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Lower shaft wiggle?

T

Tired Rooster

New member
I've got a question about my new GT. My lower shaft has a wiggle in it. What I mean is that the lower shaft will slightly twist back and forth in the upper rod. I have the cam lock twisted as tight as it will lock but the lower rod still has this play in it. I know that this does not effect performance or operation. But it annoys me. I am thinking about getting a plugger rod lock to replace the stock cam lock with to stop this. Is this a normal thing with some of the GT straight shafts? Would the plugger shaft lock cure this? Any feed back would be welcome............Thanks
 
The adjustment snap pin that sets the shaft length has two heads on it but there is only one side of the rod drilled out for the adjustment holes. Drill the hole out to the otherside on both the upper and lower shaft so that both snap pin heads pop out. That should take the slop right out of it. In fact, on my custom shaft I don't even use a camlock because this works so well. Just be sure to drill the hole straight and only as large as the existing hole. Use the existing hole as a guide. I'm not sure why Minelab would only bother to drill a hole on one side of the shafts. Probably saves a penny in production costs.
 
Wow. I didn't even notice that the lower rod had two snap pins in it. I did notice that there was only one hole in upper rod. I will take it down and check this out. Easy fix I guess, but silly that another hole wasn't drilled at production. Thanks for the quick answer Critterhunter. I actually feel a bit better now that I know that this is a common thing and that nothing is "wrong" with my particular unit.
 
Tired Rooster said:
I've got a question about my new GT. My lower shaft has a wiggle in it. What I mean is that the lower shaft will slightly twist back and forth in the upper rod. I have the cam lock twisted as tight as it will lock but the lower rod still has this play in it. I know that this does not effect performance or operation. But it annoys me. I am thinking about getting a plugger rod lock to replace the stock cam lock with to stop this. Is this a normal thing with some of the GT straight shafts? Would the plugger shaft lock cure this? Any feed back would be welcome............Thanks
Click to expand...


Yes, Plugger's shaft lock will eliminate the problem completely. It also allows the coil to be placed at an angle to the control housing, which for me made it much more comfortable.
 
I have had the same issues with the Excal, but I use Lightning Rods from Joe D. If it is not dealt with.....ESPECIALLY with the resistance water hunting, premature fatigue sets in. Once I set the push-pin perferred height, I drill through the shaft at the push pin hole locations and install stainless bolts, flat washers and nylock nuts. Assuming that the lower shaft is not all worn out, this creates a rock solid foundation and there is no wobble in the shaft, decreasing my fatigue factor on the sweep. I set my Plugger up the same way on the DF as well, but it was already drilled through both sides. I LOVE IT!

Tired Rooster said:
I've got a question about my new GT. My lower shaft has a wiggle in it. What I mean is that the lower shaft will slightly twist back and forth in the upper rod. I have the cam lock twisted as tight as it will lock but the lower rod still has this play in it. I know that this does not effect performance or operation. But it annoys me. I am thinking about getting a plugger rod lock to replace the stock cam lock with to stop this. Is this a normal thing with some of the GT straight shafts? Would the plugger shaft lock cure this? Any feed back would be welcome............Thanks
Click to expand...
 
Plunger makes some excellent locks as well.... cut the bad boy off and put one on.

Dew
 
Rooster, SPEND the MONEY on PLUGGER'S SHAFT LOCKS, you won't have to do any drilling, just HACKSAW above the CAMLOCK CUTTING IT OFF and SLIDE ON
PLUGGER'S SHAFT LOCK!! Also, they are MUCH EASIER for OPENING & CLOSING IT than a CAMLOCK, MUCH EASIER to CLEAN the SAND OUT of the MECHANISM, and BELIEVE ME you won't regret it!! BEST of LUCK,
Les Robinson
 
Thanks for all the info guys. The other night I ordered Pluggers shaft lock and one of his stands. I didn't like the idea of setting my control box on the ground all the time either. I work in a shop, I think I'm gonna try to cut cam lock off with a disc grinder rather than actually cut my upper rod. Either way......I'll gitter done:lol:! Thanks fellas.
 
Well, I took my GT's upper rod to work with me today in order to remove the cam lock so that I could install my Plugger shaft lock that I ordered. Found that my idea to easily and safely remove the cam lock without any damage or cutting of the shaft itself worked to a tee. Thought I would post it for any one else that may scratch heads over how to remove it. Sorry no pictures, but real simple. I took a small handheld "widgy" grinder and put a small cutting disc on it. I very carefully,so as to not cut through the plastic and into the rod itself, cut the cam lock from end to end. Then I rotated the cam lock and made another end to end cut the whole length of the lock on the opposite side. Making two halves out of it. Then I was able to just pull it apart from the open end with my fingers. Popped apart off of the shaft in two equal halves. Like opening a peanut shell.:clapping: No damage to rod at all. If you do this just be careful to cut through lock slowly and carefully so that you don't cut into rod. But really easy. Took 10 minutes.
 
I also recommend Plugger's shaft locks. It has the best design I've seen and should be standard factory issue.

I've bought 4 of them and have never regretted getting them.
 
Gulf Hunter said:
I have had the same issues with the Excal, but I use Lightning Rods from Joe D. If it is not dealt with.....ESPECIALLY with the resistance water hunting, premature fatigue sets in. Once I set the push-pin perferred height, I drill through the shaft at the push pin hole locations and install stainless bolts, flat washers and nylock nuts. Assuming that the lower shaft is not all worn out, this creates a rock solid foundation and there is no wobble in the shaft, decreasing my fatigue factor on the sweep. I set my Plugger up the same way on the DF as well, but it was already drilled through both sides. I LOVE IT!

Tired Rooster said:
I've got a question about my new GT. My lower shaft has a wiggle in it. What I mean is that the lower shaft will slightly twist back and forth in the upper rod. I have the cam lock twisted as tight as it will lock but the lower rod still has this play in it. I know that this does not effect performance or operation. But it annoys me. I am thinking about getting a plugger rod lock to replace the stock cam lock with to stop this. Is this a normal thing with some of the GT straight shafts? Would the plugger shaft lock cure this? Any feed back would be welcome............Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to expand...


I use the proper diameter aluninum tubing for my straight shaft uppers The play is .001 so there is no need for cam locks or nuts and bolts
 
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