modifying stock legend xtreme

[shlew]

XC68MXF. Love the action. Love the blank. Love the styling. BUT can't get used to the handle design. Every time I cast it feels like the whole rod will come flying out of my hands. Feel the cork behind the reel seat is either too rounded or too short. When you position your hand to engage the thumb bar, the base of your hand reaches the blank, and that combined with the rounded handle just feels like it doesn't offer much grip. Is it possible to remove the cork alone and replacing it? Or maybe putting grip wraps would help. Are wraps really thick? Will they increase the diamete of the grip too much?

[RGMatt]

option 1, I'd try the flocked heat shrink rubber tubing first. If you don't like it you can cut it off easily and move on to the next option.

option 2, I'd use EVA. You'll have to remove the butt and rear grips, remove the excess epoxy, and lightly sand smooth. EVA will stretch. Ream the eva slightly smaller than the blank dia. and slide the eva up from the butt to the reel seat. It will give you a tight fit, i've even not glued one I did like this and never had a problem. May have to lube the blank (if you glue it the epoxy works as lube too).

option 3, if your set on cork you'll need to ream the new cork grips to the largest blank diameter. It will be alittle sloppy at the reel seat so you may need mesh drywall tape as arbors to get a tight fit. Also will most likely need thread wraps at the ends of the grips to make the ends tight.......OR build the whole rear grip assembly on a carbon fiber tube and slide the whole thing from the butt up. Again you'll need mesh tape as arbors for the carbon fiber tubing. This way you'll be able to use winding checks if you want.

Similar to this but I wouldn't buy the kit:
http://www.mudhole.com/Shop-Our-Catalog ... e-System-1

option 4, sell it and put the money towards a custom built on that blank w/ grips and components you like.
BTW I have the LEC68MXF and have considered this myself. Love the blank, not so crazy about the ACS reel seat.

hope this helps

Matt

[shlew]

Thanks RGMatt. Will try the option 1 first.

I actually am fine with ACS. It's just the shape and size of the cork behind the reel seat that is really bothersome. It's like they didn't measure where someone's hand would be positioned during the cast. Maybe it's just me. But really feels like a design flaw. I really want to try the new xc 610mhxf. But now it's clear I'll have to have one custom built because of the handle.

[Mattman]

X2 on the shrink tube. Its quick, easy, cheap, and easily reversible if you don't like the results.

You could even buy an EVA grip, and with some handwork, make a small section that would effectively lengthen your grip. Slice it down the length and them put it on the rod. Install the shrink tube over it and the existing grip.

The wraps aren't overy thick. But you can put multiple layers if you want until you find the thickness you like.

Replacing the grip takes some talent. At least to do a good job of it.

If your warranty is important to you, you need to be careful how much you modify your rods. You can negate your warranty with too much work. St. Croix is pretty good about that. For instance, if you broke your rod half way up the blank and had a bunch of handle modifications, they'd most likely still honor the warranty. Some companies won't.

[jimmyb]

go with option 4 if option 1 doesn't work. you we almost always better off starting with a clean pallet than to do handle work on a factory rod with warranty!

[fshn4lmt]

One more option to consider here.A custom builder could ct the cork off before the taper of the handle,ream new cork rings to the taper of the blank,and the new rings would have to be "Halved" and epoxied extending your factory handle to the length you prefer.This sounds like alot of work,but its not too bad.If the rings are cable tied while epoxied and in a rod clamp,you will never even see the seems once it has been turned down on a lathe.Just a thought.

[shlew]

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I may try the flocked shrink tubes with reamed out eva idea.