[stuartb]

Hi folks
I have been using my SLX it for about 4 months, got to the point where the sections were spinning around so much it was almost impossible to use. In the end I phoned Gardiner Poles up and they told me last week that there is a fault with the first batch of poles they produced and are fixing them for free. Give them a call if you have any problems.
Stu

[NWH]

Mine did that after a few goes with it,apart from the clamps the thing that used to wind me up was when you collapse the pole the sections got stuck in the 1 below it.If i could be sure the clamps didn`t need adjusting at all the sections didn`t jam and it was shorter closed i`d give another 1 a go,people have said that in the first place i said it was the best pole ever and then slagged it off but i didn`t because the prototype pole i saw was not the same.

[Clive McDonald]

Sorry to be an anorak.
I see that the closed lenght is 5' 5'', weight is 1780gm, base thickness 37mm

How does this compare to the 17' xtel i use at the moment?

If this version is longer, at 30' instead of 25' how much has this increased the closed length?

[NWH]

The closed length of the SLX i had was 6ft +,the sections had to be pulled out slightly otherwise they would jam shut.The closed length of the 17ft extel is the ideal closed length IMO but the extended size would need to be 30ft for it to be good.

[Clive McDonald]

so what pole do you use?

[NWH]

Carbon Facelift cut down to 22ft + SL2 + 6ft brodex predator + 15ft fiberglass Facelift and a couple of others i don`t use much.

[G & M]

Alex is it possible to remove the clamps to make further adjustments to the pole sections? I have filed down the slots as far as I can.

[Alex Gardiner]

Sorry to be an anorak.
I see that the closed lenght is 5' 5'', weight is 1780gm, base thickness 37mm

How does this compare to the 17' xtel i use at the moment?

If this version is longer, at 30' instead of 25' how much has this increased the closed length?

The previous SL-X was 5' 7" when closed (not including gooseneck etc), so in fact the closed length has been reduced slightly compared to the old model. The 17ft X-Tel has a closed length of 5' 1". To get an X-Tel of this closed length (5' 1") to 30ft would need a base diameter of 50mm as you would need to add 4 extra sections.

Alex is it possible to remove the clamps to make further adjustments to the pole sections? I have filed down the slots as far as I can.

Due to the SL-X's construction it is completely possible (and has been done) to re-bed the clamps on a new section of pole and can be done many times as the pole ages. The area on the pole that receives the most wear is the small (15mm deep) section on the top inside of the pole. To renew the clamp action you can 'knock' off the clamp (re-use or replace) and saw off the end 15mm of the pole, extend down the keyhole and bond the clamp back on. You have effectively turned the clock back on the pole by many months.

[alanwilson]

Alex a friend of mine lent me his SLX for a few days there, (hence why I saidd in above post that I'm interested in buying a few) but I had one major concern, the clamps - now I was fine using them but I have to say nowhere near as nice as the xtel clamps - can you change the clamps and use xtel type clamps or would I have to stick to the saddle clamps?

[Alex Gardiner]

Alex a friend of mine lent me his SLX for a few days there, (hence why I saidd in above post that I'm interested in buying a few) but I had one major concern, the clamps - now I was fine using them but I have to say nowhere near as nice as the xtel clamps - can you change the clamps and use xtel type clamps or would I have to stick to the saddle clamps?

The interesting thing about the SL-X clamps is how quickly you get used to a sideways action clamp.  It is not possible to use X-Tel clamps on the SL-X as the section diameters are different.  The new SL-X actually has different clamps to the last model though. They are still sideways lever action but are easier to use and have fingertip adjustment rather than allen key adjustment.

The one downside of the X-Tel clamps (generally they are very clever clamps) is that all of your adjustment is dependent on pulling the two sides of the lever arm together. This does give quite a limited room for adjustment during the life of the pole. 

[[GQC] Tim]

The clamps are a million times better then the X-tels, it's just a bit getting used to, after your first couple of days, you don't even notice it anymore.

[Dave Turley]

thanks for the email alex.

is it true about about a production fault and free repair?

if so, what is the fault?

the bottom half of my 2nd section has worn pretty much smooth and it spins unless the clamp is adjusted perfectly

[Alex Gardiner]

thanks for the email alex.

is it true about about a production fault and free repair?

if so, what is the fault?

the bottom half of my 2nd section has worn pretty much smooth and it spins unless the clamp is adjusted perfectly

The production fault was two fairly minor points and only really affected some of the first batch. The cut-out on the carbon fibre between the clamp jaws was not always wide enough so after a few months of use it artificially runs out of adjustment and the other fault is that after a similar amount of use some of the bolts (mainly the top one) are about 4mm too long causing it to foul on the clamp handle in use. Both of these can be simply remedied in our workshop (at no cost to the client). If preferred they are also easily sorted by a competent DIY'er.

Sounds like the clamp for the second section needs another 1/4 turn to ensure a tight clamping action.

[Dave Turley]

alex, thinking about it, my last post was unfair. a more accurate description would be that the 2nd section is MORE LIKELY to spin. my apologies, it's not a problem if i'm honest.

is the fingertip adjustment just new bolts, and can we buy them seperately?

[Alex Gardiner]

is the fingertip adjustment just new bolts, and can we buy them seperately?

It's not just new bolts but a completely different design, so clamp parts are not interchangeable.

[TDW]

Those 2 designs faults are easy to remedy especily if you know someone with a grinder to grind down the bolts and a dremel to trim the cf gaps!

My slx is now working well again.

Thanks for the tip Alex on trimming off 15mm off the end of the pole. I'll try that when it comes to.

Another thing I've been doing to avoid wear is when just using the pole for only ground and first i dont open the top section but just the bottom and second from bottom.

The pole is so light it doesnt make much difference.

TDW

[Jeff Brimble]

Those 2 designs faults are easy to remedy especily if you know someone with a grinder to grind down the bolts and a dremel to trim the cf gaps!

My slx is now working well again.

Thanks for the tip Alex on trimming off 15mm off the end of the pole. I'll try that when it comes to.

Another thing I've been doing to avoid wear is when just using the pole for only ground and first i dont open the top section but just the bottom and second from bottom.

The pole is so light it doesnt make much difference.

TDW

Someone else who extends from the base- its faster.

[Paul Coleman]

The clamps are a million times better then the X-tels, it's just a bit getting used to, after your first couple of days, you don't even notice it anymore.

Yes it did feel pretty odd at first but I don't give it a thought these days.

[Jeff Brimble]

I use a clampless "friction lock" on the telescopic modular  and its faster to extend the top sections a bit and then extend from the base, bit of a sandwhich to explain but pulling from the bottom is enjpoyable