Does anyone here have any experience with the older Tiger pool cues, with Piloted 5/16x14 joint?

V

vintagecollectibles831

Well-known member
I recently purchased this old used Tiger pool cue, with a Piloted 5/16x14 joint.

Can anyone here tell me if it is completely normal, that the last 2 to 3 turns are extremely tight?

And, when I say extremely tight, I mean, even far tighter then you would feel, while screwing together a Mezz pool cue, with its United Joint.

It is seemingly as if the pilot is just a hair wider then it show be, it is so freaking tight, when tightening it, during those last 2 to 3 turns.

Is this completely normal, and if so, is there anything that can be done, to make connecting the cue any easier?

I tried putting some cue wax on the joint pin, but that did not help at all, other then it screwing on very smooth, until getting to the very bottom, where the Pilot really starts connecting with the the joint, if that makes sense.

Recently sold the cue on ebay, and the buyer claims that the cue has a bad wobble, and I believe it is because the cue was not tightened all the way, which would really throw off the roll, and make it look like the cue has a horrible wobble. The cue is very straight, overall, other then a hair of roll out up near the joint in the butt. When connected tight though (which is not easy to get tight), the cue looks very good, when rolled on a pool table. Just very slight movement toward the middle, with the tip remaining completely flat. When I say very slight, I mean, probably less then the thickness of a credit card.

Anyways, he is returning the cue back to me, after filing a dispute, and I will have to refund him. I tried my best to make it clear that those last 2 to 3 turns were extremely tight though, but I get the feeling that he did not have the cue fully tightened, before he did his straightness test. I do not think that he even tested it on a pool table though, because he told me that he used his set of Rollers, with the full cue spinning on them. The very slight warp in the butt might have thrown off the spin really bad on the rollers though, when testing with the cue connected, but I do not know.

The dispute was completely unfair too, because I posted a good video, showing how the cue rolls, on a pool table, and the video clearly showed that there was no wobble, in any part of the roll of the cue. Just a very slight roll out towards the middle, which is so slight, that I would not consider it a wobble. Just a very slight roll out, which the video showed, and I mentioned in my listing. I had to cover the shipping both ways too, even though I posted No Refunds on my listing. That is pointless though, I guess.

It is just so freaking hard to completely tighten the cue though. Those last 2 to 3 turns are extremely tight.

Thanks a lot for any thoughts.
 

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when you sold the cue did you tell him about the handle wobble and that you have to tighten all the way down and its extremely difficult to do before you sold it.
that part is on you.

you need to have the threads deep inside looked at because they may have been damaged before you even got it. or the inside tapers some and needs to be opened more.
might be an easy fix.
 
maha said:
when you sold the cue did you tell him about the handle wobble and that you have to tighten all the way down and its extremely difficult to do before you sold it.
that part is on you.

you need to have the threads deep inside looked at because they may have been damaged before you even got it. or the inside tapers some and needs to be opened more.
might be an easy fix.
Click to expand...
When I get a minute I'll go look for the ad.

I am with you. My first question is "what did the seller reveal"?

From the post, there is something wrong with the cue. It's not the brand/style/ model.

As with most important things I consulted The Crazy Redhead. She said: If it don't fit don't force it.

Wise.

I did not ask how she knows.

Do not ask questions you really don't want answers for.....
 
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When connected tight though (which is not easy to get tight), the cue looks very good, when rolled on a pool table. Just very slight movement toward the middle, with the tip remaining completely flat. When I say very slight, I mean, probably less then the thickness of a credit card.

Anyways, he is returning the cue back to me, after filing a dispute, and I will have to refund him. I tried my best to make it clear that those last 2 to 3 turns were extremely tight though, but I get the feeling that he did not have the cue fully tightened, before he did his straightness test. I do not think that he even tested it on a pool table though, because he told me that he used his set of Rollers, with the full cue spinning on them. The very slight warp in the butt might have thrown off the spin really bad on the rollers though, when testing with the cue connected, but I do not know.
Click to expand...

I don't see that clearly in the sale. I see some attempt at excuses. "tried my best to make it clear" is not accurate.

IMHO this isn't about the make, model, or construction of the cue. It is about the sale. The ad does not match the post.

To answer the question:
It is not "normal", there is something wrong with the cue as far as what I am reading.
Maybe minor, maybe not. Could need threads cleaned, pin could be bent, and other possibilities.
 
maha said:
when you sold the cue did you tell him about the handle wobble and that you have to tighten all the way down and its extremely difficult to do before you sold it.
that part is on you.

you need to have the threads deep inside looked at because they may have been damaged before you even got it. or the inside tapers some and needs to be opened more.
might be an easy fix.
Click to expand...

Well, I do not consider less then the thickness of a credit card to be a wobble, but no, I did not say anything about that. I should have stated that there is a hair of movement (roll out) up near the joint of the pool cue butt. I get the feeling that that is not even why he returned it though. I wonder if he even had the cue connected completely tight.

He also did not even roll the cue on a pool table. He just used the Pocket Lathe rollers, to roll the entire cue, when connected.

I did note in my ad about the cue being super tight, during the last 2 to 3 turns, and I also communicated with him about that through messenger.

For whatever it is worth, I only showed a good close up video of the cue rolling on a pool table, and showed every part of the roll, through the entire cue. The video only showed a very slight amount of roll out in the taper area of the shaft.

Even with the cue being completely tight, and connected, I imagine spinning the full cue on those rollers would make it appear to be very bad. It looks very good, overall, when rolled on a pool table though.

Lesson learned. Be completely honest in the future, no matter how slight an issue is.

I did state that there is some very slight movement towards the middle, when rolling the cue. Overall, the cue looks pretty straight though, in my opinion. Both together, and apart.

I just figured that most buyers would not notice such a slight issue, with very slight movement up near the joint, of probably less then the thickness of a credit card. I have seen the very same, very slight issue, on almost every Schon cue that I ever had.
 
cue4me said:
Did you ever try a different 5/16-14 shaft to see how it threads onto the butt?
Click to expand...

I did not, but I imagine that a Joss shaft, for example, would fit just fine, due to it very tiny little Pilot. I just do not know any people. If I were in a league, for example, then I probably could have tried a different shaft on the butt. I should take it to a league night, and ask around.
 
well for all, its super important to make clear any thing when you sell that may make the buyer turned off with the sale.

i think the seller tried but wasn't clear enough and most buyers would not be happy with how tough to put the shaft on.

and the thickness of a cc is enough to worry most buyers. it would me.

any normal buyer and that is how you have to explain it to. would think he could screw it together and play pool.
and any tiny or small roll off would hardly be seen.

get it back and fix it.

good luck on the next sale of it. i bet then it goes through. nice stick.
 
Lesson: Figure it out before the sale.

Lesson: If there is a problem with the cue say so outright. Don't diminish the problem to pump up the price or make the sale.

There are plenty enough fraudsters in the pool and cue world. Do everything thou can to be straight and not get labeled as one of them.

Personally, every cue I own is bent, wobbles, is frankly warped and otherwise crooked. They are all about as straight as a Hollywood hairdresser. If I'm selling you the cue and you have a lathe and a laser that's going to be true.

Well, except my Joss. That's laser straight...most of the time...
 
Chopdoc said:
Lesson: Figure it out before the sale.

Lesson: If there is a problem with the cue say so outright. Don't diminish the problem to pump up the price or make the sale.

There are plenty enough fraudsters in the pool and cue world. Do everything thou can to be straight and not get labeled as one of them.

Personally, every cue I own is bent, wobbles, is frankly warped and otherwise crooked. They are all about as straight as a Hollywood hairdresser. If I'm selling you the cue and you have a lathe and a laser that's going to be true.

Well, except my Joss. That's laser straight...most of the time...
Click to expand...
I'd say keeping a good rep is more important than arguing over an issue like this.
Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet, but it pays in the long run. For myself, I want anyone I sell a cue to to be happy with the purchase. If not, I'll know why and fix it. Whatever it takes. Their satisfaction is more important to me than any profit I'll make.
 
I learned a lot about selling cues on this forum. I joined in 2003 when I was a 24 year old kid. I remember selling a cue to an experienced cue collector/esteemed member here very early on and gave him a half-a$$ description of the cue (not NEARLY descriptive enough) I was selling. He called and gave me holy heck when he received that cue, partially because he thought I was trying to scam him. He'd been through the ringer before. I immediately apologized, sent him a full refund, and saw the error of my way. Don't be lazy. Be thorough, and ensure nothing could be confused for being dishonest!
 
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vintagecollectibles831 said:
I recently purchased this old used Tiger pool cue, with a Piloted 5/16x14 joint.

Can anyone here tell me if it is completely normal, that the last 2 to 3 turns are extremely tight?

And, when I say extremely tight, I mean, even far tighter then you would feel, while screwing together a Mezz pool cue, with its United Joint.

It is seemingly as if the pilot is just a hair wider then it show be, it is so freaking tight, when tightening it, during those last 2 to 3 turns.

Is this completely normal, and if so, is there anything that can be done, to make connecting the cue any easier?

I tried putting some cue wax on the joint pin, but that did not help at all, other then it screwing on very smooth, until getting to the very bottom, where the Pilot really starts connecting with the the joint, if that makes sense.

Recently sold the cue on ebay, and the buyer claims that the cue has a bad wobble, and I believe it is because the cue was not tightened all the way, which would really throw off the roll, and make it look like the cue has a horrible wobble. The cue is very straight, overall, other then a hair of roll out up near the joint in the butt. When connected tight though (which is not easy to get tight), the cue looks very good, when rolled on a pool table. Just very slight movement toward the middle, with the tip remaining completely flat. When I say very slight, I mean, probably less then the thickness of a credit card.

Anyways, he is returning the cue back to me, after filing a dispute, and I will have to refund him. I tried my best to make it clear that those last 2 to 3 turns were extremely tight though, but I get the feeling that he did not have the cue fully tightened, before he did his straightness test. I do not think that he even tested it on a pool table though, because he told me that he used his set of Rollers, with the full cue spinning on them. The very slight warp in the butt might have thrown off the spin really bad on the rollers though, when testing with the cue connected, but I do not know.

The dispute was completely unfair too, because I posted a good video, showing how the cue rolls, on a pool table, and the video clearly showed that there was no wobble, in any part of the roll of the cue. Just a very slight roll out towards the middle, which is so slight, that I would not consider it a wobble. Just a very slight roll out, which the video showed, and I mentioned in my listing. I had to cover the shipping both ways too, even though I posted No Refunds on my listing. That is pointless though, I guess.

It is just so freaking hard to completely tighten the cue though. Those last 2 to 3 turns are extremely tight.

Thanks a lot for any thoughts.
Click to expand...
If they pin gets tight the last 2 or 3 turns something is wrong that should be fixed, especially if it is so tight that you can barely get the joint tight. I have never seen a Schon get tight "the last couple of turns" and I am in Schon territory so I see a lot of them, they are basically in my back yard along with McDermott and Jacoby. Sometimes a non metallic shaft insert can be snug but it is nothing more than friction that is consistent the entire length of the pin. If the shaft pilot was interfering with the butt joint you would probably see a shinty spot on the pilot, they are usually brass and somewhat tarnished.
 
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