RE: Shepard s Pole fixed

[slowpez]

 
The U-shaped plastic bit at the end of the shepard s pole snapped off.  The board suggested we go to our local dealer for a replacement part.  There was some confusion by board members as to how to put the replacement piece on so I thought I would tell you how the dealer said to do it for our model.  Saw the old piece off (this means sawing about 1/2"  off the pole itself.  Pop the new bit in and use a screwdriver and hammer to make dents around the pole so that it holds the new piece in place.  There are grooves in the replacement piece that will accept the dents you have to make in the pole.  Now, why didn t Coleman just make the whole thing threaded so that you could just screw in?  Too simple.  Maybe the  03 s are made that way.  I forsee the shepard s pole getting shorter and shorter each time you have to replace that piece although I m sure some PVC threaded bits could be adapted to fit on the end of the pole to make it possible to screw it in.  Hope this helps someone.

[Turn Key]

 slowpez
Odd???  On ours, that part is held in place with a small, self-tapping screw let in the side of the tube and threaded into the plastic part.  I know this to be so because one of ours broke and I had to put a replacement on.

[slowpez]

 slowpez
Turnkey, do you think they changed the design after  99?  Your set up makes a heck of a lot more sense than the way ours is put together.  The end that slips into the ceiling is attached with what looks like a self-tapping screw or some such animal.  Really didn t look at that end so I m not sure.

[Turn Key]

 slowpez
Ah hah!  I thought the piece that you described as broken was the piece that hooks to the roof.  It looks like they changed the piece at the OTHER end and I didin t know about it.  Mine is not " U"  shaped.  It s just a plastic tip about 1/4"  X 1"  long that mates into a matching hole on the tubular tent support.
 Crimping either of those parts on seems like a silly way to do it.  I would have used a screw at both ends.  Can t think of a good reason you couldn t put your new piece on with a screw of the same type that holds the piece on the other end.  That way, if it breaks again, you won t have to cut the tube even shorter.