Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Slacky on January 21, 2018, 10:17:55 am

Title: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Slacky on January 21, 2018, 10:17:55 am
I have two stuck gutter vac poles. It’s probably my own fault, I tapped the top of the pole section on the buildings soffit boards without realising the consequences. Anyway, I’ve tried everything I can think of including buying two adjustable oil filter removers, fixing one either side of the join, without success. In fact one of the poles was so tightly gripped it started to crush, but I still cannot separate them.


Any more suggestions please? Hot has been tried but not with the adjustable clamps.
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Afterglow Window Cleaners on January 21, 2018, 10:24:12 am
I had the same problem a couple of years ago, this is usually caused by water/liquid sealing the two poles together where they connect. I used a heat gun and a lot of persistence to get them apart
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Shrek on January 21, 2018, 10:32:47 am
Iv still got 2 stuck together from months ago , I had 4 guys trying to pull it apart with no luck too - I just stick it in the van as it is now, I give up!
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: The Jester of Wibbly on January 21, 2018, 10:38:40 am
Have you tried hot water to raise temp.
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Slacky on January 21, 2018, 12:19:52 pm
Have you tried hot water to raise temp.

Yup.
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Slacky on January 21, 2018, 12:20:11 pm
Iv still got 2 stuck together from months ago , I had 4 guys trying to pull it apart with no luck too - I just stick it in the van as it is now, I give up!

This is actually 3 poles. So mines bigger than yours ;)
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Slacky on January 21, 2018, 12:21:01 pm
I had the same problem a couple of years ago, this is usually caused by water/liquid sealing the two poles together where they connect. I used a heat gun and a lot of persistence to get them apart

A hot-air gun will put a lot more heat the a hair-dryer on it, I think that might help. I'll give it a go. Melt the feckers!
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: AuRavelling79 on January 21, 2018, 12:31:42 pm
Are they aluminium or carbon fibre?

If ally can you put one section in a bench vice and use an old chisel against the lip of the section that goes over it and welt it with a lump hammer if that makes sense?
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Slacky on January 21, 2018, 12:50:14 pm
Carbon Im afraid.
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: P @ F on January 21, 2018, 01:03:24 pm
I have never seen these poles but can only assume that one has a straight section and one is stepped if you like ?
If this is the case and all else fails , could you not cut off the straight section end to the point that the overlap ends and then dremmel or cut the ring thats left attatched either inside or around the stepped part.
OK the pole will be a bit shorter , but it wont be 15 foot either ! 
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Splash & dash on January 21, 2018, 03:35:04 pm
Are they aluminium or carbon fibre?

If ally can you put one section in a bench vice and use an old chisel against the lip of the section that goes over it and welt it with a lump hammer if that makes sense?








This will work with carbon poles to but oviously don’t go nuts , do the vice up until the carbon creeks then tap and pull at the same time sometimes spraying with ptfe dry lube helps I have had thi happen a few times and after a lot of struggling got them apart
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Slacky on January 21, 2018, 04:08:43 pm
I have never seen these poles but can only assume that one has a straight section and one is stepped if you like ?
If this is the case and all else fails , could you not cut off the straight section end to the point that the overlap ends and then dremmel or cut the ring thats left attatched either inside or around the stepped part.
OK the pole will be a bit shorter , but it wont be 15 foot either !

Im thinking you may have just saved the day there.

Cut an inch below where the overlap is then Dremel cut down the length the 4" or 5"section thats still on the pole. This should enable me to save everything except the 4" or 5" section cut off. Need to check to ensure this'll work.

Good thinking!
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Slacky on January 21, 2018, 04:09:03 pm
I have never seen these poles but can only assume that one has a straight section and one is stepped if you like ?
If this is the case and all else fails , could you not cut off the straight section end to the point that the overlap ends and then dremmel or cut the ring thats left attatched either inside or around the stepped part.
OK the pole will be a bit shorter , but it wont be 15 foot either !

Im thinking you may have just saved the day there.

Cut an inch below where the overlap, then Dremel cut down the length the 4" or 5"section thats still on the pole. This should enable me to save everything except the 4" or 5" section cut off. Need to check to ensure this'll work.

Good thinking!
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Og on January 21, 2018, 04:47:23 pm
Tap them apart with a nylon chisel?
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: P @ F on January 21, 2018, 06:09:22 pm
I have never seen these poles but can only assume that one has a straight section and one is stepped if you like ?
If this is the case and all else fails , could you not cut off the straight section end to the point that the overlap ends and then dremmel or cut the ring thats left attatched either inside or around the stepped part.
OK the pole will be a bit shorter , but it wont be 15 foot either !

Im thinking you may have just saved the day there.

Cut an inch below where the overlap is then Dremel cut down the length the 4" or 5"section thats still on the pole. This should enable me to save everything except the 4" or 5" section cut off. Need to check to ensure this'll work.

Good thinking!

Yes , but just remember that you cant cut the stepped bit off , it has to be the straight section , otherwise you will end up with 5 foot of very expensive downpipe  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Splash & dash on January 21, 2018, 08:17:38 pm
I have never seen these poles but can only assume that one has a straight section and one is stepped if you like ?
If this is the case and all else fails , could you not cut off the straight section end to the point that the overlap ends and then dremmel or cut the ring thats left attatched either inside or around the stepped part.
OK the pole will be a bit shorter , but it wont be 15 foot either !

Im thinking you may have just saved the day there.

Cut an inch below where the overlap is then Dremel cut down the length the 4" or 5"section thats still on the pole. This should enable me to save everything except the 4" or 5" section cut off. Need to check to ensure this'll work.

Good thinking!





Make sure they arnt a taper fit if you cut it down it might not fit in the end
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: P @ F on January 21, 2018, 08:30:32 pm







Make sure they arnt a taper fit if you cut it down it might not fit in the end
[/quote]

Very good shout that man , best check that !!
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: JandS on January 21, 2018, 09:43:05 pm
I have 2 stuck together...happened before but managed to get them apart before but not this time.
Strapped to roof bars now as won't fit in van.
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Smudger on January 22, 2018, 09:33:01 am
How old are they Matt??

over time we've had several ring together - you can do one of 2 things
1. if you have the solid ali bend from the likes of omnivac  you can fit this to the end  of the poles then put the bend around a lamp post or similar then twist in an antilock wise direction the bend will lock against the post and hopefully free up the sections

2. her gun get it warm to hot, then twist ( you must always twist with a slight pull not just pull ) but be warned i section i did finally gave up and split/melted on the taper ( the inside one ) but the other was saved

we now use silicone hose on the ends as 'wipers' they stick out about 1/2 inch from the pole end this protects the end and seems to stop them ringing together

Darran
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Tom-01 on January 22, 2018, 02:19:33 pm
We had this a couple of months ago, heat gun did the trick in about 3 minutes.
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Rayleigh Window Cleaning Services on January 22, 2018, 03:31:23 pm
Had it happen a few times.

This has worked for us.

If you get a jubilee clip slightly larger than pole diameter, slide up the pole to where it meets and is stuck.

Tighten, but only till snug on pole and so there can be movement.

Hit the clip where the adjustment screw is, forcing one pole end away from the other, and move the clip around opposite to where its positioned on pole to keep it even all round.

A good few strikes has always done the trick over twisting, heat guns, hot water.

Might get a little cosmetic damage but very little, and you can always put a bit of tape round first, although I have never bothered.

Handy for someone to hold the other end as well.

Good luck
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Richie76 on January 22, 2018, 03:38:39 pm
Might sound a bit drastic but can't you open up the female connection with a grinder or a dremmel etc to open the joint then gaffa tape back round?
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Slacky on January 24, 2018, 02:23:28 pm
Day off today, so a concerted effort was had.

I used two of these from Screwfix.

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1516803739_ae235.jpeg)

https://www.screwfix.com/p/laser-oil-filter-wrench/6890r

Plenty of heat from a hot-air paint stripper.

I lost 2' from the end of one of the poles as it was crushed by the oil wrench. Not to worry, it still fits both ends as hoped.


Job done!
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Plankton on January 24, 2018, 02:50:06 pm
Now... how to prevent this happening again?
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: p1w1 on January 24, 2018, 02:53:22 pm
How about a tiny bit of copperslip between the joints only need a very small amount
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: Slacky on January 24, 2018, 03:04:34 pm
I think they need wiping out with a wet cloth prior to using and then some lube spray of some sort. PTFE spray?
Title: Re: Stuck gutter vac poles.
Post by: JandS on January 24, 2018, 06:19:07 pm
 me and a builder next door to where I was working Monday managed it.......