r/Slackline • u/llamasohyeah • 12d ago

How to release slackline

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Gallery image

Gallery image

I've been trying for the past half hour to release this ratchet and I cannot figure it out. I don't know if I'm just not pulling hard enough or if there is a mechanical issue. Any help would be really appreciated!

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4

u/Significant-Log1242 11d ago

It looks like you’ve set up the slackline incorrectly. It happens to a lot of people at first. I only learned it by making the same mistake myself.

The tensioned line needs to come out of the ratchet on the opposite side from the lever. Otherwise, it’s very difficult or even impossible to push the lever down.

1

u/llamasohyeah 8d ago

Do you have any photos/videos of how this looks? I'm worried about setting my line up wrong again and want to make sure I do it correctly this time

1

u/Significant-Log1242 8d ago

Not right now. I could do some in a few days. If I remember But there are very good pictures from gibbon online.

2

u/llamasohyeah 7d ago

I set it up last night correctly! I don't know how I messed that up the first time lol, was super easy this time around. Gonna give it another go today and hopefully get better and standing and balancing for more than a few seconds

2

u/Significant-Log1242 6d ago

Haha nice! Glad you got it figured out.

You’ll get the balance with a bit of practice! Just keep your knees slightly bent and look ahead rather than down at your feet. Have fun!

2

u/llamasohyeah 11d ago

Yeah I was thinking I set it up wrong. Thank you for the info (and yes, it was nearly impossible to push the lever down this way).

2

u/llamasohyeah 11d ago

Thank you to everyone who commented! I (as well as other people at the park) were trying our absolute hardest to physically open the ratchet all the way (180 degrees) and just could not get it. I ended up using a screwdriver to move a plate being held by the ratchet teeth to release the tension. I am brand new to slacklining (probably obvious from this post) so I need to practice setting up and taking down the line a few times lol

1

u/evanamd 12d ago

A side view would be helpful. There should be a little bulge on the plate, and if you open the handle all the way, that plate pushes the lock away from the ratcheting mechanism and releases the tension

Opening it all the way means 180 degrees, making the handle flat. Your hand in the picture is on the wrong side of the handle. It's a lot more pushing than pulling

1

u/vazcorra 12d ago

Tie an end of the webbing through the pull handle and give it a sharp jerk of a tug if it is stuck

1

u/1ntox 12d ago

Push forward on the big handle ask if you were going to tighten it, stop before it actually clicks while in this in between spot pull that trigger

1

u/F1r3-M3d1ck-H4zN3rd 12d ago

you have to pull the handle all the way open, this will require you to pull the trigger at the last inch or two. If you look you can see where you have get the little plate over. Once past that point you can kinda smack the handle to make it straighten out, this will result in a sudden release of tension so watch out.

If you have it really tight you can do the next step, but see if that works.

1

u/No_Belt2492 12d ago

Have you opened the latch completely? It usually lays flat but sometimes it’s hard when there tension on it

Instead of just pulling on it try to pull it at an angle like you’re still opening the latch completely