Knot removal from Recovery Strap?

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TeddyBoy

TeddyBoy

Knighted by the King of MUD himself
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Is it possible to get it out?

Helped a newbie in an 80 high centered in a river crossing about 2 ft deep. I didn't feel like getting wet so I pulled up next to him, gave him the strap and showed him how to connect it. The strap somehow got a little tangled in the flowing water, anyway, yanked him off the rock and got my strap back a few hours later with a nice little over-under knot.
 
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If you have a thin punch or a nailset, you may be able to work it carefully into the knot and be able to get enough slack to undo it.

On the other hand, I have a strap that's had a knot in it for a couple of decades, at least. Maybe more because I think I had it when I still owned the FJ55 before selling it in 1984. I've given up on it and just use it as a backup strap.

I'm not certain but a knot may be a weak spot in a strap, so I'm cautious with what I use it for. If you damage the weave of the strap with a tool when getting the knot out, you'll definitely weaken it.
 
might be very tough to undo.

You can always make 2 small ones I guess if you can sew or weave etc... :)

maybe dunk it in some sort of harmless lube first, before trying to get in there?

oh, and get the snatchee to buy you a new one, of course
 
Good luck!


The knot was wet when it pulled tight (never a good thing...if you plan on untying it), so.... you have that going against you.

Logic...dictates it will take the same amount of force to untie the knot as it did to "set it". So, unless you have a gorilla like grip....I'd forget about it.
 
kind of what i figured but was hoping for some magic wand technique out there. As for my kung fu grip, i have been married for nearly 20 years. thx guys.
 
greentruck said:
If you have a thin punch or a nailset, you may be able to work it carefully into the knot and be able to get enough slack to undo it.

On the other hand, I have a strap that's had a knot in it for a couple of decades, at least. Maybe more because I think I had it when I still owned the FJ55 before selling it in 1984. I've given up on it and just use it as a backup strap.

I'm not certain but a knot may be a weak spot in a strap, so I'm cautious with what I use it for. If you damage the weave of the strap with a tool when getting the knot out, you'll definitely weaken it.
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GreenTruck is correct. Not that I'm a "Safety Nazi", but I know that, in my line of work, ANY web strap, harness, chocker, etc. that has a knot in it is destroyed. Keep in mind, when you're using that strap, it could be a life or death situation.

Spend the coin and get a new one.
 
knots reduce the working load by as much as 50%: yet another reason to place the tow strap yrself, or watch carefuly while it placed, then retain tension until it is secured to tow rig.

You might find a marine shop that could resew an eye below yr knot: cheaper to cut it into 10' hanks (so nobody else will try to use it) and throw it out.
 
lshobie said:
Completely dry it out,then compress it with a vice or beat on it with a heavy hammer - it will loosen up maybe:)
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Hmmmm, both those actions will really damage the fibers and give you a weak spot.
Recovery straps are a dynamic load member, which is actually quite a dangerous concept even if all the gear is in top shape. The loads you can develop are amazing. Think of the cost of a new, suitable and rated strap, then think of the cost of someone getting hit by the whip end of your failed strap...
Be safe.
 
Don't beat it to a pulp, just enough to loosen it up - would be a back up strap or make a tree protector - just use a clove hitch around the tree and cover your cable and you are good to go. He just wanted to know how to undo it.
 
Just replace it

All good input and Ishobie is right, I just wanted to know how and whether it could be done. In the end I agree with just replacing it, not worth the risks so $40 later I got a new one

FYI--the knot:
strap 002.webp

Slight change in direction should really be the responsibility of having your own recovery gear. While I have no problems helping others, especially a new guy just getting into the sport, everyone should have the basics such as straps and D-Rings before hitting the trails. :bang: I was helped when I first started and now I'm able to help others who are just getting into it. However, If you're going to hit the trails, newbie or not, the overall amount of $$ is nothing compared to other costs that go along with off-roading. Just my 2cents.

As the commercial goes: new recovery strap: $40, new friend on the trail: priceless.
strap 002.webp
 
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day late and a dollar short, but I thought of this thread when I was fussing w/an old Camelbak Mule.

Here are some snaps. Use a pair of pliers or leatherman or sumtin to pull each side of the knot away from the main body of knot. Manually bend and massage the knot to release the 'set' (yep, I sed 'release' after 'massage').

On flat webbing like yr strap, sometimes pressure applied across the width of the knot will make enuf of a gap to give the pliers a bite.
DSC04827.webp
DSC04826.webp
 
I can tell ya how to get that knot out but it involves 2 cruisers and 2 more straps:D
 
bogus one said:
GreenTruck is correct. Not that I'm a "Safety Nazi", but I know that, in my line of work, ANY web strap, harness, chocker, etc. that has a knot in it is destroyed. Keep in mind, when you're using that strap, it could be a life or death situation.

Spend the coin and get a new one.
Click to expand...

Bringing this old thread back from dead. It's important.

Can't stress strap and rope safety enough. Do not use one with a knot in it.

After seeing this on the trail recently, we knew we had to do a short informational article on the topic.

Hope this helps. Stay safe out there.

wc
 
I understand why people would want save a strap by working the knot out but after thinking about this here's the issue. Once a knot is set, the little tears that will eventually lead to the demise of the strap, have already started correct? If they have already started then we don't know the strength of the strap any more right? So should the strap be destroyed or turned into a tree strap?

Plus one other thing on that videos of this Ozzies pulling out their rigs with the strap. They should have been using a kinetic rope as far as I can tell.
 
DrivingMissRosey said:
So should the strap be destroyed or turned into a tree strap?
Click to expand...

A tree strap sees heavy loads also. Turning a potentially damaged tow/snatch strap into a tree strap is not a good idea.

The impact of a knot on a line varies and many factors are involved. I've pulled knots out before and been able to keep using a strap. A splicing FID is nice, along with a blunt object to beat the knot.

:cheers:
 
TeddyBoy said:
Just replace it

All good input and Ishobie is right, I just wanted to know how and whether it could be done. In the end I agree with just replacing it, not worth the risks so $40 later I got a new one

FYI--the knot:
View attachment 425632

Slight change in direction should really be the responsibility of having your own recovery gear. While I have no problems helping others, especially a new guy just getting into the sport, everyone should have the basics such as straps and D-Rings before hitting the trails. :bang: I was helped when I first started and now I'm able to help others who are just getting into it. However, If you're going to hit the trails, newbie or not, the overall amount of $$ is nothing compared to other costs that go along with off-roading. Just my 2cents.

As the commercial goes: new recovery strap: $40, new friend on the trail: priceless.
View attachment 425632
Click to expand...
The best and safest way to remove a knot from webbing is to use a rubber mallet. Marlin spikes and pencils and the like will end up damaging your webbing more than they will help. To get the knot out use a heavy rubber mallet and a super smooth steel or cast iron surface like the anvil part of a large bench vise. Concrete is too grainy and rough and may damage the threads. Lay the knot onto the flat surface and hit it hard it with the mallet. Rotate the knot every few blows and after a few minutes the knot will start to loosen up and you will be able to wiggle a finger in. You really want to be hitting the highest part of the knot until it flattens out a bit and then turning the knot so that the new highest part is now vertical. I just performed this action and it took me about 3-5 minutes. It works, it doesn’t damage it and it’s easy.
 
Wonder if he still has the strap??:D
 
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