Had a guy one time that thought that the prism pole was an ice chopper :(, needless to say this definitely will take it out of plumb. I made a carrier with pipe insulation for storage when in transit and this seems to help.
MJP-PLS, post: 394996, member: 8990 wrote: Had a guy one time that thought that the prism pole was an ice chopper :(, needless to say this definitely will take it out of plumb. I made a carrier with pipe insulation for storage when in transit and this seems to help.
This kind of follows in line with the Jeep Wrangler truck bed survey vehicle. I had another truck once, with those mechanic style side boxes. I had our mechanics, was working for a private earth moving company, rig it up for me. I had them buy those broom holder tension clamps they put in shops mounted to fix my pole to the side of the box, and never had a problem with the level bubble. Never fell out once either.
I also had the mechanics run wires from the truck battery, to that box. In there, they put in a quick release fittings on them and my external 12v base battery. Never had to bring it inside to charge ever again after that. Kept it tight in the box, and charged up while I drove to and from the job sites.
I've found my rod levels stay true longer when I avoid surveying in back yards with pit bulls.
I worked with a guy once who realized that trying to spear carp with a prism pole both knocked the bubble out and bent the pole. He kept his job but, barely.
I think vibration in the back of the truck is big part. I hang mine from the roof of the topper using a sling setup made for fishing poles. Unless they get used improperly they seem to stay in adjustment for a long time. I have noticed that the Leica poles rarely go out, especially the old style. I have some that are over 15 years old that have never needed to be adjusted.
John Putnam, post: 395011, member: 1188 wrote: I think vibration in the back of the truck is big part. I hang mine from the roof of the topper using a sling setup made for fishing poles. Unless they get used improperly they seem to stay in adjustment for a long time. I have noticed that the Leica poles rarely go out, especially the old style. I have some that are over 15 years old that have never needed to be adjusted.
Vibration is surely a big part of any metallic mechanical device developing minute migrations between its bits and pieces. Another is temperature. Different alloys expand (and contract) at different rates. A few hundred cycles of temp variance between machine steel screws and pot metal aluminum will surely move things around. Throw in a daily roller coaster ride in the back of survey truck and you have the perfect storm of something getting out of whack.
And as for folks that have older rods that seem to stay in calibration: better materials 15 years ago...my guess is most of the bits and pieces nowadays are probably lower quality materials purchased from some country outside our own continent (it's pronounced "China"..).
