Tip Replacement

[.dsaavedra.]

i noticed the other day that the top half of the ceramic insert on the tip guide of my st. croix avid is missing, and the bottom half has a few chips in it.

i realize this means i have to replace the entire tip guide.

is this something i could do myself (i have no rod building/repair experience) or should i send it out to someone to have it fixed?

it is going to be pricey to send it to st. croix to have it fixed even though it is under warranty so i don't really want to go that route.

is there anyone here i could send it to that could replace the tip? (PM's welcome)

[joshholmes]

at bps they have tip repair kits. one of them you just twist the tip on and your set to go, but its more of a temporary fix. the other one you just place on top the heat with a lighter and it supposedly last longer than the twist on. i wouldn't reccomend trying to fix it yourself, because ive tried that before with rods and it didn't turn out well.

[dulouz]

I tried it myself and ended up burning the wrapping at the tip. I would find a local tackle shop that might do it. There used to be a place in my city that did it for a few bucks.

[.dsaavedra.]

pic of the damage. i wish i knew how this happened

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

To remove damaged tip:

hook a paper clip to the tip-top and a rubberband from the clip to a nail in a work bench. Pull on the rod to stretch the rubber band while holding a heat source (lighter, candle etc) under the paper clip/ tip area. Allow the top to pop off as the glue softens. You can clean remaining glue with a finger nail.

To install new top:

Choose a replacement top with the correct tube size.Tops are sold by ring size(mm) x tube size (64th inch) It should slide on without force but not flop loosely. Heat the glue and when liquid dab onto tip of blank and quickly slide new top in place being sure to line up with existing guides. Excess glue can be peeled off the blank.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

pic of the damage. i wish i knew how this happened

Looks like you may have reeled a jig head or worm weight into the tip?

[Avalonjohn44]

That happened to one of my lightning rods back in the day, I used to crash through the bushes with my rod tip facing forward. I hit a rock and busted out the little insert. In my case it was plastic, not ceramic. I cleared the rest of the material out, and filled the grooves in the tip with epoxy, then buffed it smooth. I use the rod still. It still casts well, even better with KVD spray overtop the epoxy. Don't remember the brand of the epoxy, sorry.

On Edit, this is something I had no qualms about with a $35 rod. May not be a good solution on your $100+ rod.

[J Francho]

You can go on SC's website and get a replacement kit, with instructions for $5.

[.dsaavedra.]

You can go on SC's website and get a replacement kit, with instructions for $5.

hmmm says they can't ship it to me.

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i found a guy locally who can repair rods and reels, i think i may just take it to him.

[.dsaavedra.]

Looks like you may have reeled a jig head or worm weight into the tip?

it's a crankbait rod

[natanestaban]

The simple repair is how it starts. I replaced a broken guide on one of my rods, Ebayed my name brand rods, and now build my own. Mudhole,Swampland,Acidrod, others will have what you need.

Roll Tide

[J Francho]

hmmm says they can't ship it to me.

i found a guy locally who can repair rods and reels, i think i may just take it to him.

Just call their 800 number listed on the site, they usually have a replacement tip to me the next day or day after.

[Lucas412]

Same thing happened to me on my Premier rod. Ordered the tip from St. Croix had it in a few days, took about 5 minutes to fix and now you cant even tell I did it.

Luke

[MickD]

Follow Delaware's instructions to the letter and you'll be able to do a quality job yourself. The reason for the rubber band is to get the old tiptop off at the lowest possible temp to prevent damage to the blank. The paper clip allows you to heat the tiptop without burning the rubber band. Make sure the heat is limited to the metal guide only. The glue they are referring to is a hot melt type. Don't use any other type (epoxy/super glue/etc)or removing the guide the next time may not be possible. There is a specific hot melt for tiptops available from rod building sources, but other hot melts are ok, they just may lose their grip at a lower temp.