I'm not sold on the new Gen 4 SOF-TW, nor is our operational medicine unit. There's some serious doubts that it's a step backwards.
For one, the cuts on the windlass have sharp edges and have cut some of our people in testing. I think the change from the previous checkering was a mistake.
Two, I'm sitting here playing with it now and the hook (U-shaped thing that is reminiscent of the CAT's securing mechanism) is oddly swept.....in the wrong direction. The result is that I placed the windlass into the hook, but it slid up the curve and popped out. It was repeatable. Moreover, the triangle slides as well, which means it's easier to get set but isn't as secure, as I had it simply slide off when bumped.
I think it's always a good idea to hold off on being the Guinea pig for new medical devices, and I'm of a strong opinion that this TQ is one of those cases. Kind of wait and see.....but I'm not sold yet, and neither is my agency's operational medicine unit. We've previously bought about 8,000 SOF-TW's per year.
End state: If you're having that much trouble securing the traditional SOF-TW windlass into the triangle, stop being nice with it and just bear down. It's really not that hard...what I've found in teaching its use is that people tend to get to a point with self-application where it becomes painful and they don't want to put the windlass in the triangle, not that they cannot put the windlass in the triangle.