Alpine WebLock 4.0 Made in the USA 1-inch Slackline Webbing Anchor Instructions for handling and use - Please read in full before using this device
1.) Introduction 2.) Warnings / General Use Guidelines 3.) Technical Specifications / Nomenclature 4.) Properly Anchoring the AWL 4.0 a.) Hardware Connectors b.) Soft Connectors 5.) Proper Use With Slackline Webbing a.) Single-Wrap Method b.) 1.5-Wrap Method c.) Double-Wrap Method 6.) Pre-Tensioning With the AWL 4.0 7.) Misuse Guidelines 8.) Advanced Uses 9.) Thanks Index
Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Alpine WebLock 4.0! This 1 Slackline Webbing Anchoring device is a unique piece of gear that you can use to attach your slackline webbing to your anchor while retaining a high percentage of the webbings strength. If you have any questions about using your device, visit our websire in the footer of these instructions, or contact us through email or phone. Thanks again and enjoy! Breakage Hazard Intended Use Lifetime Never rig your system so that the AWL is forced against something that could break the sideplates or your connector. This Webbing Anchoring Device should only be used with energy absorbing systems such as dynamic webbings, energy absorbers, etc. & slack must be kept out of the system to prevent high impact falls. It is intended for use by medically fit, specifically trained and experienced users. 10 years maximum, but will often be much less depending on conditions and use; it could even be a single use in some cases. Leverage Hazard An AWL or other equipment can lever against a connector (such as a carabiner or shackle) and break it, opening the connector and allowing the AWL to fall out. Guard against this at all times! Pinching Hazard Webbing travelling through a webbing anchoring device can suck in hair, fingers, clothing, etc., causing injury & jamming the device. Guard against this. Environmental Factors Moisture, ice, salt, sand, snow, chemicals and other factors can prevent proper operation or can greatly accelerate wear. Inspection Before, During, & After Use Check all parts for cracks, deformation, corrosion, wear, etc. Verify that the pin rotates normally & the axle screw has not loosened. Verify easy removal of the pin. Regularly inspect and monitor your system, confirming proper connections, equipment position, fully locked connectors, etc. Training Thorough and specific training is absolutely essential before use. Being at height is dangerous and it is up to you to reduce the risks as much as possible - but the risks can never be eliminated. There are many ways to misuse this equipment, too many to list or imagine. You must personally understand and assume all risks and responsibilities of using this equipment. If you cannot or do not want to do this, do not use this equipment. Retire from Service & Destroy if it: 1.) Is significantly loaded. 2.) Does not pass inspection or there is any doubt about its safety. 3.) Is misused, altered, damaged, exposed to harmful chemicals, etc. 4.) PFront Pin does not rotate smoothly. Consult the manufacturer if you have any doubts or concerns. Maintenance & Storage Compatibility Verify compatiblity with other components of your system. Incompatible connections can cause detachment, breakage, etc. Clean if necessary with fresh water, then allow to dry completely. Store in a dry place away from extremes of heat and cold and avoid chemical exposure. Repairs or Modifications Stay Up To Date! Are only allowed by the manufacturer or those authorized in writing by the manufacturer. Regularly go to our website and read the latest user instructions.
Warnings / General Use Guidelines!! NEVER!! GO ABOVE THE WORKING LOAD LIMIT Use as a Rescue Device! Use for overhead lifting! Use with ropes! Use with webbings outside the allowed widths! Use for rock climbing! Use un-approved connectors! AVOID WARNING!! For Expert Use Only These activities are inherently dangerous and carry a significant risk of injury or death that cannot be eliminated. It is the user s responsibility to obtain specific training and to use it safely. These instructions DO NOT tell you everything you need to know. Do not use unless you can and will understand and assume all risks and responsibilities for all damage/injury/death that may result from use of this equipment or the activities undertaken with it. Any device is subject to failure: carefully check before and after each use. Contact with rocks or hard objects Use without adequate training Use with incompatible gear Use in harsh environments Storing without protecting You must always have a backup: never trust a life to a single tool. Everyone using this equipment must be given and thoroughly understand the instructions and refer to them before each use. You must have a rescue plan and the means to implement it. Inert suspension in a harness can quickly result in death! ALWAYS Do not use around electrical hazards, moving machinery or near sharp edges or abrasive surfaces. Ensure front pin is properly installed Check webbing alignment before loading Use with approved connectors Inspect before, during, and after use Retire if ever loaded beyond WLL Retire if used for longer than 10 years We are not responsible for any direct, indirect or accidental consequences or damage resulting from the use of our products Neither the manufacturer nor the vendor can be held liable for direct or indirect physical, property, consequential or collateral damage arising from the use of this device. Use this device at your own risk!
Technical Specifications / Nomenclature Body Specs Front Pin Specs MBS 60.0 kn (13,489 lbf) WLL 12.0 kn (2,760 lbf) MBS 164.1 kn (36,900 lbf) Pullout 10.3 kn (2,320 lbf) Weight 335 g (11.8 oz) # of Balls Web Size 1.0 in (25 mm) Dimensions 0.5 x 1.5 (12.7 x 38 mm) 5.03 x 2.88 x 2.44 Handle Mat. Aluminum 2024 Dimensions Material 6061-T6 Aluminum Body Mat. 4 positive locking balls CRES 17-4 ph Stainless Steel Clamping Screws Axle Screw Sideplate Walking End Anchor Hole Center Diverter Front Pin Front Pin Cord Hole Webbing Tail
Properly Anchoring the AWL 4.0 One of the biggest improvements of the Alpine WebLock 4.0 over previous models is the size and shape of the anchor hole. The huge size allows for a large variety of connectors to be used with the device. The shape of the hole allows for unique configurations that are not possible on previous AWL s as well as other webbing anchors. Approved Hardware Connectors - Van Beest Shackles from 7/16-3/4 (bow and pin side) - Anchor Shackles from 7/16-3/4 (bow and pin side) - Stainless Bow Shackles from 3/8-5/8 (bow and pin side) - Stainless Dee Shackles from 3/8-5/8 (pin side only) - Stainless Twist Shackles from 3/8-5/8 (pin side only) - Steel D-Shaped Carabiners (large side only) - Steel Oval Carabiners - Aluminum Oval Carabiners - Aluminum Pear-Shaped Carabiners (large side only) Approved Soft Connectors 1.4 (35.5mm) - Balance Community Soft Shackles - Static rope of all sizes - Purple, Green, and Blue Spansets - Balance Community Adjustable Anchor Webbing - Dyneema climbing slings 1.75 (44.5mm) Disapproved Connectors - Any and all types of quicklinks - Non-certified shackles or carabiners - Any sort of hook - Anything else not explicity mentioned above Observe The Working Load Limit! Be aware that some connectors may have a lower working load limit (WLL) than the Alpine WebLock 4.0! Adjust your WLL according to the weakest link in your entire system. DO NOT USE any of the above mentioned connectors with the Alpine WebLock 4.0! Doing so could damage the AWL and the connector!
Hardware Connectors Shackle Connectors Carabiner Connectors On the Bow On the Pin Pear / D-Shaped Carabiners Oval Carabiners Shackles that have a prominent bow (wider than the mouth of the shackle) can connect to the AWL 4.0 on the bow side. Ensure that the pin of the shackle connects directly to the opposing component directly. DO NOT SIDE-LOAD THE SHACKLE! All shackles that are approved for use with the AWL 4.0 can be used on the pin side. Ensure the pin is fully closed before loading the AWL 4.0. Pear and D-shaped carabiners can attach to the AWL 4.0 on the larger side of the carabiner. DO NOT CONNECT THE SHARPER END OF THE CARABINER TO THE AWL 4.0! Oval carabiners can connect to the AWL 4.0 on either end. Observe the breaking strength of these types of carabiners and adjust your WLL accordingly!!! Danger!! Do not side-load shackles! This can damage your AWL 4.0 and potentially break the shackle! Observe The Working Load Limit! Be aware that some connectors may have a lower working load limit (WLL) than the Alpine WebLock 4.0! Adjust your WLL according to the weakest link in your entire system.
Soft Connectors Soft Shackles Spansets Static Rope When installing a soft shackle on the AWL 4.0, ensure the knot is either next to the sideplate of the AWL 4.0 or next to the item you are connecting to. Up to 3 strands of a spanset can be passed through the anchor hole of the AWL 4.0. Either connect the ends of the spanset together with another connector, or use a double girth-hitch to secure it to the AWL 4.0. Up to 8 strands of static rope can fit through the anchor hole of the AWL 4.0, depending on the size of static rope you are using. This is useful when building highline anchoring systems.
Proper Use With Slackline Webbing Single-Wrap Method Single-wrap method is the most common way to anchor your slackline webbing in the AWL 4.0. It is an easy method that will work at any point along the length of your line. It allows for easy pre-tensioning of your slackline, which is helpful for when a large amount of slack needs to be removed from the system. Simply pull on the webbing tail leaving the device to pre-tension the line. Walking End Center Diverter Single-Wrap Instructions 1.) Fold your slackline webbing and pass it behind the center diverter, with the walking line on top and tail on bottom. Front Pin 2.) Remove the front pin from the AWL 4.0 Webbing Tail 3.) Pass the folded webbing in front of the hole for the pin and insert pin through the fold. 4.) ENSURE THE FRONT PIN IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WEBLOCK! THE LOCKING BALLS WILL MAKE A CLICK SOUND. 5.) You can now pretension the slackline by pulling on the tail coming out of the AWL 4.0. CLICK! PLEASE NOTE: If rigging at high tensions, at heights, or with high-tech webbing (Dyneema or Vectran), you MUST USE THE 1.5 OR DOUBLEWRAP METHODS. These methods are described in detail on the next pages.
Proper Use With Slackline Webbing 1.5-Wrap Method The 1.5-Wrap method is a great way to anchor your slackline webbing for high tension lines as well as lines at height. To do the method described in these instructions, you must have access to the tail of your webbing. For a bomb-proof anchoring method that does not require the end of the webbing, check out the double-wrap method on the next page. Please note: both the 1.5 and double-wrap methods are non-adjustable. Walking End Center Diverter 1.5-Wrap Instructions 1.) Take the end of your slackline webbing and pass it behind the center diverter. Front Pin Webbing Tail 2.) Wrap the webbing strand around the front pin and then back behind the center diverter once again. 3.) Take it up between the front pin and the center diverter. 4.) Wrap it around the front pin back under the AWL 4.0 and behind the center diverter (between the other 2 strands). 5.) ENSURE THE FRONT PIN IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WEBLOCK! THE LOCKING BALLS WILL MAKE A CLICK SOUND. CLICK! PLEASE NOTE: If rigging at high tensions, at heights, or with high-tech webbing (Dyneema or Vectran), you MUST USE THE 1.5 OR DOUBLEWRAP METHODS
Proper Use With Slackline Webbing Double-Wrap Method The Double-Wrap method is a great way to anchor your slackline webbing for high tension lines as well as lines at height. This method will work at any point along the length of your slackline webbing. Please note: both the 1.5 and double-wrap methods are non-adjustable. Walking End Center Diverter Front Pin Double-Wrap Instructions 1.) Fold your slackline webbing where you want to anchor it and pass the fold behind the center diverter such that the walking line is on top and the tail is on the bottom. 2.) Continue wrapping the fold around the AWL 4.0. Pass it around the front pin and behind the center diverter again - under the previous pass. Webbing Tail 3.) Remove the front pin and put the fold in front of the pin hole. 4.) Reinstall the front pin through the fold in your webbing. 5.) ENSURE THE FRONT PIN IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WEBLOCK! THE LOCKING BALLS WILL MAKE A CLICK SOUND. CLICK! PLEASE NOTE: If rigging at high tensions, at heights, or with high-tech webbing (Dyneema or Vectran), you MUST USE THE 1.5 OR DOUBLEWRAP METHODS
Pre-Tensioning with the AWL 4.0 One of the great things about using the AWL 4.0 is the ability to pre-tension your slackline before even touching your tensioning system. This makes rigging your slackline much faster, much easier, and a lot more convenient. It s as easy as pulling on the tail of webbing coming out of the AWL 4.0, once the webbing is installed! Step-by-Step Instructions 1.) Once the slackline webbing is installed in your AWL 4.0 and you have anchored the AWL 4.0 with an approved connector, grab ahold of the tail leaving the AWL 4.0. 2.) With your other hand, grab the walking line entering the AWL 4.0. 3.) While feeding the walking line into the AWL 4.0 with one hand, pull on the tail with the other. 4.) Do this until your desired pre-tension is reached.
Misuse Guidelines Be aware of misaligned webbing in the AWL 4.0! Ensure the slackline webbing is going straight through the device. Be aware of twisted webbing going through the AWL 4.0! Be sure your webbing is flat going through the entire device. Be aware that you only use the correct width of webbing with the AWL 4.0! It is rated for use with 1 (25mm) slackline webbings only. Be aware of the strand of webbing you are tensioning! Be sure it s the top webbing and not the tail! The AWL 4.0 will hold no tension when pulling on the tail!! Be aware of your system WLL! Do not ever exceed the WLL of your entire system! Be aware of hard surfaces coming in contact with the AWL 4.0! Rig your lines so that the AWL 4.0 will not be touching anything but your connector and webbing.
Advanced Uses When using the AWL 4.0 in certain circumstances, it is advantageous to have it sit upside-down. This results in the tail of the webbing sitting on the top of the device and the walking line on the bottom, which is backwards compared to normal use. On this page, we will go into how to use the AWL 4.0 in this special way. Step-by-Step Instructions 1.) Attach the AWL 4.0 to the connector with the top facing down. 2.) Fold your slackline webbing and pass it behind the center diverter, with the WALKING LINE ON THE BOTTOM, TAIL ON TOP 3.) Remove the front pin from the AWL 4.0 4.) Pass the folded webbing in front of the hole for the pin and insert pin through the fold. 5.) ENSURE THE FRONT PIN IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WEBLOCK! THE LOCKING BALLS WILL MAKE A CLICK SOUND. 6.) You can now pretension the slackline by pulling on the tail coming out of the top of the AWL 4.0.
Thanks Thanks again for purchasing the Balance Community Alpine WebLock 4.0. We appreciate that you have taken the time to read through these instructions and familiarize yourself with the vast utility of the amazing AWL 4.0. If you have any questions about the use of this device or any other slackline related inquires, feel free to contact us through any of the methods listed at the bottom of this page. Good luck out there and remember to keep it slack! -Balance Community Team More Resources: Slack Science - www.slackscience.com Alpine WebLock 4.0 product page - www.alpineweblock.com Balance Community Website -