How to Remove a Gimbal?

[jec6446]

On my last visit to California, one of my grandma's friends gave me all of his rods and reels because he said his body was too old to fight fish anymore. The rods are mostly Seekers and Calstars. Some of the heavier ones have seen better days and look like they've battled a lot fish. I wanted to rewrap them and bring them back to better shape.

My question is, what is the process in removing a gimbal from the blank? Ive read that removing a gimbal from a graphite rod weakens the blank around that area and it can break. Is this true?


Thanks for the help,
Jeff

[BakerStBobby2]

I heat up the metal gimbals with a torch and use vise grips to remove them. I've only had one that was put on so well that I ruined the 2" of the butt of the rod where the gimbal was. (happened to be a gimbal I installed....lol).
Bobby~

[chuck merkel]

If the heat doesn't work or you don't want to risk it, use a cutting wheel on a dremel tool to make two cuts in to the gimble 180 degrees opposed along the axis of the rod blank. Then use a screwdriver to remove the gimble. I have also used this technique to remove real seats.

[BakerStBobby2]

Originally Posted by chuck merkel

If the heat doesn't work or you don't want to risk it, use a cutting wheel on a dremel tool to make two cuts in to the gimble 180 degrees opposed along the axis of the rod blank. Then use a screwdriver to remove the gimble. I have also used this technique to remove real seats.

The only problem I see is you might (probably will) cut the rear grip with the cutting wheel on the dremel tool. That was my problem, anyways...
Bobby~

[Capt. G]

I just removed an aluminum gimble from a rod recently.
I submerged the gimble in boiling water (I used a a hot pot the thing that makes boiling water) for about 3 minutes. The glue gets softened from the 100 degree Celsius water, but the parts/blank does not get damaged. It did not come off all the way, so I soaked it for another minute, and off came the gimble.

This method will not work for all types of glues, but it is worth a try before getting out the torch or dremel tool.