Stuck Ferrule

[Ralph Tomaccio]

I have a Sage 7wt Z-axis rod that has the middle two sections really stuck together. No matter what I try, I just cannot get them apart. I’ve tried:

Freezing the ferrules both with ice as well as folding over a frozen bag of peas around it

Freezing one section and heating the other

Pulling the sections behind my knees

Using jar lid rubber pads for a better grip

Using a two man technique pulling from each end

Spraying WD-40 into the ferrule

Spraying silicone into the ferrule . . .

. . .and they simply will not come apart.

Does anyone have any other suggestions I can try short of sending it back to Sage (and probably paying $50.00 for the service)?

[Buzz Bryson]

I really shouldn’t tell this story, but . . .

Years ago, a group of us went bonefishing in the Bahamas. Most of us left the rods set up for the entire trip. On the last night, one of the guys couldn’t get two of the sections on one rod separated. As you did, we tried about everything. Finally, we all just laughed and, being totally unsympathetic, told our friend he apparently was thoroughly out of luck, and needed to find himself a two-piece tube (or carry the two sections on the plane) to get the rod home, and then ship everything back to the manufacturer to deal with.

He listened to us go on for a few more minutes, then a smile came over his face, and he said “I have it!”

“What”, we said, “what!!”

He raised the stuck sections up, then suddenly brought them down, snapping them over his knee, as he shouted “UNLIMITED WARRANTY!!!!”

And, he got the rod fixed, for the price of shipping it to the manufacturer.

I’d not suggest that, but I have nothing constructive to offer either. Can’t recall ever seeing the jar lid thingies not work.

Good luck!

Buzz

[kennyw]

Just signed up so I’ll start by saying hello everyone I’m Kenny from jacksonville, fl. Anyway what I do when nothing else works is with two people but I think it might be a little different than the way most people do it. Both people have to get one hand on each of the two sections. Then you both simultaneously twist them apart. At first it is a little awkward coordinating with the other person but it has always worked for me.

[Ralph Tomaccio]

Kennyw,

As shown in my first post, I did try the two man technique. I found a video on YouTube on how to do it, but even that didn’t work.

Buzz,

Ah! Warranty. Hadn’t thought of that, but it is sounding like a pretty good idea. Sounding better and better as time goes on.

Thanks, guys! I’ll keep you updated as time goes on. Any other ideas are always welcome.

[Ralph Tomaccio]

Just checked on-line and it appears it’s probably going to cost $50.00 plus shipping to Sage to take care of it either by warranty or as a repair order.

[Zach Matthews]

Ralph with the two man technique a lot of times the fear is breaking the rod. My suggestion is to get some shelf-liner (can opener do-dads), and re-try the two man technique with maximum force. If the rod breaks, it breaks. I suspect once you just decide to go for it you’ll be able to get them unstuck.

You may have a piece of sand or grit in there serving as an anchor. Wipe the rod out with a cotton swab/q-tip when you get them apart and consider very lightly lubing with a little paraffin wax (not much). That should help in the future.

Zach

[Ralph Tomaccio]

Thanks, Zach. I’ll have to give that technique a try.

[Colin M.]

Two man technique with grips works.

I had that happen with a loomis GLX. the biggest fear is always hands sliding down and busting guides off.

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