Thanks Carl, yes they do get tired and sore. I have checked the friction because like you mentioned, if the lines not threaded right it tends to rub against the blocks. This is not the case and I do all the PM items you mentioned such as the soaking of the blocks/line in warm soapy water and others such as liberal use of McLube spray.

Does the ratchamatic give you better holding power or is it just that the line runs faster through them?.