Anderson shafts for Excalibur - issues

[Hopster]

I just got a new Anderson over-under travel shaft and am very disappointed in the quality.
Some of the issues I should have seen beforehand, but others are apparent after I had it in my hands.
- they use the spring buttons for everything, detector housing and battery. Who uses these anymore ? They are a pain to operate compared to a bolt and wingnut.

The extension on the forward end wobbles - due to a too-short inner tube and a oversized bolt hole to pin it on. I will have to mod it to stop the shakes.
The front grip and rear cradle both wobble due again to oversized bolt holes, modification needed.
The locking mechanism for the lower shaft is what appears to be the old twistlock which has been glued solid, drilled, then tapped for a little setscrew made of nylon.
The end caps are falling out.


I am ordering a similar unit from Plugger and he assured me I won't have those issues.
Will know in a few days.
Lesson learned.

 

[stumppass]

Plugger is the way to go.

 

[Hopster]

Plugger is the way to go.

if only he would make a carbon fiber jobbie .....

But seening the quality of Anderson, if I want carbon I will have to buy the tubes and make my own.

 

[hershey1]

Do a search for homemade Excallibur shafts. You can make one for around $ 35.00 and if you get the tubing from Aircraft Spruce there will be no wobble. HH

 

[Hopster]

I repaired my original balance shaft from aircraft spruce tubing and Cherrymax rivets.
The extension wears slowly due to sand getting in ( I used mine diving/snorkeling a lot).
But the anderson plug-in extension is glued into the outer tube, so I cant just un rivet it and install a longer one.
maybe a heat gun will soften whatever glue they used..........
What a gawd awful design - a tiny stub extension to absorb 3+ feet of side leverage against it. :veryangry:

 

[tvr]

You can make one for around $ 35.00 and if you get the tubing from Aircraft Spruce there will be no wobble.

Here is what I find in the on-line catalog for Aircraft Spruce:
03-00172 CARBON FIBER TUBE 0.75"X.100" $428.95 10 Ft Length


What am I missing on finding the tubing to make one for ~ $35?
tvr

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Plugger makes great shafts,but a lot of people use and like Anderson shafts.I would suggest contact Anderson and let them know your issues,they may have replacement bolts for the pinch clips at this point nothing to lose.Good Luck Ron

 

[OldBeechnut]

Carbon Fiber, Only see a couple advantages..One your not swing a large metal rod above the coil and second...No Salt issues at all..cost me about 150 for 2 shafts. Ultra Carbon Fiber Eagle Mountain, UT 801-471-4150

size .875" od .750" id .062" wall WEIGHT lbs / ft..10
Used a white's tall man lower rod on both, pulled the whites rod ends off, replaced with the excals rod connecter.

http://www.carbonfibertubeshop.com/medium%20tubing.html



http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1498287,1499796#msg-1499796

 

[tvr]

OBN,
Little bit better carbon fiber price. Also see that they have .075 I.D. and O.D. tubing making it easy to do an all carbon fiber travel rod. If I do make up a different one than what I have (or add a detector and need a straight shaft) this is one more option!

Thanks for the links. Now I've got them bookmarked.
Cheers,
tvr

 

[Hopster]

One possible additional advantage of the carbon although theory not tested out in practice :
An aluminum shaft with stainless fasteners is "screaming" in the saltwater with the galvanic action at work from the dis-similar metals, one cathodic and one anodic.
In other words -it is generating an electrical field.
Whether this matters on the Excalibur I know not.
A carbon fiber shaft with nylon/delrin fasteners would be electrically/RF silent.
Those prices on the carbon stock are quite reasonable.
Thanks OBN.

 

[Hopster]

I recieved the Plugger shaft and the quality was head and shoulders above the Anderson unit.!
Easily twice as good IMHO at the exact same price.
I put it together and there was NO wobble.
The rear forearm cradle is adjustble and the hand grip is infinitely adjustable for a perfect fit.
The friction shaft locks are really nice too.
And the velcro arm strap is more convenient than the buckle style on the Anderson unit.

I managed to "repair" the Anderson unit by replacing the short socket extension with a longer section of carbon fiber from an old lower shaft.
Wobble at cradle and grip was fixed by adding stainless countersunk sheetmetal screws at each sleeve.

For those wanting to build a unit from scratch out of carbon fiber, the inner rod section (.75" OD) can be made from an old lower rod providing the inside diameter
of the carbon tubing you purchase is a nice slip fit with the lower rod. This can save on buying a 6 ft rod section that you only need 8 inches of.

 

[tailofdog]

Plugger is the way to go.

Glad to hear it! Just bought a used one and, it has the Plugger Stright shafr and Chest Mount!

 

[imalookin2]

Pluggers products work. His shaft lock has less problems with salt lock up. I use one on my DF. For the Excal his are great. I use the stock shaft on my GT. It works great but I did change the shaft locks to Pluggers. Salting up twist locks are a problem. Not his. HH

 

[opa81]

I had the same problems with my Anderson shaft and brought it back after 2 days. Quality was very poor for that amount of money.

Andre

 

[Hopster]

I should have mentioned Pluggers unit uses a lot more expensive components and I would not be surprised if he finds it necessary
to increase prices. The photos on ebay are outdated - the new forward grip is a stock mountain bike climbing add on handle made of polished aluminum
with a real nice micro-groove plastic grip sleeve - very comfortable compared to the foam. That one part I'm sure is not cheap. The friction locks are
heavy duty and look like they will last a lifetime.
Overall the quality, ruggedness, and attention to detail is worth much more than I paid.
Hard to find products like that anymore.

 

[E-TREC-Virginia]

I just ordered a 2 piece Plugger travel shaft with the optional stand. I was thinking about an Anderson shaft until I read the reviews about each. Not knocking Anderson, but it does appear that Plugger shafts are better quality.

 

[Hopster]

Correction to earlier post : the grip handle is expensive to make but is not exactly a "stock mountain bike climbing handle" as I had thought.
It is indeed made from a bike bar end handle to which Plugger applies his own changes.
I got a chance to get it wet in the surf at the coast south of Tampa FL and it performed beautifully.

 

[usmc0351]

ive used both anderson and plugger, i prefer the sping clips because i switch out between a wading rod to a diving rod often, i think instead of throwing a tizzy fit, just call anderson and ask for the nut and bolts, he's a good guy and will even send them to you at no charge i bet, as for as pluggers nylon bolts and nut, well they are are nylon, be careful not to cross thread them. i spend a lot of time water hunting, and from what ive seen with gulf coast hunters, i see a lot more anderson shafts than i do plugger's, i dont know why, plugger makes a great shaft also.