TIp-up equipment failure

[doublehaul]

I made a risky choice prior to ice season this year and purchased 5 tip-ups from a company I had not used before. I have always fished with HT polars and haven't ever had any problems.

The new ones are Berkley-polar style tip-ups. I tried them out today in zero degree weather (15 MPH wind) and all of the spools froze solid. They wouldn't turn at all. NOTHING TICKS ME OFF MORE THAN BUYING A PRODUCT DESIGNED TO ICEFISH THAT FAILS WHEN PUT TO THE TEST!!!!!!!!  I've never been so mad at myself for buying these-I often fish in extreme conditions and I absolutely can't have my equipment fail. I went through all the work of setting the tip-ups and when I pulled them at the end of the day I had 3 large baits stolen and no flags tripped.

The obvious solution would be to just take them back to BPS, but I live 4.5 hours away from the store. Is there a no freeze grease product that can put in the bushings?  Can you open the tip-up shaft and do that? Would this solve the problem?  I need some advice here.

[bohman77]

You should try the sub zero lube from Frabril. I think its from Frabril, oh well it is really good stuff, I replaced the grease in my reels with it. Also try reel and line magic. That stuff works pretty good also.

[michianafisherman]

What froze? The shaft wouldn't turn? I also fish extreme weather but never had one freeze. I have read about other guys repacking the shaft with grease, but I have never messed with mine and I have one that is over ten years old. I have had the line freeze because I used it one day, then the next I went back out and because the line was wet it was froze to the spools. I take them inside with me when I am done fishing to thaw them out.

[doublehaul]

The line was not frozen to the spool. The actual shaft was frozen solid. after about 30 minutes in the house, they freed up  and turned just like they did in the store.

[walleyeboater]

Mail them back to BPS. Get a credit an buy something else.

[thefinlessbrown2]

throw them in the trash or save them for fair weather trapd .and call it a lesson learned !!!!

[doublehaul]

I just took them apart. I will clean the shaft and should have some berkley -40 reel grease in the mail in 3-6 working days. That should take care of the problem.  Thanks for the replies. If that doesn't work I think I'm prolly SOL.

[WYIfish]

Trade me for a new jiffy auger that's returned? Just kidding.  
I always bring in my tip ups over night so they dry out good after use, it helps some.  

On the polar type tip ups, always make sure the flag is perpendicular/the reel is down in the water enough to keep it warmed by the water.  The top inch of water is a little chilled more than say, 4" down. Sounds like thicker grease but I have minor issues with everything when it gets colder than 10 degrees, or the wind chill goes further than -10's.  

You might try running a little hot water  or a hair dryer over the shaft as it may be over packed with grease, or call the factory, all probability, yours are not the first. Might be they just need used a lot. My most well used tip ups are the oldest and are 40 years old, they still work just fine.
  
Factory techs may offer insight~or not. Are they in China?

Good luck.

[JimB]

If that don't work , just put them aside till you go back to bps.I bought boots and did not like the way they felt after an hour,so I put them back in the box and brough them back 2 months later.No problem with a recite.

[doublehaul]

Trade me for a new jiffy auger that's returned? Just kidding.  
I always bring in my tip ups over night so they dry out good after use, it helps some.  

On the polar type tip ups, always make sure the flag is perpendicular/the reel is down in the water enough to keep it warmed by the water.  The top inch of water is a little chilled more than say, 4" down. Sounds like thicker grease but I have minor issues with everything when it gets colder than 10 degrees, or the wind chill goes further than -10's.  

You might try running a little hot water  or a hair dryer over the shaft as it may be over packed with grease, or call the factory, all probability, yours are not the first. Might be they just need used a lot. My most well used tip ups are the oldest and are 40 years old, they still work just fine.
  
Factory techs may offer insight~or not. Are they in China?

Good luck.

Thanks for the response WYIFISH, I appreciate the feedback. I openned one of them up this morning and figured out why they froze up. There is absolutely no lube inside the shaft, nothing. I see why they were $4 less than the HT polars. The difference is craftsmanship. They had to scotch somewhere to make up that 4 bucks right?

[Wiener]

Maybe the Chinese kid that put them together forgot to lube the parts?
I tell ya, you pay a kid $1 per week, and they don't even have the professionalism to do a good job.

 

Next time, buy Beaver Dams.


Wiener

[doublehaul]

Maybe the Chinese kid that put them together forgot to lube the parts?
I tell ya, you pay a kid $1 per week, and they don't even have the professionalism to do a good job.

 

Next time, buy Beaver Dams.


Wiener

I will watch ebay this summer  They are a little out of my price range for this year

[icefishing J]

If the berkley does't work,Conoco, makes a gease called Syncon, Premium qualty arctic grease, I use it in my lock out hub, and thay seem to trun free when it way cold,  good luck.

[Cthulhu]

I just got one of the "Frabill Arctic Fire tip ups", it comes with "Sub Zero low temp lubricant" encased in the shaft itself. One downside is you can't adjust the height of the spool with a tip up like this as far as I know but I bet it would work pretty well in arctic climate. The shaft is basically sealed within grease/lubricant, and you can take it out for easy re-lubing/greasing. Was a little more expensive than the HT polar ones at the local store ($3-$4), but I'd say in extreme cold, it's probably worth it.

[bruce21m]

Buy jack traps if you wont something that works great in nasty weather. I love mine and i live in maine and we get the nice weather as well. I only wish it would stay longer then 5 days right now. But we are looking at two weeks with teens for the high all week. Cant wait.

[indeeptreble]

I use snowmobile grease and they work fine in -35C weather any colder and I freeze

[Oldfart]

Talk to BPS about a return for refund. If ya can't drive it, ship it! You loose 6 bucks shipping it back but save 30 bucks in gas.........

[topher7694]

I just got one of the "Frabill Arctic Fire tip ups", it comes with "Sub Zero low temp lubricant" encased in the shaft itself. One downside is you can't adjust the height of the spool with a tip up like this as far as I know but I bet it would work pretty well in arctic climate. The shaft is basically sealed within grease/lubricant, and you can take it out for easy re-lubing/greasing. Was a little more expensive than the HT polar ones at the local store ($3-$4), but I'd say in extreme cold, it's probably worth it.

I have a couple of the arctic fire tip ups and they work splendidly all the way down to 15 below...gonna pick up a couple more so I have a set of 5 to use

[WYIfish]

I will watch ebay this summer  They are a little out of my price range for this year

Or, watch the old timers, and the obits.  After the old fart dies, see da widow and snag up the traps fast!