Drennan Twistlock Handle ...again !!!

[Richard Isaacs]

No Chris. I can get at the widget from both ends of the outer pole, ie, I can remove the butt cap and remove it from the back or simply slide it out of the front without removing the butt cap.

I'll take a pic, the top one (which I remembered as being black but I must have remembered the very end as being black) is obviously the locking collet which is locked in place by the cap with the rivet (rusty pin) at the the top and I can't see any way to remove it without punching or drilling it out and making the rest up as I go along.

The second pic shows the arrows for lock/unlock, I have to twist the inner pole in the direction indicated so I have to twist the ouer pole in the opposite direction that is printed on it.

Next time I see you on Kiplin I'll show you, I use it almost exclusively now.

View attachment 32803View attachment 32804

How bizarre. I’ve not seen one like that before. The collet looks to be made from some sort of resin type material maybe fiberglass…??? It looks more substantial than the grey plastic versions and probably the reason it wasn’t intended for replacement.
The locking collar is a new one for me too. hardened roll pins keeping it on which as you say a pita to remove without potentially damaging the pole.
It looks a better design than the next incarnation for sure as it clearly wasn’t meant to be messed with, probably just keep clean and it keeps going.
Be interesting to know what the thread is made of under that. All the poles I’ve had it’s this chrome plated porus crap metal that is able to corrode away and render the pole useless if it’s left wet for a considerable amount of time.

 

[Bob Watson]

How bizarre. I’ve not seen one like that before. The collet looks to be made from some sort of resin type material maybe fiberglass…??? It looks more substantial than the grey plastic versions and probably the reason it wasn’t intended for replacement.
The locking collar is a new one for me too. hardened roll pins keeping it on which as you say a pita to remove without potentially damaging the pole.
It looks a better design than the next incarnation for sure as it clearly wasn’t meant to be messed with, probably just keep clean and it keeps going.
Be interesting to know what the thread is made of under that. All the poles I’ve had it’s this chrome plated porus crap metal that is able to corrode away and render the pole useless if it’s left wet for a considerable amount of time.

I can't recall exactly how long I've it but I'd guess at about 20 years give or take, only ever had a couple of issues with it, once when piking on the water mentioned to Chris above when the temps during the day changed quite a lot from a freezing cold to relatively warm (or vice versa). The pole locked solid in an extended state but a brief spell in front of the cars exhaust pipe cured it. The other, more recently on a visit to the Trent saw me being unable to lock it, a quick dismantle and push of some kitchen roll through it cured that. If it ever packs up I can't complain!

Edit, re; your mention of the collet. The section of pole beneath the white collet is tapered (you probably sussed) which means as long as there's some collet material left, the mechanism will lock, in principle.

 

[Chris Jones]

Bob,
When I first bought my Twistlock, I did the usual overtightening thing. When talking to Drennan, they asked me whether the widget was black or grey. Apparently (if my memory isn't playing tricks), an older version had a black widget that wasn't interchangeable. I don't remember them mentioning anything about an older white widget! The version you have certainly doesn't look self serviceable. The best you might manage is to use something to rebuild the worn friction surfaces of the locking widget.

 

[Bob Watson]

Bob,
When I first bought my Twistlock, I did the usual overtightening thing. When talking to Drennan, they asked me whether the widget was black or grey. Apparently (if my memory isn't playing tricks), an older version had a black widget that wasn't interchangeable. I don't remember them mentioning anything about an older white widget! The version you have certainly doesn't look self serviceable. The best you might manage is to use something to rebuild the worn friction surfaces of the locking widget.

I only mentioned that I couldn't take it apart, I'm not having problems with it Chris!

I didn't mean to infer otherwise

 

[Stephen Scaysbrook]

Mines like the one with the white collet (nylon?) I've also had this for about 20 years .. It's locked up on me a few times but with a good clean a couple of time a year it's still working just fine, although the black rubber bit at the bottom of the white collet which rubs on the inner tube to make the collet lock did wear and made locking difficult so I just put one turn of black insulation tape round it and problem sorted, this was a few years ago now but still working. I have a new 3.5mt twist lock that does have the grey widget and have more problems with that one..

 

[Kevin Steele]

How bizarre. I’ve not seen one like that before. The collet looks to be made from some sort of resin type material maybe fiberglass…???

Yes, it's very odd, but it looks 100% nylon to me. (Fibreglass isn't a resin, btw... )
.

 

[Graham Elliott]

I'm just pleased that I've still got a couple of the TW extender handles however heavy they are.

 

[Paul Richardson]

I'm using the Garner extenable one for piking which is substantial but still not without fault. I've had to epoxy the metal section with the female thread that screws into the spreader block or net onto the inner handle as it just twisted off after a couple of uses. Same happened to my mates.
Also got to keep it clean - even a small build of of carbon dust which is generated extending/ retracting and tightening affects the locking mechanism as it acts as a lubricant. You go to net a fish with a 42" net and the extended handle twist & slips under torsion so you can end up bumping them. Not good. As with the Twistlock, a good wipe down and squirt of WD40 leaving a very light film, gets rid of the fine carbon and helps it lock in place. You would think it would slip more but not so. WD40 is 90%+ solvent and leaves only a tiny amount of oil behind.
Just got to keep on top of them I think.

 

[Mark J Smith]

My Twistlock Landing Handle will twist but it won't lock.

Its quite an old handle which I've had for about 20 years but it has become less and less likely to lock until it currently doesn't lock at all.

I've read all the old posts but I can't fathom the mechanism and I'm not sure what the issue is.

I attach a copy of the handle with the inner pole removed and the 'widget' on the end - is something missing?View attachment 31009

Probably the graphite twist bung has worn. Take it off give it a good clean in soapy water and also clean the thread on the handle. Then what I do is cut a small strip of gorilla tape and stick it on one of the graphite segments . Put back together and it will lock again. I sometimes even put a small amount of super glue onto the tape lasts longer. Won’t last forever but will be usable until you can order a new one from Drennan. (I kept doing this for a good 4 months with no issues)

 

[Jim Knight]

I have had my twistlock at least 10 or 12 years, I have had problems in the past and just phoned Drennan and a new piece came in the post within days (FOC). Now I find if I keep the inside of the poles dry I have less problems and locking is easier< and I periodically clean the mechanism. Brilliant piece of kit with superb service from Drennan.

 

[Neil Blood]

I have had my twistlock at least 10 or 12 years, I have had problems in the past and just phoned Drennan and a new piece came in the post within days (FOC). Now I find if I keep the inside of the poles dry I have less problems and locking is easier< and I periodically clean the mechanism. Brilliant piece of kit with superb service from Drennan.

You’ve pretty much summed it up there. I agree its a brilliant piece of kit and my 3 ME handle is around 15 years old and its never developed an issue. After every few trips, I take a piece of kitchen towel soaked in warm water/fairy liquid and shove it through. It comes out of the other end black with dirt/carbon dust. Its lasted as I clean it and look after it, which isn’t a big deal and especially as I clean my gear after every outing. If you are a bank tramp and leave your gear covered in shite, then you are asking for problems with working mechanisms and thats not just restricted to just landing net handles!

I also have the 2 ME version and this is the one which developed the twist lock fault. If I’m honest, it didnt lock properly from day 1, but this was quickly resolved by Drennan’s excellent customer service

 

[Dave Taylor]

Just an aside regarding the twist lock.
After trying all the tricks to prolong the life of the expanding collet I phoned Nigel G. at Davis Tackle who kindly offered to replace it free of charge. I was well chuffed when driving home from Christchurch until a flash of ‘lightning’ made my heart sink. £100 fine,.. doh!
That was over a year ago and still rankles when fishing as I gaze down at the landing net thinking a complete new pole would have been far cheaper! My daft fault of course.