Tip Top Repair - Easy To Do!

Have you ever had a fishing rod tip-top lose its insert? Have you ever had one chip and start fraying line?

It's important to keep gear in top condition so it doesn't impact us when we have that check winning fish on! Good news and bad news - you can't repair a broken tip-top, but you can replace one. Installing a new tip is usually very easy and something you can do yourself. 

Why do tips break?

Most fishing rod tip tops have a ceramic insert in them to protect your line while it flows through the metal frame. This ceramic is durable, but does see a lot of wear and abuse - lures reeled into it, banged going into rod lockers, jammed into ceilings, etc. It's rare that we see ceramics chip or fall out on their own - it's usually some type of damage. 

What Do I Need To Replace a Tip?

First, you need to get a replacement tip. Rod tips have different sized tubes and rings, so it's important to get the right combination. To make it easy, all ALX Rods use the same size ring - so no worry there. We supply a chart here so you can find the correct size for the model rod that needs a repair. Not an ALX Rod? No problem. Our tip-top tubes are measured in millimeters (the "ID" or internal diameter). Use a measuring gauge to determine the OD or outside diameter of your rod tip, and match that to the same ID of our tip-top tubes. Not an exact match? Go to the next closest size larger tip-top tube. It will fit and the glue will take up any space. 

After you have the tip, you just need a heat source and some type of soft scraping tool (like a credit card or fingernail). Follow the directions below for easy installation. 

Replacement Top Instructions For ALX Rods

Removing the Old Tip & Prep

1. Gently heat the tube portion of the old tip-top with an indirect heat source. DO NOT apply a flame/torch directly to the top!
2. Heat evenly around the tube.
3. Once the top is warm enough, it will slide off the rod tip. 
4. Clean the rod tip, removing any old glue. You can do this by scraping it with a fingernail, credit card, or light 220 grit sandpaper. Do not use any blades or sharp objects to scrape the blank. 

Installing the New Tip

1. Slide the new tip on to ensure it fits. Remove it. 
2. Hold the new tip vertical with the tube opening at the top and slide the supplied adhesive stick into the tube. 
3. Apply heat to the side of the new tip-top tube. When the tube is warm enough, the adhesive will melt and drain into the tip-top. 
4. immediately slide the tip-top onto the rod and align with the guides. 
5. In the event the tip is not straight, you can reheat and straighten. 
6. Let cool for 5 minutes and go fish!

If you have any questions, we're always here to help you through the process. Give us a call at 866-628-5052 x 2 and we'll have a qualified tip installer walk you through the process!