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Sovereign GT Mods

This is my winter project. Alternatively you could build this unit using a pass thru coil connector that screws into the control box, allowing your coil to screw right into the back of that. Estimated cost- Probably south of $20, depending on how costly a meter with enough resolution in 1/1000th of a volt (4th digit) will cost. Haven't looked into that yet.
 
Here is where I got the aluminum for the upper shaft portion of my custom shaft. It's an Unger professional window cleaning pole and can be had for $20 at Home Depot or probably Lowes. The picture shows a blue color but all the Ungers I've seen are green. Etore is blue, and I wouldn't use the Etore as they are heavier so the aluminum is probably a thicker grade. The inner extension pole is the one to use. It's the same diameter of the stock upper GT shaft but much lighter in weight being a lighter gauge, yet it's stiff as heck. Has to be to withstand extended weights of 10 feet using a mop head and other window cleaning tools.

The beauty of buying this to use the aluminum for the upper shaft is not just weight savings (use a Whites tall man carbon rod for the lower shaft), and not just that it's found at any local home improvement store, but also because you get an extra snap pin clip with it as that's how the top plastic green tool holder is held in place on the shaft. Cut off a section of the inner shaft to the desired length for your Sovereign (much shorter than stock if using a Whites Tall Man Rod), and you also will still have a slightly shorter but still extending window cleaning pole for around the house, changing light bulbs, dusting, painting, and other things. Much more value then buying some blank aluminum stock through mail order somewhere by the time you pay for shipping.

Interestingly enough, Unger also is selling a carbon fiber version of this pole, but they want way too much for it. I know of real cheaper sources for carbon via mail order should I decide to replace the upper shaft with carbon for maximum weight savings.

This grade aluminum is meant for constant outdoor use in the elements for years. My original Unger pole had about 15 years of use in the window cleaning trade and hasn't oxidized or fell apart on me. They may sell shorter versions of this pole cheaper but I haven't compared them to see if they are the same diameter as this one.

You do not need a cam lock. Just drill a hole completely through the aluminum for the snap pin's two heads to pop out of and it's going to be plenty stiff enough. From my experience Camlocks strip quick and don't do squat for rigidity of the shaft.

http://www.homedepot.com/Cleaning-Cleaning-Tools-Supplies/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xjvZbqqz/R-100200920/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
 
Thanks for sharing Critterhunter. The custom shaft I made is a bit rickety, but does function. Perhaps someday I will reconstruct it.
 
Hi , I`m not new to this form but new to posting, I decided to modify my Sov GT to make it lighter and add a pin point switch and thanks to Critter hunter and others for ideas and pictures I am near completion and should be done by this weekend. The upper shaft is carbon fiber from Rock West Composites and the lower carbon fiber shaft is from Whites, the mountain bike handle and grip is from Wallmart and K-mart. The switch and wiring bought from Radio Shack and the pipe hanger for the meter is from Lowe's. The arm cup is from Whites also. Will post more pics when completed this weekend .
 
Looks good.
 
Hi again, Here are some more pics it was a fun project to do and cant wait for spring. Next thing to do is check into those lipo battery's I have been hearing about.
 
Couple more picks, Thanks for looking Shannon
 
Nice work Shannon. I've considered building a carbon fiber shaft myself, but the carbon fiber tubing is so darn expensive!
 
Thank you , because the GT weighs at around 5 1/2 pounds stock with meter it was worth the extra cost to lower the weight as much i could for less fatigue.
 
Excellent job! Glad the PP mod worked for you. Remember, it's not just to switch between PP and disc. Set the one switch on the GT to All Metal fixed after ground balancing it and now you can hunt in all metal and then check targets in disc at worked out sites. You beat me to using a carbon upper shaft. Put super glue around any holes drilled in the carbon or were cuts were made to prevent shredding of the fabric over time.
 
Great job.
 
appreciate the posts and the redirect post..
 
NIce work SD on the mode, sure like that carbon fiber, like the RS also in your avartar....looks stock, must be worth a small penny. Had a 69 Rs also...originally it was that ugly green chev had that year..........now, long gone. Just ordered 2 tallman shafts from Kellyco..thanks to you and jim for the help on the measurements.
 
Thanks for the replies on the sov gt, as for the avatar it`s a reminder that if it`s sounds to good to be true chances are that it is. I don`t own this car , many years back somebody was trying to sell this car on the net and offered to me for very cheap price turned out it was a stolen vehicle. I never offered any money but sure like the looks of this one it had matching ser. numbers on engine and trans. Maybe some day I will find one. Thanks again for your compliments on the GT, we are having a late spring here in ND the ground is almost ready for some hunting. Shannon
 
Hello Shannon, can you tell us please the method used for attaching the control box bracket to the carbon fibre?
I will be making a custom shaft from carbon fibre as I failed to find the right size aluminium.
I have drilled out the pop rivets from mine on the 'S' shaft. I am not using the Minelab arm cuff so do not need the adapter.
How did you find drilling holes in the carbon fibre? Tricky?
Did you attach the bracket with self tapping screws or pop rivets?
Did you use glue, such as an epoxy?
Thanks
 
This youtube video pictorial is of the custom light weight shaft I built for the GT along with some other mods, such as the remote PP switch, fast/easy/cheap land/water conversion to go as deep as an Excal and yet convert back quickly to land use (thanks KBron2000!), and a few other bits of info...

http://youtu.be/vvkeNKPYsgA

And if you didn't see this thread you might find what you are looking for in it, as it's more streamlined with shaft building and other cheap/easy modification info for the Sovereign...

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1164138,page=1

There
 
Really want to try this pinpoint mod on my GT!
 
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