Tried one of the new 55mm Orbit auto-ratchet blocks with cleat & becket for my lower main sheet unit. Becket failed after 30 seconds of moderate loading. I returned with unit to my retailer (West Marine) for refund. Then contacted Ronstan to see if they planned any improvements. They said the early batch had lower ratings on the becket...I told them my use case (9:1 Tornado mainsheet lower block) and they sent me a new unit for no charge and asked me to test it for them...saying they thought it might be too much for it.

Well this one lasted a few hours...got about 15 mins into the double-trapping conditions before it blew up at the beck again.

So, reported this to Ronstan, asked them if I could keep the remains to make up a set of carbon side plates. They said sure and even sent me full schematics for the block to help with my project.

I'm nearly done and will test it out again soon.