Some days it works, then others not. It starts slipping, and rope has to be replaced to spanking newy before it will grip the wheel again down hauling.
I understand that Duotone say the only rope to use that will work is their rope only.
Persistent to do things not what i'm told me, i tried a different rope, i thought this looks and sounds very much the same as duo rope but is has it's days where it starts slipping too. Slips so much is can't be used, As do all my ropes, no power to pull sail down, just slipping.
www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/product/chinook-40-mm-spectra-downhaul-rope#surf-sail-clothing-hardware
So, do i just get the damn proper duo rope and see if slipping stops, or am i going to need a new grip wheel / cog aswell?
And, how likely is s*it to hit fan when taking it apart to replace the cog? Hard job?
Agree re rope, but also make sure that the little spring is still in place that pushes on the clip that in turn pushes the rope against the main cog. If you lose the spring it will cause even the best/newest rope to slip.
All the bits and pieces are separately available if you need to replace them. you'll find plenty of how-to clips on duotone's YT channel; it's all very easy DYI.
I just ordered the replacement lever and some line.
Duotone Power_XT - Exchange the Power XT lever
The OEM rope does the trick.
You can extend the useful life of the rope by pulling on the tail rope when using the lever.
I had the same problem last year : switched the rope and the wheel but it kept slipping.
I dismantled the whole thing and found the L-formed metal piece (with the little spring underneath) was bent.
Replaced it and since then it works like new again.
Hey Bellerophon , is it possible to rebend the L formed metal piece back to normal ? ... Ive just had a newish one go within months of use ... not lever - the spring you can see from bottom ... otherwise - getting L pieces a pain ...
It is the rope. To get more life out of it ,turn the rope around. I bought a new wheel thinking it's flogged , but new rope fixed it. I'm sure the wheel will eventually get blunt.
It's either the rope or the clip ("L piece") and/or spring behind it, not the cog wheel. I have gone through several ropes on my older XTs, replaced clip/spring on some of them, but cog wheel and lever still fine.
When derigging release the tension with the end rope/cleat rather than the ratchet; saves both rope and mechanism.
I still have 1 (out of 2) of my 20-year-old XT's still going, it originally had a plastic clip which would allow the rope to slip. North(Pre Duotone) changed it to a metal clip with spring but I found that would only last a season before failing but the rope never slipped. Was getting frustrated with constantly buying new clips so I went back to the old plastic clip and placed a 5mm window shim behind it to create more tension on the rope. Found the OEM rope still slipped but Dyneema (asked Yacht Grot for their best rope) rope worked fine also lasted 5years. The other 20-Year-old XT failed because the spring holding the Euro pin in place has lost tension, couldn't understand why it kept separating when sailing seemed fine on the beach. If I remember in 2 week's time I'll add some photo's. I have bought a powerXT around the time of the North/Duotone change over so as to rig a Severne sail, only have a 4m so it doesn't get used a lot.
3 options
Reverse the original Duotone rope.
Buy the Duotone rope.
Or buy this rope which is the Duotone rope. FORMULA X 3.8mm WHITE 100mR - Marlow Ropes Ltd.
Select to expand quotesboardcrazy said..
I use formula line without issues.
Formuline also from Marlow Ropes has a tighter weave and will slip. Formula X is designed for ratchet downhaul systems.
The rope used by Duotone for their Power XTs is made by Liros in Germany. It's called Liros Magic surf 4.2mm. They also do a 3.8mm, but Duotone uses their 4.2mm, which they describe as 4.5mm. Marlow have now started producing a compatible rope, but yet to try it. When I can't find the rope from Duotone, I order the 4.2 Liros Magic Surf from Deckhardware in Sydney.
Select to expand quotebrasstacks said..
Hey Bellerophon , is it possible to rebend the L formed metal piece back to normal ? ... Ive just had a newish one go within months of use ... not lever - the spring you can see from bottom ... otherwise - getting L pieces a pain ...
I reckon you could try to rebend it back to normal ; I had one lying around so just switched it.
I got some Liros as mentioned by Adrian above.
Then at a slalom race the legend himself Mr Murray remembered this post and handed me some PROPER duotone rope! So nice of him 
I don't know why i don't find time to test these things beforehand, but anyway, couple days ago i was about to rig the 5.6 Loft which needs zero extension, that's why I use the XT, and to not bust a nut, but nooooo, slipping like butter in there. Any kind of rope, duo, liros or others slip at the first part of tension.
So, wheel it is. Actually i'm looking at a whole replacement head, how do they come off anyway? I can't see fixing for it.
I can't see or feel any difference in the Liros and Duotone rope.
all spares here: www.duotonesports.com/en/spareparts/power-xt-2-0-14220-7304?id=64a5af969ac27300cd8095f0
out of abundance of caution: make sure your leaf spring and the spiral sitting behind it (items 15 & 16 via link above) aren't missing. without those any rope will slip, even if its brand new and even if you replace the wheel.
Select to expand quotebel29 said..
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When derigging release the tension with the end rope/cleat rather than the ratchet; saves both rope and mechanism.
How much do you ease tension via the ratchet before that uncleating?
Uncleating under heavy load might damage the rope too.
Why and how does it "save both rope and mechanism"? How do you bring the rope all the way back to the start-ratcheting position for the next use?
Using the North/Duotone ratchet extensions for over 10 yrs .. never had a problem.
I just got a replacement complete head so can compare now.
I'd say it was not a rope or grip-wheel issue on my old one but a spring / plate issue not pushing the rope against hard enough against it.
The difference between spring pressure doesn't feel like much on the two but the plate is pushing much harder on the new one.
