Otter Assembly

[Yukon Don]

I know this was posted before, but I could not find the post in the search site. I purchased an Otter Mag. Lodge and have found the poles do not slide very well. Any ideas to get them to slide better? Anyone have the same portable and have the same problem? I tried WD-40 but they still bind. I'm in the initial installation phase and don't want to go any further for fear of having to take it all apart again. This is the square tubing model.

Any help would be appreciated, Yukon Don

[hanson]

Yukon Dan-

I believe silicone spray has been recommended in the past. WD-40 isn't really a good choice for this.

I just put my Otter Lodge together a few weeks ago and I have 1 pole that binds a little bit. After using it a number of times, I've noticed the poles have been sliding smoother.

[Guest]

This year my poles were not sliding very good. I took steel wool and wiped them down,then used thinner and a rag to remove any fines from steel wool,then spray on silicone and boy do they slide nice,almost better than when new.

[Surface Tension]

The above suggestions are good. I'll add before you insert the poles take any burrs of the female pole with a small file. Mine was a little stiff the first few times but loosened up and slides nice now.

[Dennis Steele]

I had a new Otter last year and didn't have any problems with the poles sliding at all. I did use a little WD-40.

This year I got a new one. When I put it together,even with a little WD-40 one of the poles binded a little. Beofre going any further I did what others have suggested. I took a little sand paper and lightly sanded both the female and male ends of the poles. Slick as snot now!

[Yukon Don]

Thanks guys for your help. My pole is actually bent right where the lock pin sticks out so it binds a lot. In fact you can't shove it in all the way. I tried a file, steele wool, silicone. I called Otter and they will ship out a new one free of charge. Great service for a great product. I've got an older Otter that I've had for close to ten years. No problems! I would recommend their product any day. Again thanks for all the help on this forum. Yukon Don

[kslipsinker]

The new Otters have a plastic "glide" the inserts into the end of the smaller size tube. I assembled a lot of them last year and this year at the store I work at. The ones with the new glide work much better.

[Dave]

Even with the older round pole Otters, they've used the plastic insert for better glide.

[Dan Wood]

I didn't think my otter last year had the plastic inserts?? Maybe it did I don't remember... All I know is I had to do more dremel work this year to make things nice and smooth... I think it is a good idea to smooth out the rough edges - it does make a pretty big difference.. I use silicon spray to lubricate - seems to work fine.

[ChuckN]

The plastic inserts must be new this year, cause I didn't see them last year or year before... Slick idea, and works well!

[Northlander]

I used some car wax on my poles and that seemed to do the trick so far.

[Otterskin]

The problem lies in the aluminium poles...when they get cold they get sticky and they burr up much more than steel. Steel is the way to go...never have problems with my Otter Skin