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Landing net assistance required please

S

Stephen Goderski

Senior Member
Hi guys, I need to pick your brains please.

I have been using the same extending landing net handle for 20 years now - one of Trefor West's which, although heavy, appears bomb-proof (I really hope I haven't jinxed it).

At some point in the last ten years I bought a spare which is much lighter and much prettier!! (one of the Lone Angler ones). I have never used it as the original is still going strong. I did recently however have a play around with the spreader block as the block on the original handle looked more robust than the block on the newer one.

I tried screwing the original spreader block into the newer handle with disastrous results - the "female" thread on the new handle just came away looking like a stretched spring.

How do I go about working out what I need to buy to replace it? Are all spreader blocks' "male" parts the same size and, if so, does anyone know what size that is? I presume that I need to buy a helicoil thread insert compatible with the spreader block and then somehow glue that into the landing net handle, possibly with araldite? Is that right?

Any assistance very gratefully received!!

Thanks, Steve
 
Steve,
The female thread on all popular landing net poles is the same. Helicoil inserts can be expensive and cheaper ones unsuccessful. I would just buy a cheap pole ( you may well have one kicking about) and take the threaded insert out of that and araldite it into your damaged pole.
 
That’s very poor. It sounds like there was already a helicoil in the new pole and the spring you see is that your original thread has pulled it out. Without pictures I can’t say for sure. The thread should be 3/8bsf but in my time ive seen some very poor examples of this thread. Put up some pics and I’ll get my thinking cap on with how best to repair if possible.
 
Photo of the landing net pole and ruined helicoil attached...
 

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Stephen Goderski said:
Photo of the landing net pole and ruined helicoil attached...
Click to expand...
I hate to be the one to say it Stephen but I’d see this as a blessing. That’s got to be the most awful way of achieving that thread...... a steel helicoil wound into plastic🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ Talk about a bodge job. I honestly don’t know how on Earth they expected that to go any other way than a total disaster.
Unless you can easily replace that plastic bit with a metal collar with the thread cut into it then I’d say it’s fit for nothing but the bin.
 
Thanks Richard - sounds like the bin it is.

Peter, that was a very early version of a LA landing net - they upgraded it pretty quickly, presumably for this reason.....

Does your Drennan specialist have an extending handle?

Steve
 
Stephen Goderski said:
Thanks Richard - sounds like the bin it is.

Peter, that was a very early version of a LA landing net - they upgraded it pretty quickly, presumably for this reason.....

Does your Drennan specialist have an extending handle?

Steve
Click to expand...
To date the drennan is the best one I’ve laid my hands on. It’s a twist lock so yes you can extend it and lock it at the length you want to use.
There’s afew complaints about the locking mechanism failing but I put this down to over tightening and not wiping them down before retracting them so grit gets inside. Had mine many years now and it’s never missed a beat.
Strong, reliable and light.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
To date the drennan is the best one I’ve laid my hands on. It’s a twist lock so yes you can extend it and lock it at the length you want to use.
There’s afew complaints about the locking mechanism failing but I put this down to over tightening and not wiping them down before retracting them so grit gets inside. Had mine many years now and it’s never missed a beat.
Strong, reliable and light.
Click to expand...
I've had a problem with Drennan screw lock mechanism Richard (my spare net and handle). Likely my fault over tightening. Is there anything I can do about this?
 
Ady Brayshaw said:
I've had a problem with Drennan screw lock mechanism Richard (my spare net and handle). Likely my fault over tightening. Is there anything I can do about this?
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What is the problem with it Ady? The usual things are either stuck locked up or won’t tighten up.
 
I have problems tightening it up Richard. There is a fitting at the bottom of the pole that I think is involved in the tightening mechanism. I get it working and it's not long before it goes '... up'. I try and avoid over-tightening it Richard. I would appreciate any advise you have on this.
 
Ok Ady
Take off the cap at the back and push the section closed until that grey collet pops right out on the end of the pole.
Then unscrew the grey collet to remove it and examine it.
It works via the tapered pin spreading the collet which grips the outer walls of the tube. So if it’s slipping then there can only be afew simple explanations. Most probable cause imo is perhaps the thread the collet is fitted to is full of crap and not actually able to spread the collet far enough to grip the tube. Best thing is strip it, clean it properly and build it back up.
 
Like this.
Obviously inspect the collet for cracks or obvious wear or damage. This is the item that is slipping in side your pole so give it all a good look over and then if nothing is obvious clean it properly especially the threads on both parts and put back together.
Don’t screw the collet on any more than a couple of threads or it won’t go back inside the tube.
81522F07-44E7-49B3-B11B-E88C5744A924.jpeg
6CDD64C7-26E3-4D3B-BF0D-3BD913949C8B.jpeg
55C3335C-00EB-4981-963E-5FDABD29F5D2.jpeg
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Drennan have also provided most stockists with replacement locking collets which they give out for free (always worth having a spare in your bag) ;)but to reiterate:
when you set the length of your Drennan handle it only requires the slightest pressure to set the length THERE IS NO NEED to tighten it any further :rolleyes:
Occasionally when on the bank (normally when it is wet) the handle won't lock at all, I find that if I extend it past the gold lines at the end of the inner pole and retry, it locks, I then simply loosen only just enough to move it under friction and then "tweek" it at the desired length.

There is no doubt that the Drennan product is not perfect but IMO it is still the best on the market;)
 
Keith Humphreys said:
Occasionally when on the bank (normally when it is wet) the handle won't lock at all,
Click to expand...
The reason for this is because the collet is spinning as your trying to tighten it when it should remain still and pressed against the inside of the blank.
The cause is just backing it off too far.
Best thing to do is remove the cap, push the tube so the collet just pops out the end and hold it with your fingers while you give it a little tension then push it back in and it will grip.
Your absolutely right, they need nothing more than the slightest nip to lock solid and when not in it pays to keep it backed off.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
Like this.
Obviously inspect the collet for cracks or obvious wear or damage. This is the item that is slipping in side your pole so give it all a good look over and then if nothing is obvious clean it properly especially the threads on both parts and put back together.
Don’t screw the collet on any more than a couple of threads or it won’t go back inside the tube. View attachment 13420View attachment 13421View attachment 13422View attachment 13423
Click to expand...
Thanks for the comprehensive reply Richard. Very helpful indeed. I'm away working at the moment but should be back in about a week to sort out. :)
 
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