Hand pole bolt tightening, loose or tight?

[Proformance1]

Allright get those thoughts out of your head. lol
Being a novice freestyler, I added the HD spring to my handpoole to make it feel lighter, which it does. Only problem is that in the surf I don't want it flopping all around. I would like it to stay where I put it. I do not really like the double bolt idea yet, so I just tighten the bolt once in a while. I was told that after a few cranks the stock pole mount would crack. I called around and they do make a washer/pipe set up that goes inside the pole and bracket to keep it from tightening too much, but you cannot run the stock or aftermarket spring anymore. This is basically the same as running a double bolt setup.
How does everyone set up their poles, loose or tight?

 

[wildman326]

Tight. And without a spring. After a few rides you'll get used to it and never go back - at least I did. However, most of the people that I know that have tried it gave up on the concept after less than 10 minutes.

If you do stick with it expect your shoulders to be shot in a hurry until they get stronger.

 

[demolition_x]

just go buy 2 SS bolts and 4 nuts and some washers and give it a shot. i mounted up my pole with that and i liked it but i havn't rode with it yet.

you got nothing to lose by trying it for a few rides

 

[Matt_E]

Tight. And without a spring. After a few rides you'll get used to it and never go back - at least I did. However, most of the people that I know that have tried it gave up on the concept after less than 10 minutes.

If you do stick with it expect your shoulders to be shot in a hurry until they get stronger.

That has been exactly my experience. It took me a couple of rides to get used to it.
Now, I can never go back.

Most everyone that occasionally rides my ski absolutely hates it.

 

[suva]

That has been exactly my experience. It took me a couple of rides to get used to it.
Now, I can never go back.

Most everyone that occasionally rides my ski absolutely hates it.

So did you hate it when you first tried it?

 

[Waste Land]

First tried a tightened pole I hated it...now i can never go back. Everything else feals so loose and i cant brace agaisnt it if need be. Also doent try to fling open when inverted

 

[Matt_E]

So did you hate it when you first tried it?

Sort of...I kind of eased into it. I accidentally over-tightened my stock pole on a stock bracket.
It wouldn't always stay up, but I slowly got to liking it.
When I switched to the XWM Pole and bracket, it didn't take me much getting used to it.

 

[Exile]

Tight,tight,tight,tight.......dont fight the tight!

;>

 

[norcal ex]

tight as can be.... so tight that i can NOT move it with just one arm, i need TWO!!:biggthumpup:

 

[Waste Land]

tight as can be.... so tight that i can NOT move it with just one arm, i need TWO!!:biggthumpup:

Tried a 5050 on a squarenose with a spring one time......i stopped short at ball breaker as I nearly through my balls up from my throat. TIGHT BOLTS FTW!!!!

 

[cambo au]

what is the double pole bolt set up?

 

[Waste Land]

Instead of one bolt going from outside of the pole throw the bracket and out the pole, you use two seperate smaller bolts. One for each side.

Like so

 

[MADMAT]

Tight. It stays where I put it.

 

[Frosty]

you know how mine is set up bro... tight. Took me several rides to get the feel of it, but i love it now. Demo-X is right, ditch the spring, i have two SS bolts and 4 nuts at my house you can have. Give it a shot...

 

[yamaslut]

I run mine tightened up enough to where I don't feel the full weight, but it still will move free. I just want it a little floaty..

 

[SJBrit]

Tight all the way. In fact, my wife loved it the very first time she road it when I tightened mine up. She now actually prefers my ski to hers just because of the pole setup.

 

[WAB]

I can't stand the tight pole, but I have never tried over 10min. Seems like in surf all you are doing is pulling up on it the whole time.
Once I got rid of the huge sponge at the top of my pole (stock pole pad) it felt 10lbs lighter. It never feels heavy and my spring does not do shiz for it.

 

[Mark44]

I can't stand the tight pole, but I have never tried over 10min. Seems like in surf all you are doing is pulling up on it the whole time.
Once I got rid of the huge sponge at the top of my pole (stock pole pad) it felt 10lbs lighter. It never feels heavy and my spring does not do shiz for it.

X2 but I used a tight pole for a couple weeks then went back to the spring and turf on the bad. I also run my bolt a little tight and my pole stays up but can still move freely.

Mark44

 

[sflsurfrider]

i rode for over 10 years with a sproingy-doingy pole. it was dandy.... until i got my x-metal setup. tight is the way to go!

up until a few weeks ago, i had kept it moderatly tight. it would stay and i could move it easy. then it got loose so i CRANKED it down and i have been riding like that for the last few weeks. LOVE IT!!!

just gotta make sure your bracket mounting area is reinforced properly.... especially on a square.

 

[wydopen]

i dig my tight pole