[pct-l] Fwd: Bear Vault Failure? Reported

[bholt at ix.netcom.com (Bill Holt)]

Thanks for the clarification and update.

I have a BV100 with the upgraded lid and personally attest to the difficulty
of both opening an closing it. Its not impossible just tedious.

I checked out the newer models with the "snap" closure - they're a lot
easier to open and close. In several of my in store opening and closing
tries, I experienced having the lid go on the outside of the snap and not
close properly. Clearly some attention needs to be paid to make sure the lid
is working correctly.

I posted the original report because I was looking for additional
information. I look forward to seeing the results of your investigation.

Bill in Sacramento


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <sales@bearvault.com>
To: "Bill Holt" <bholt@ix.netcom.com>
Cc: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Fwd: Bear Vault Failure? Reported


> BearVault has contacted the SIBBG about these two reported incidents. In
> neither
> case has anyone seen the actual bear attack.
>
> In one of the cases, two BV200s were broken into.  It is not clear how it
> happened; whether the lid was screwed on fully or not is unknown.
> In the other case,  two BV300s were broken into. We are having the units
> returned to BearVault for study; we don't know what happened.
>
> We must emphasize that the lids MUST be fully tightened. In one of the
> cases it
> is probable that the lid was screwed down on TOP of the housing stop
> rather
> than inside the housing stop.  This can happen if a slightly (0.02")
> oversize
> lid is used.  The oversize lid can sometimes result from the manufacturing
> process. If this happens there is a simple fix; the insert that comes with
> the
> unit tells you that if this happens you simply press in on the lid at the
> housing stop and the lid will snap inside the stop and you can continue to
> tighten the lid until it snaps.  You DO NOT just leave the lid screwed
> down on
> top of the stop; that will leave a small .1" gap between the lid and
> housing
> which would enable a bear to get its paw in the gap and spring the lid.
> The
> correct closing of the lid is ultimately dependent on you the end user.
> Yes the
> occasional oversize lid is something we wish did not happen, but if the
> user
> reads the insert and closes the lid correctly this will not be an issue.
> We
> will attempt to change the manufacturing process to eliminate this issue
> later
> this year. If the user does not correctly close the lid and an incident
> results,
> if enough of these happen these can ultimately result in decertification.
> So
> please close your BearVault correctly; your access to a lighter weight
> canister
> depends on using it correctly.
>
> Despite rumors otherwise, there has been one incident in Yosemite with a
> BV200.
> The users admitted that the lid had been a bit sticky prior to the
> incident and
> they beat the lid with sticks to open it.  They could not be sure they did
> not
> crack the lid during this beating which could have lead to the incident.
>
> The new BV250s and BV300s have a lip on the lid which supports the housing
> during a bear attack; during Grizzly testing it withstood an 800 pound
> bear
> attack. So it is extremely unlikely that the black bear mentioned would
> jump up
> and down and pop the lid with the new models.
>
>
> Jamie and Cindy
>