CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Please Note:
When assembling the poles, check that the top of the expander is at the top of its threaded bolt, level with the shiny cap i.e. it is in “thin mode” for an easy passage through the bevelled, black plastic cuff of the upper shaft section. When dismantling, check that you have un-twisted the expander enough so it has moved up the threaded bolt to the top (to be in “thin-mode” again!) so easier to pull through the plastic cuff to free it. If the surface of the plastic/nylon ‘expanders’ are looking grimy and shiney with use, then suggest that you clean the surface film off each expander using a rough cloth and a drop of “Meths” (denatured alcohol), rubbing the surface to clean it without allowing any “Meths” to seep through into the expander; this will help the clean expander to grip properly.

Remember that condensation can occur inside any tube – and trapped, damp air can cause oxidation of the metal expanding bolt (of the Carbon or Alloy pacerpoles) as a rough texture, filling-in the grooves so it can’t function as it should. After use it’s always good practice to dismantle your poles into their 3 sections, stow in the mesh bag and hang somewhere dry until needed. Allowing dry air to circulate will keep them happy! If using them everyday – then do this overnight perhaps once every 3 to 4 weeks. Any queries please contact us.

1. Shafts:
Use plain water to clean the poles as necessary – and allow to dry …. inside and out! DO NOT LUBRICATE inside any shaft section or their expanding bolt (as the poles rely on friction locking).

2. To avoid loss of whole shaft tip housing and basket:
The shaft tip is a firm press-fit onto the tapered bottom shaft section – so that it can be replaced when the carbide end is worn (rather than having to replace the whole of the bottom shaft section).
If going through particularly boggy or rocky sections – where the basket could get caught – and you give a tug to free it – then each tug could potentially be tugging the tip housing further down the tapered shaft section – until it reaches a point just like the straw-which-broke-the-camel’s-back … when the last tug was one where the tip was pulled free of the tapered section.
Normally though, the tip is being pressed onto the shaft in compression, with each stride – so all should be well ….but there could be a scenario when this hasn’t happened, especially on soft ground ….
Perhaps every few months give the shaft tips a few good “thumps-down-hard” onto eg a piece of wood –  to check that they remain as high up the tapered shaft section as possible (then check the sections are the same height).

3. Replacing the shaft tip:
Put the section in a vice horizontally (wrap with rubber glove to cushion/protect the shaft) tighten moderately …take care not to over tighten as the rubber surface should hold it. Use either a wooden wedge and a few blows with a hammer – or if possible use an adjustable spanner to fit over the tube just above the tip housing with the jaws of the spanner just marginally wider apart then the diam of the pole, so as not to scratch it. Hold the spanner at 90 degrees to the pole – the jaws immediately behind the tip housing and thump the spanner with a wooden mallet to knock-off the tip……..   This usually works!

Leave the pole in the vice and thump-on the new tip with the wooden mallet (with a piece of wood to protect the mallet) so that the tip is a high-up the tapered shaft as the original.

Another option: try heating about 4ins of water in a pot until boiling – then submerge tip into it for a minute or more. Shake-off water and catch tip in gloved hand or old cloth. Twist and pull hard to remove tip. Reheat for longer if the tip does not come-off. Push on the new tip straight away …thumping it down hard onto a block of wood (to save the floor!) until it is as high up the shaft section as possible …at least as high-up as your other shaft tip. Both lower shaft sections should be the same height so check this too. Any queries just ask.

STOWING / STORAGE

The minimum length for stowing is 55cm when they are dismantled, which is shorter than their compact telescopic mode. Either alloy or carbon shafts are at their shortest for travelling/flight etc. when dismantled and placed diagonally in the pack. alt(Use the mesh bag if wanting to keep the sections together).

As another option to stowing poles in your pack when needing ‘hands free’ for short scrambles – then slide the shaft sections into each other and tighten them (so they won’t slip-out and get lost!). Loop a wrist cord over the handle of the other and vice versa. The shortened shafts rest either side of the pack with their cords/handles spanning the shoulder straps near to where they attach onto the pack.

If on terrain where one pole needs to be stowed for short distances to leave one hand free:- push the security cord to the shoulder so the pole faces back out of the way. Use the toggles for adjustment for use with a T-shirt or a bulky waterproof.