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Need help with jammed Xpert
I purchased my friend’s 2 month old Xpert today. One of the extenders is stuck in pole A. The hole and the hex screw aren’t aligned, so I can’t get the hex screw driver into the screw to loosen it. The two are only slightly misaligned. Does anyone know how I can get the hole and scew lined up or how I can get something into the hole to unfasten the screw? Thanks.
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21 Replies
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Here is a video from pennygirl, she had problems that sounds same as you. I’m sure you can email her also. Hope this helps.
http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4653" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
By the way, why did your friend sell her xpert? Is it chrome or titanium gold?
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I can’t open the link, so I will try and find her.
The pole is a 50mm chrome. She sold it because she is moving to a bigger place and needed money for deposits and such. She says she couldn’t justify keeping something she used 5 times since she got it. She said it was for fitness but she never really got started on the pole path. Oh well. Her loss is my gain.
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I couldn’t find the posting. I’m still trying to get the hole and screw aligned. Aargh!!!
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See if you can get to pennygirl’s profile with this link
https://www.studioveena.com/PennyGirl
I hope she doesn’t mind, but she posted the vid to help others with this issue and what she went through. If you are able to get to her profile, she has the video there titled xpert problem.
Sometimes it works if copy the link and paste in browser. Let me know if you can get to her profile this way. -
My wonderful husband got it free. He slid a broomstick handle into the pole and banged the handle with a hammer until the extender popped out. It’s great. No damage or anything. I did find out this is a common issue with the xjoints.
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I purchased my friend’s 2 month old Xpert today. One of the extenders is stuck in pole A. The hole and the hex screw aren’t aligned, so I can’t get the hex screw driver into the screw to loosen it. The two are only slightly misaligned. Does anyone know how I can get the hole and scew lined up or how I can get something into the hole to unfasten the screw? Thanks.
Hey sweety, I noticed your link today. I am sorry you are having problems with your expert. Yes, I too have experienced the same problem with my expert. When the joints are inserted into the pole ends, if they are slightly loose the pressure from working on the pole will actually cause them to bypass the inset and cutouts and the joints will spin inside of the pole parts. This causes the hex screws to become unavailable. If you can try to twist the poles around, sometimes you can and then get access to one set of screws…can you do that? If your main pole A is stuck to your main pole B, then you will have to remove the base and stuff a broom up in to the bottom of main pole A. Prop the broom stick on the floor ( don’t do this on tile or hard wood you will damage it so probably the garage is the best place) them bring the pole down hard onto the broom until you can push the joint out of the pole, then you can either try to pull it out of main pole B, first by loosening the end that was stuck in the main pole A and then try to pull, ( this will minimize any potential damage) or you can insert the broom into main pole B and do the same thing. This process may ruin the joint by pushing in the little "nipple" on the joint that is supposed to insert into the notch on the inside of the pole. You might have to replace the joint (i believe it’s like 15 bucks) also check the poles to make sure the cutouts are still serviceable. I had to replace both main pole A&B after this, but I still had another main pole B that survived the horror. Xpole is really good with customer service, this is not a new issue to them so they will be familiar with your issue. They will work with you to replace parts and sometimes will be able to send you discounted parts that may be gently used if you don’t mind. Hope this helps! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
I’m gonna friend you so you can tell me exactly what’s going on….oh and also so you can view the vid I posted about it.. -
I got the parts free. My husband banged it out with a hammer and a broomstick. I’m just worried now that once I actually start using it, the problem will occur again.
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Make sure that both ends of your X-joints are fully tightened, alternate as you tighten them (Tighten 1 until it stops, tighten the other, go back to the first one, etc)
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Make sure that both ends of your X-joints are fully tightened, alternate as you tighten them (Tighten 1 until it stops, tighten the other, go back to the first one, etc)
I received my xpert TG Monday 9/13, however, due to my husband’s & my work schedule, we can’t put it up till this Saturday https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif I’m nervous due to all I’ve regarding some issues with assembly, etc. When alternating tightening the x-joints, how do we know we should stop? I’m afraid we’ll be concerned about over-tightening and/or ruining it.
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Make sure that both ends of your X-joints are fully tightened, alternate as you tighten them (Tighten 1 until it stops, tighten the other, go back to the first one, etc)
I received my xpert TG Monday 9/13, however, due to my husband’s & my work schedule, we can’t put it up till this Saturday https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif I’m nervous due to all I’ve regarding some issues with assembly, etc. When alternating tightening the x-joints, how do we know we should stop? I’m afraid we’ll be concerned about over-tightening and/or ruining it.
Don’t worry, the screws will only turn so much. Here are some helpful hints:
1) loosen and tighten the joints many times before you put the pole together. (this will give you an idea of the joints limitations and the pressure necessary to expand inside of the pole.
2) when you assemble, make sure you alternate the expansion. little here little there little here etc until the joint is fully expanded into the pole evenly
3) insert the tool (short side) ALL the way into the screw before you begin to turn (this can be tricky because some screws are weird so push in hard and push in again to make sure the tool is seated first then turn)
4) once it is all together go back and double check each section to make sure it’s good.
5) Have fun this is the time of your life!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif -
PennyGirl broke it down really well.
As far as how much to tighten, here is my rule of thumb I tell my customers/students:
After you’ve played with loosening and tightening them before you put it together as PG says, once you insert the joint to both tubes I do it in this manner:
1. tighten hex key (I use one finger) pushing it lightly until it just stops…then do the other side.
2. Tighten slightly firm with a good grip …then do the other side
3. Crank it nice and tight until you just bow the hex key (but not permanently bend it)…then do the other side.The key is the back and forth, setting it up evening between both sides as much as making it really firmly tightened. I feel good about it if I get 3 twists on each side in the manner described above.
Using the same method PG described and my method of tightening, we haven’t had one get out of alignment in months. Just keep checking the holes to make sure they aren’t turning – once they do the longer you let it go the harder it is to get the joint out again.
We keep a piece of metal conduit/pipe around for this instead of the broomstick – due to the density it usually only takes one or two whacks to unstick the joint.
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BTW….for those of you who are concerned because of all the "problems" everyone is having…here are my thoughts.
First, a multi-piece pole is going to be a pain. There are few good ways to make one, so far, that doesn’t have it’s quirks. The old Xpoles, even with the holes to insert a release tool, got stuck all the time. You just dont’ hear much about it because many people didn’t take their poles down and didn’t realize they were stuck until they did.
Now everyone is more aware of it as you can SEE that the hole is out of alignment so you know there’s a problem.
As someone who takes my poles down a lot, I knew of the problems getting poles apart. Even students who brought poles in for help since we had the "super release" tools….sometimes we couldn’t get them unstuck at all.
PS poles still screw together and they have no release holes so they are also very bad to get apart. You need rubber wrenches which are not that helpful on a really stuck pole.
There are pros and cons to every pole when it comes to the multi-piece option. One advantage to the Xjoint is it’s more stable since that joint is so thick and you don’t have to take it down for cleaning and maintanance as you do the other threaded poles.
I’ve heard of several PS poles that have broken at the threaded connection (never heard of it with the original X but maybe someone had it happen too) but there is no way the joint is going to snap on you with an XJoint!
If you waht a pole with less problems, you need to get a one-piece pole.
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Turn the hex key until it stops- Then go to the other one until it stops. The first hex key should turn again when you go back to tighten it, repeat this until both hex keys will not turn anymore.
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Not sure if this will help but a previous student asked me to look at her x-pert and when I did she had faulty x-joints. I rang X-Pole and spoke to CJ and he just sent the new pieces out. I emailed him the problem, explained what I had tried and sent pics of the faulty pieces and we now have new pieces that are fine.
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My pole pieces have been rotating around my x-joints too. I viewed pennygirl’s video (http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4653" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) and I had been tightening my joints as much as possible, but when I took down the pole it turned out that the nubs that are supposed to lock the joints into the poles, have become flattened into the joints. I attached a photo of the flat nubs.
I have emailed XPole US about this, and I hope they are as helpful as they were with some of you other posters; over the last few months their customer service has been questionable over email (no responses) and telephone (attitude).
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