properly for better than a year (it has been closer to 2, come to think of it). This is the only wear piece on the whole thing, and YES I would have expected a simple heads-up while they are installing this pricey fucking toy that I will need to EXPECT this to fray quickly, even though it is a big rope.

It's a rope. I'm surprised it didn't fray a lot sooner than this... They must build quite a good product.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[AndyMan 7]

I agree completely.

But what looks really dumb here is that they've attached the rope in a manner where the most likely place for wear is concealed.

Poor engineering certainly doesn't excuse a lack of maintenance.... but poor engineering is still dumb.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[normiss 902]

that's f-n funny...and no lawyer told me to say that or prevented me from saying it or hopefully will not sue me for saying it either...
but I have not yet consulted the owners manual for my brain so I could be wrong...maybe I need an attorney to figure that out too

[rehmwa 2]

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Wow, no sympathies from you Bill! Gotta love it! C ya tonight?

HI Paula - Actually, lots of sympathies if the vendor said "worry free maintenance for years". Still, gotta watch out for the kids. Gretchen looks gorgeous in that avatar. See you in about an hour. It'll be a hot one this weekend.

ACME - Agree the rope attach point looks like shoddy design - if you go to Menards and Hedstrom swingset section, you'll find the black Hedstrom ropes are extremely sturdy. Hope that helps.

Other - The one I built was 10 feet tall with 4 different stations, with an attached raised deck and railing. 4x4s, 4x6s, heavy bolts, ropes, swings, trapeze, rocket rider (Hedstrom) - ladders. Those 'kits' are very nice, but unnaturally expensive for what you could get on your own. And it's fun to play with a sawsall. We even made our own deck planking from plain 1x6's (why pay for it when it takes seconds to route the top edges?).

It has now been moved to a friend's yard since my girl has outgrown it. It'll last through 4 or 5 families if the chains, etc are replaced on occasion.

Edit: I wish I had the guts to be an entrepenuer and sell kits like this for $4000 or make jumpsuits or something. That level of risk is just not in the cards while I have a daughter and bills to pay. I have friend that have done similar and I admire them a ton.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[bch7773 0]

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This swing is at the end in a shadowy corner, and I would have expected a better design from Rainbow. A simple plastic or metal tube coating the rub area would have worked.

then buy a new rope, and a peice of plastic tubing. if you put it on correctly, then you won't have to worry about the wear as much.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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This swing is at the end in a shadowy corner, and I would have expected a better design from Rainbow. A simple plastic or metal tube coating the rub area would have worked.

then buy a new rope, and a peice of plastic tubing. if you put it on correctly, then you won't have to worry about the wear as much.

That's what I'm going to try to do, but I'm not sure how I'm going to find something that exact diameter. Oh well, it'll give the husband something to do at Home Depot.

And everyone else: bite me. I'm sorry I bothered posting this in the first place. Try to help others out and they just shit on you. Thanks, I appreciate that.

The owner of the local Rainbow factory called me back about an hour ago. He said that at the time I purchased my system, they found several deficiencies in required buyer education from the install and sales team at that time. Apparently the ropes were not the only issue customers were calling about; apparently you are only supposed to tighten bolts that are color coded red or blue annually. The others you are not to touch, their service techs are the only ones authorized to change/adjust those.

But I guess you all knew that already too.

Ahh nevermind, it's just been one of those days.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[TomAiello 26]

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...I'm not sure how I'm going to find something that exact diameter.

Use a chain or cable that has a lesser diameter to get through the wear point, then attach it to a rope that goes the rest of the distance. Or if you want it to be really sturdy, just use a cable for the whole thing.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[JohnMitchell 16]

That's cheaply made, which is probably no surprise. A length of chain at the top, then attaching the rope, would prevent that problem, but it would cost a few bucks more. Best to re-engineer it yourself. I made my kids' swingset from scratch, and it's been pretty durable.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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...I'm not sure how I'm going to find something that exact diameter.

Use a chain or cable that has a lesser diameter to get through the wear point, then attach it to a rope that goes the rest of the distance. Or if you want it to be really sturdy, just use a cable for the whole thing.

A-ha! That will work!
Thanks Tom and John, I think my hubby could do that.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[tr027 0]

Another idea as well:
Or you could attach an Eye bolt with the Eye coming out the bottom of the beam, then the rope would swing without hitting anything.

"The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it. " -John Galt from Atlas Shrugged, 1957

[slug 1]

Hi acme

""The owner of the local Rainbow factory called me back about an hour ago. He said that at the time I purchased my system, they found several deficiencies in required buyer education from the install and sales team at that time. Apparently the ropes were not the only issue customers were calling about; apparently you are only supposed to tighten bolts that are color coded red or blue annually. The others you are not to touch, their service techs are the only ones authorized to change/adjust those.""

In my opinion rainbo is giving you a snow job the problem isn't in the consumer not reading the instuctions it's in the lack of a suitable design at the rope attachment point. IOW a defect produced by the manufactor.

Law rocket where are you

""Ahh nevermind, it's just been one of those days.

[JoeyRamone 0]

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Seems like common sense to me to check this stuff. Without big brother whispering in my ear.

AMEN

[akarunway 1]

Another idea as well:
Or you could attach an Eye bolt with the Eye coming out the bottom of the beam, then the rope would swing without hitting anything.
____________________________________________________Make sure that is a THRU eye bolt w/ washers top and bottom. Not a lag eye bolt

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Squeak 17]

chains and shackle would be the only attachment points for any play equipment, rope on ANYTHING will fray.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[akarunway 1]

chains and shackle would be the only attachment points for any play equipment, rope on ANYTHING will fray.
________________________________________________---That almost sounds, ah, well, nevermind

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Duckwater 0]

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rope on ANYTHING will fray.

Im a fraid knot.....Rope laying on the floor wont fray.

I never got a playset like this, all I got was a lump of coal.

[Kid_Icarus 0]

This fix should all but stop the freying. There are no corners for the rope to frey on in this change. You should be able to get this stuff cheap at Home Depot or whereever.

________________________________________
"What What.....

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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This fix should all but stop the freying. There are no corners for the rope to frey on in this change. You should be able to get this stuff cheap at Home Depot or whereever.

Cool, I'll show that to my hubby when he gets back from destroying people (he's playing paint ball right now. )

Thank you!

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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Send your concerns to the consumer product safety commision so they can encourage the manufactor to communicate with their customers (bad for businees) about this defect.

The life you save may be a kids
R.I.P.

I'm going to, as I think the smallest change in design could fix this.

Everyone else, just an additional piece of info I failed to provide in the beginning, sorry: this is not a typical 'rope'. It's not a soft material, it's not the typical thickness of a rope (when i think of rope I'm thinking thickness of your thumb). This rope is 2" in diameter, so it's huge, it's more of a plastic-feeling (teflon-coated? something like that) so it's very hard. If it was a typical 'rope', no shit, those fray very quickly. These were supposed to be designed NOT to wear as quick. Apparently, when the wood eats into the inner layers which seem to not be teflon-coated with the same amount as the outer layers, it goes from a teeny bit of fuzz (which is what I noticed a month ago, no biggie at that point) to chewing through the damn rope VERY rapidly. It went from fuzz to what you saw in the pics within weeks. -Maybe I didn't make that clear up front; but this isn't what you would picture if I said 'rope'.

Hope that helps. Maybe that explains a little better.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[Squeak 17]

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This fix should all but stop the freying. There are no corners for the rope to frey on in this change. You should be able to get this stuff cheap at Home Depot or whereever.

The rope is still going to cause friction on the eye of the schackle, I'd be inclines to put another link in the so the link is the pivot point not the rope on metal

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?