Looking for Trimble prism pole

Buy heavier if you wish, but I'm curious regarding the manner the carbon fiber isn't meeting your expectations. My Seco (now Trimble) carbon fiber pole is 5 years old and doing fine. I do notice that in a couple of spots the clearcoat is wearing off, but other than that it's been a superior performer. And the weight savings over aluminum is greatly appreciated!

Jim Frame, post: 410126, member: 10 wrote: Buy heavier if you wish, but I'm curious regarding the manner the carbon fiber isn't meeting your expectations. My Seco (now Trimble) carbon fiber pole is 5 years old and doing fine. I do notice that in a couple of spots the clearcoat is wearing off, but other than that it's been a superior performer. And the weight savings over aluminum is greatly appreciated!

Our pole is cracking due to the attachment for the controller. If you tighten it so the controller doesn't slide down the pole, you can hear the pole cracking. If you don't tighten it then it just slides down, there's been no happy medium and the same thing is happening to the other crews pole. Tightening down does put all the pressure on one spot so I'm not sure if there is another clamp that would be better

Adam P, post: 410129, member: 10824 wrote: Our pole is cracking due to the attachment for the controller. If you tighten it so the controller doesn't slide down the pole, you can hear the pole cracking. If you don't tighten it then it just slides down, there's been no happy medium and the same thing is happening to the other crews pole. Tightening down does put all the pressure on one spot so I'm not sure if there is another clamp that would be better

The trick is to add heat shrink tubing at the location of the DC mounting point. This will give you the grip you need without over tightening the rod. Or you can buy a new road with the aluminum sleeve at the DC mounting point.

I took a short length of aluminum tubing, slit it lengthwise and ran it up so it sits tightly right below the twist-lock clamp. The DC mount is clamped over the aluminum tubing. It's worked great for five years.

A 4" section of 1" pvc pipe split and wrapped with electrical tape has served me well for what you describe. It's an easy fix.

Seco makes a "claw" clamp for the pole that works good.

Gregg

+1 on the claw clamp. Look up SECO part no. 5200-150

Unfortunately Seco dont make a claw clamp bipod - and the bipods stress the fibre poles much more than the collectors do.

In my opinion Jim Frame's solution is the best - but it should be like that from the factory....

wow, I've had the carbon fiber poles for a long long time and never had any problems with that. I suppose if you have a guy really crank down on the clamp, it will deform the pole then lead to future trouble.

jim.cox, post: 416004, member: 93 wrote: Unfortunately Seco dont make a claw clamp bipod - and the bipods stress the fibre poles much more than the collectors do.QUOTE]
Seco does make a quick release bipod. It is called the Quick Lever Bipod.

John Putnam, post: 416367, member: 1188 wrote: Seco does make a quick release bipod. It is called the Quick Lever Bipod.

You're right, indeed they do - just googled it - wonder how much pressure it puts on a carbon pole? Thanks for the info.