Replacing plastic tips on Clams

[syd2nd]

I need to know how to replace a plastic quick connect tip on the end of a spreader pole for a Clam fishhouse. Do I drill the old one out? If so, what keeps the new one from sliding out. Thanks for any help.

[maj330]

The clips are usually shoved into the ends of the poles and then the end of the pole is slightly crimped with some tool. I looks like they just took a nail and gave it a tap on either side of the pole to make two little nail size dents. I was able to get the original quick connects out of my pole ends by holding the plastic part in a vice and pulling and twisting on the pole. I put the new quick connects in essentially the same way but they are a tight fit. I found the best method was to grab the whole pole section with the quick connect slightly inserted in a long wood clamp and slowly pressing it into the pole end. I'm sure an arbor press would do a similar job. Need to make sure that the pole end is mostly round when trying to insert the new connector and a couple of small tweaks with a pliers helped.

[Iceseeker]

Take a wood dowel a few inches longer than the pole and insert it into the open end of the pole. Tap the dowel on a hard floor and the insert will come out. As far as inserting the new one I found a piece of conduit to snap the insert onto and then held this in a vice. Next I guided the insert into the pole being repaired.

Thumper

[kslipsinker]

Dent the tube after you press in the insert. I used a nail punch on opposite sides of the tube. Try to hit the plastic part that makes contact with the inside of the tube. It will hold better.