Is my handle pole screwed?

tnerb

tnerb

Location
Honolulu, HI
Check my post count, this is #1, I haven't posted because up till now all my questions have been a search away, you guys are awesome. If anyone could chime in on this I would appreciate it. My handlepole has cracks around the mounting bracket. there is a crack on the bottom of the pole that starts on the bottom and runs around the right side. Am I going to break it next time out? Should I take it out and reinforce it? the ski is down now while I install Kicker footholds and pancake Pete's front foothold. Any suggestions are appreciated!
 

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the WaTeRhAwK

the WaTeRhAwK

fryin' up a/m electrics..
Location
okc
yeah, I would tread lightly with that thing. i don't think you can reinforce that.

get an aluminum or a carbon pole.
 
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infamy

infamy

Westside Freeride
Location
Sacramento, California, United States, 10598806276
is that just a painted stock handlepole? from the pics it hard to tell if just the paint is cracking. if its the bottom metal part of the stock pole thats cracking i'd say its time to get a new pole. you can also try and find someone who has had the top part of their stock pole break (thats where mine broke)and they might have one of those bottom pieces they could sell you.
 
tnerb

tnerb

Location
Honolulu, HI
thanks waterhawk, that's what I was afraid of. I can't afford a new pole now, just spent a bunch on the footholds and epoxy. I guess I will have to break it to convince the wife I need to spend the $$$ for a new pole.
 
tnerb

tnerb

Location
Honolulu, HI
it is the stock painted handlepole, and without grinding it down I don't know if it is just stress cracks in the paint and gel coat or if it goes deeper. I was hoping several others had the same cracks for a while without any problems.
 
the WaTeRhAwK

the WaTeRhAwK

fryin' up a/m electrics..
Location
okc
tnerb said:
thanks waterhawk, that's what I was afraid of. I can't afford a new pole now, just spent a bunch on the footholds and epoxy. I guess I will have to break it to convince the wife I need to spend the $$$ for a new pole.
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well, if you do whatever it was that caused it to fracture there a couple of more times, I'm sure it will probably be a done deal.
 
R

restosud

hard to say from the pics but you can put a few screws and nuts thru on each side to hold the alloy reinforcement to the fiber pole.
pretty much copy what a beefit kit was in the day or you can try to find one.
 
the WaTeRhAwK

the WaTeRhAwK

fryin' up a/m electrics..
Location
okc
restosud said:
hard to say from the pics but you can put a few screws and nuts thru on each side to hold the alloy reinforcement to the fiber pole.
pretty much copy what a beefit kit was in the day or you can try to find one.
Click to expand...




beefit kits are to reinforce areas to keep them from fracturing or breaking. it's pointless to administer the system after the fact. especially in an area like that.

the only way to reinforce what's already been done would be to completely cover the end of the pivot area, including the pivot holes, with a heavy guage stainless steel, moulded around the pole, to about 4 or 5 inches above the pivot area, then all of that needs to be riveted to the pole. I've never seen a beefit kit, or any other kit that does that.
 
tnerb

tnerb

Location
Honolulu, HI
restosud said:
hard to say from the pics but you can put a few screws and nuts thru on each side to hold the alloy reinforcement to the fiber pole.
pretty much copy what a beefit kit was in the day or you can try to find one.
Click to expand...

It looks like the pole is cracking around the alloy bottom section where it mounts to the bracket on the hull. Never heard of a beefit kit, do you have any pics?
 
the WaTeRhAwK

the WaTeRhAwK

fryin' up a/m electrics..
Location
okc
tnerb said:
It looks like the pole is cracking around the alloy bottom section where it mounts to the bracket on the hull. Never heard of a beefit kit, do you have any pics?
Click to expand...

a beefit kit is basically a small metal plate that rivets to the outside of the pole, with a hole through it for the pivot bolt to pass through. it prevents stress from damaging the pole in that area. they go on both sides of the pole. I guess you could cut a 1/16" plate of stainless, drill holes in it, then put it up to the pole use it for a pattern to drill holes all the way through the fiberglass and through the alloy, then bolt it through. but then you've weakened the top area where the top of the plate is.
 
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