Fracture In Rod Handle

[everythingthatswims]

I am pretty sure this isn't a problem with a solution but I figured I would ask anyways. This is a gander mountain angler series 7'6" flipping stick, and it has two small fractures in the piece that screws down on the top side of the reel seat. This pretty much makes the piece act like a child proof medicine bottle cap. It will tighten to a certain point, then you feel a "pop" and it's loose again. It will not tighten enough to securely hold a reel in place, certainly not secure enough for what this rod is used for. Gander mountain, to my knowledge, is no longer doing any warranty exchanges which was the main reason I bought so many of these rods.

 

Anybody know a fix for this? I honestly don't care if it involves glue and tape, cutting pieces off etc. I fish on a tight budget, half of my rods have tip and guide replacements that I do myself!

[Deleted account]

Get the foam off so you can get to the cracked part. Gorilla glue the crack(s) (make sure it doesn't stick to the reel seat itself), allow to dry. (resist the urge to try it)  then wrap with electrical tape. You can replace the foam if you want, or wrap some tennis overwrap on it. I did this as a "temporary" fix on a rod about 10 years ago, and it's still going strong.

[fishnkamp]

My suggestion is going to require you drive a little but it will give you a chance to save a favorite rod if you take it.

I would contact Tom's Custom Rods. Check here.      http://www.tomscustomrods.com/rod-repairs/ 

Tom is a long time friend and an incredible magician with custom rod repairs. He is located near Bel Air MD. So it is a pretty good ride up 95 for you. He has repaired a bunch of rods for guys in NOVA as well as many of us here in MD. If you wanted to, you could make arrangements to drop it off then go fish on the Upper Bay for some smallies, largies and stripers. He is not too far from the Susquehanna Flats. 

Go to his website and view some of his rod repairs gallery pictures.  I am posting one that he did for me here.

 

Here is the story. I owned 4 rods from G Loomis. Two of these my wife fishes with the other two are mine. All of these rods were spinning rods, GL2, GL3, and IMX.  One of my GL3 rods broke. I replaced it, paying the "no questions warranty" and paying the upgrade fee to replace it with an IMX. The new version of the GL3 had changed to an up locking reel seat.  I fished the new rod for several outings before I got ticked because the plastic parts that lock a reel on the seat kept backing off. I knew if I kept tightening it up it would break. I love the rod blank, but not the reel seat. He stripped the entire cork handle and fore grip off and replaced the seat with one I chose. We chose a split set of Winn Grips.  After fishing the rod that way I fell in love so much I had my other rod redone to match. The reel seat is a American Tackle Aero Comfort seat.

 

With Tom you get to view plenty of examples of rods he has done in the past, both repairs and new custom rods. This can help you decide what parts to use that will feel awesome in your hand when it is done.  Price wise you will not get the work done at a more affordable cost. He has saved many of my friends favorite rods. If that rod blank is one you would like to save, then I highly recommend getting in touch with him. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

PM sent

[everythingthatswims]

4 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

My suggestion is going to require you drive a little but it will give you a chance to save a favorite rod if you take it.

I would contact Tom's Custom Rods. Check here.      http://www.tomscustomrods.com/rod-repairs/ 

Tom is a long time friend and an incredible magician with custom rod repairs. He is located near Bel Air MD. So it is a pretty good ride up 95 for you. He has repaired a bunch of rods for guys in NOVA as well as many of us here in MD. If you wanted to, you could make arrangements to drop it off then go fish on the Upper Bay for some smallies, largies and stripers. He is not too far from the Susquehanna Flats. 

Go to his website and view some of his rod repairs gallery pictures.  I am posting one that he did for me here.

 

Here is the story. I owned 4 rods from G Loomis. Two of these my wife fishes with the other two are mine. All of these rods were spinning rods, GL2, GL3, and IMX.  One of my GL3 rods broke. I replaced it, paying the "no questions warranty" and paying the upgrade fee to replace it with an IMX. The new version of the GL3 had changed to an up locking reel seat.  I fished the new rod for several outings before I got ticked because the plastic parts that lock a reel on the seat kept backing off. I knew if I kept tightening it up it would break. I love the rod blank, but not the reel seat. He stripped the entire cork handle and fore grip off and replaced the seat with one I chose. We chose a split set of Winn Grips.  After fishing the rod that way I fell in love so much I had my other rod redone to match. The reel seat is a American Tackle Aero Comfort seat.

 

With Tom you get to view plenty of examples of rods he has done in the past, both repairs and new custom rods. This can help you decide what parts to use that will feel awesome in your hand when it is done.  Price wise you will not get the work done at a more affordable cost. He has saved many of my friends favorite rods. If that rod blank is one you would like to save, then I highly recommend getting in touch with him. 

Thank you for the suggestion but I have a feeling it would be cheaper to buy another one than to drive and pay for that!

[buzzed bait]

i'm not sure i have the fix, but be weary of applying to much glue or epoxy if you go that route.... just don't let it bleed through and glue that ring down to the threaded area!

[Tim Kelly]

You need to either take guides off to allow you to slide a new locking collar on, or remove all the handle and re-build the handle. There isn't going to be a fix without surgery. 

[WIGuide]

Get yourself some JB weld, I think that would be your best bet to fix that issue. 

[MickD]

What this "ratcheting" indicates is that the threaded nut has failed under the foam.  I doubt if any adhesive will fix it by itself.  If you get the foam off and get to the nut I expect there are a couple of ways to make it serviceable without total rebuild.  One would be to put a loop of wire over the nut, better two, and twist them tightly to provide a strong hoop over the nut.  Bend over and trim the wire twists.  Then cobble a cover for that, maybe cork tape + a wrap like tennis grip wrap or WinnWrap.  Cover the other grip to make it match.  Or first seal the crack with some kind of adhesive to prevent any epoxy from getting into the crack, then carefully apply a woven glass mat or carbon fiber sleeve (full 360 degree sleeve) to the outer surface of the nut, being sure not to get any on the threads.  Then cover as in the first suggestion.

 

If the nut has sprung open then you must wire it temporarily to close it while applying the second fix.  

 

Plastic nuts seem to fail sooner or later, so better to buy rods with steel banded nuts.  Although in this case, how could one tell?

 

Maybe DVT had a better idea.

[fishnkamp]

Check with your local tackle shops they may know someone more local to you that does rod repairs. They should be able to make the repair. You could ship the rod back and forth to Tom. His customers do it a lot.

[Lost..]

On 6/28/2017 at 7:29 PM, fishnkamp said:

My suggestion is going to require you drive a little but it will give you a chance to save a favorite rod if you take it.

I would contact Tom's Custom Rods. Check here.      http://www.tomscustomrods.com/rod-repairs/ 

Tom is a long time friend and an incredible magician with custom rod repairs. He is located near Bel Air MD. So it is a pretty good ride up 95 for you. He has repaired a bunch of rods for guys in NOVA as well as many of us here in MD. If you wanted to, you could make arrangements to drop it off then go fish on the Upper Bay for some smallies, largies and stripers. He is not too far from the Susquehanna Flats. 

Go to his website and view some of his rod repairs gallery pictures.  I am posting one that he did for me here.

 

Here is the story. I owned 4 rods from G Loomis. Two of these my wife fishes with the other two are mine. All of these rods were spinning rods, GL2, GL3, and IMX.  One of my GL3 rods broke. I replaced it, paying the "no questions warranty" and paying the upgrade fee to replace it with an IMX. The new version of the GL3 had changed to an up locking reel seat.  I fished the new rod for several outings before I got ticked because the plastic parts that lock a reel on the seat kept backing off. I knew if I kept tightening it up it would break. I love the rod blank, but not the reel seat. He stripped the entire cork handle and fore grip off and replaced the seat with one I chose. We chose a split set of Winn Grips.  After fishing the rod that way I fell in love so much I had my other rod redone to match. The reel seat is a American Tackle Aero Comfort seat.

 

With Tom you get to view plenty of examples of rods he has done in the past, both repairs and new custom rods. This can help you decide what parts to use that will feel awesome in your hand when it is done.  Price wise you will not get the work done at a more affordable cost. He has saved many of my friends favorite rods. If that rod blank is one you would like to save, then I highly recommend getting in touch with him. 

Tom's work is absolutely amazing and is an even better person. I wouldn't hesitate to take anything to him again in the future.