New XPole is moving slightly when in static position - help?!?

JeHanne started this discussion · 10/23/2012

I just posted a video of what is happening. I have an XPole Xpert 50mm Chrome and haven't seen this behavior before. I received a XPole Xpert 45mm TG pole today. I set it up and made sure the three screws hidden under the adjuster cover are not on threads and also that the two screws on the base plate centered over the printed 'X' are tight (for static mode). I can take my hands and still shift the pole back and forth slightly. XPole offices are closed right now... has anyone else seen this behavior? Thanks!

23 replies

kasanya · 10/23/2012
One of my friends bought an X-Pert 45mm chrome a couple months ago and hers does that too. Not sure how to fix it.
Webmaster · 10/23/2012
Generally it means your spin mode locking screws aren't alligned properly or not tightened all the way.
Pole gal · 10/23/2012
I had this problem with my 1st xpole, I had to take the screws out and put them back in again. try that and it should work. xx
JeHanne · 10/23/2012
Thank you all for your replies. I am perplexed... I removed the spin mode locking screws and put them back in and tightened as hard as I can (making sure they are aligned with the X on the base plate). Still shifts. It looks like that is where the issue is coming from since the entire body of the pole from that area up pivots. I've had my previous xpole for years and haven't seen this behavior before. I will call xpole to discuss but also wanted to post here to see what others have done. Open to any additional suggestions or feedback.
JeHanne · 10/23/2012
Maybe I've turned into a total wimp and am not strong enough to secure those screws... but I just put my chrome Xpole up Sunday and didn't have this happen. :(
Leanne Love · 10/23/2012
Mine does this too. I tried asking X-Pole about it but they never got back to me.. Although it was after I had just gotten the top adapter replaced once and an extension replaced twice, so maybe they didn't believe my next complaint lol! 😕
Leanne Love · 10/23/2012
Mine is also a 45mm TG X-Pert, JeHanne. I've tightened the screws too, just like you did. (I also suspect the hex keys I got with this pole are made of a cheaper/softer material than the ones that came with my 50mm chrome because the edges started to round off slightly after only a couple uses)
Pole gal · 10/23/2012
Is it th new xpole it th older screw version? I had th problem with the older version hav u tried tightening th whole pole as it may not b tight enough. xxx
Haley Bug · 10/23/2012
I have a 50mm X-pert and it does the same thing! It seems to come a little loose after I've been poling for a while. If I just tighten the screws enough it'll be fine, and then it'll start to shift a little bit. Let us know with an update if you hear from X-Pole! <33
JeHanne · 10/23/2012
That's interesting Annieloo, I posted a video of it too since a 'picture is worth a thousand words'. Yours does that too? It shouldn't. Pole gal, it is the new Xpole, I ordered it last week. I have tightened them as hard as I can and it still has that slight movement. Haley Bug, I can't tighten it enough to make it stop shifting, before I even start to pole. I've experienced what you mention on my 50mm and keep my hex keys out while poling to check it out every so often. I've been using a 50mm Xpole for two years and never had this happen so I felt comfortable with the setup. I still went through the manual to make sure I was following all steps. Thanks again for all the replies. I will follow up after I have a chance to talk to Xpole. Due to time zone/schedule differences, I might not get in touch with them tomorrow but I will be calling for sure and will update.
Leanne Love · 10/23/2012
Just saw your video, JeHanne. Looks like the same thing mine does except yours seems to move a lot more than mine.
Pole gal · 10/24/2012
Have u tried tightening the whole pole not just the hex keys huni. Xxx
Tali Kat · 10/24/2012
I have a new 40mm chrome xpert (bought in about Feb this year) and it does this too. I've tightened everything I can, and made sure its all aligned, but no matter what it always happens. After I've tightened everything, when I try and move it, it usually stays relatively still, but as soon as I do a spin or anything, it goes back to doing that. Someone on this forum suggested I tighten the 2 hex screws that you aren't meant to tighten. It's too hard to explain which ones I mean so if you check out this youtube video and jump to about 6:42, you'll see the scene where she is pointing at them, and a message saying 'Do Not Touch these screws' will flash up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m04WT3y5w7Q I went to try and tighten those screws, but they are a different size to all the other hex screws on the pole, so both the hex keys you're given are too big to fit into them anyway (I'm guessing xpole did this so there is no way you can mess with them). So this was really a long winded way of saying that maybe these screws would fix the problem if you could tighten them, but I've never been able to tighten them. I've been using my pole all year and I'm now use to this swivelling, I don't even really notice it anymore. It doesn't appear to be damaging the pole so I just ignore it :D
Pole gal · 10/24/2012
I had to keep turnin my pole to really Fightin it before I tightened the hex screw at the bottom and that seemed to wrk for me. xx
Dwiizie · 10/24/2012
Mine did this. Turns out the two vertical screws under the cover weren't tightened all the way, allowing the whole thread and pole to wiggle. They say to talk to Xpole before ever touching those screws, so I got their ok before fiddling with it. Have you tried just taking the whole pole down and apart and putting it back together? Doing those two things fixed the issue for mine. Also, I know everyone has tightened their spin modes down, just make sure you tighten one side, then the other, then go back and retighten, just like you would with the joints. Good luck!
ShonaLancs · 10/24/2012
I had the same thing and just adjusted the two screws under the cover. I didnt know you weren't supposed to...why's that then?
Debss · 10/24/2012
The two screws under the cover are responsible for the tensioning of the adjustor rod I think. I had the same problem and Xpole told me to tighten those two screws and then reassemble the pole and it worked. Tali Kat was right, the hex keys supplied with the pole won't fit, you'll need a 3mm hex key! I'm assuming the pole is already correctly tensioned though, I wouldn't over-tighten it because that may cause ceiling damage and may cause your pole to bow.
Dwiizie · 10/24/2012
Yeah, those two screws, on my pole, were actually loose enough that they had popped out of the groove and they were on the threading. I guess it was shipped that way. But they told me to loosen them, twist the thread into the base as far as it would go, retighten them on the flat spot, and then reassemble the pole, and then twisting with the 3 screws undone to actually tension the pole between floor and ceiling. It seems like a pretty critical element, and they probably don't want people attempting to adjust the pole from there.
JeHanne · 10/24/2012
Thank you all for your feedback and suggestions! I'm going to pick up a tool that will fit those screws and adjust it. Hoping that is all it is to get it secure and ready to rock!
JeHanne · 10/25/2012
Posting this in case it helps someone in the future... thanks again all for your replies. Sure enough this was the two small vertical hex screws. On my older Xpole the tools that come with the Xpole can adjust it. Maybe they made it smaller so people wouldn't mess with it. Mine out of the box was too loose. Tightened those two little vertical hex screws and all is well. No more shifting. Now I'm ready to get my pole on!
Dwiizie · 10/25/2012
Woohoo!
JeHanne · 10/25/2012
Thanks D Luxx for sharing all that detail also. This can definitely help others that receive their poles with those two screws loose. :)
Dancing Paws · 4/3/2013
I just did a video in troubleshooting this issue. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76cGb1kLK4o