Predator shaft question

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KBacon

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I used to play a lot of pool back in the mid-late 90s & had a love for McDermott cues.. My favorite had the shaft turned down to 11.x something... and during a draw shot I broke the shaft stock shaft...

approx 1999 I was in a local Indy cue shop & picked up a predator 314 shaft... and pretty much gave up pool shortly after... with the occasional game here & there.. other than that is has been sitting in the closet.

Fast-forward to 2016... and I recently got invited to play in a APA league w/ a coworker... and got the old stick out... and start shooting w/ the McDermott w/ the predator shaft... and soon realize that I need a new tip.. and have a local guy install a ultraskin.. and after installing.. he points out that a few of the shaft sections are starting to separate inside the joint collar...

I contacted predator... and they had me send in the shaft for inspection. Just got an email that they have 2 options... I can get a new 314-3 shaft at a discount... or they can bore out the joint & install a phenolic joint & tap it for the 3/8 x 10 pin for $50... But they could not guarantee the fix would be permanent.. depending on the severity of the separation/cracks

I am a little upset that this shaft is supposed to have a lifetime warranty... but I no longer have the receipt... so the warranty is no longer valid... But it is what it is...

Just wondered which route you all would recommend w/ your experience... as I have not shot w/ any of the newer shafts... and don't know if I could really tell any differences since I have been out of it for so long???

Currently playing w/ an old Meucci w/ a standard maple shaft... and doing OK w/ it...
 
New 3rd G shafts are $275 from Syberts, new 2nd G are $200.

If you can get the 3G for $200 or under maybe you should take it.

$50 to fix joint does not sound bad, a tip new tip installed can cost $40
 
Poolhall60561 said:
New 3rd G shafts are $275 from Syberts, new 2nd G are $200.

If you can get the 3G for $200 or under maybe you should take it.

$50 to fix joint does not sound bad, a tip new tip installed can cost $40
Click to expand...

Yeah... I assume is prolly dealer cost on the new shaft...

Is the repaired shaft or the new shaft going to play "better" or is it just personal preference???
 
If you're playing well with the Meucci, why not stick with that for now and check out what else is out there? Either that or get in touch with that shop you bought it from on the off chance they kept records and/or remember you and can print out a duplicate receipt. Who knows?

That is, unless you just love that Predator shaft and can't live without it.
 
I would buy the new shaft at a discount. Have them fix the other one for 50. Dollars or have them send the old shaft back to u. Amd have a local cue builder fix old shaft and play with both of them.
 
mrkdenton said:
I would buy the new shaft at a discount. Have them fix the other one for 50. Dollars or have them send the old shaft back to u. Amd have a local cue builder fix old shaft and play with both of them.
Click to expand...

It's either or... if I take the discount... they keep the old shaft...

And I did like the way the predator played... I have had to adapt to the meucci...
 
I would definitely not keep the old shaft if they cannot guarantee it. Getting a new 314-3 at about dealer cost is the way to go. If you have a billiard retailer near you you might want to try out an ob1+ and the 314-3 and see if you like one better than the other and if you like the ob better try to trade the 314-3 plus a little cash.
 
KBacon said:
I used to play a lot of pool back in the mid-late 90s & had a love for McDermott cues.. My favorite had the shaft turned down to 11.x something... and during a draw shot I broke the shaft stock shaft...

approx 1999 I was in a local Indy cue shop & picked up a predator 314 shaft... and pretty much gave up pool shortly after... with the occasional game here & there.. other than that is has been sitting in the closet.

Fast-forward to 2016... and I recently got invited to play in a APA league w/ a coworker... and got the old stick out... and start shooting w/ the McDermott w/ the predator shaft... and soon realize that I need a new tip.. and have a local guy install a ultraskin.. and after installing.. he points out that a few of the shaft sections are starting to separate inside the joint collar...

I contacted predator... and they had me send in the shaft for inspection. Just got an email that they have 2 options... I can get a new 314-3 shaft at a discount... or they can bore out the joint & install a phenolic joint & tap it for the 3/8 x 10 pin for $50... But they could not guarantee the fix would be permanent.. depending on the severity of the separation/cracks

I am a little upset that this shaft is supposed to have a lifetime warranty... but I no longer have the receipt... so the warranty is no longer valid... But it is what it is...

Just wondered which route you all would recommend w/ your experience... as I have not shot w/ any of the newer shafts... and don't know if I could really tell any differences since I have been out of it for so long???

Currently playing w/ an old Meucci w/ a standard maple shaft... and doing OK w/ it...
Click to expand...


Me, I would just make my own, but I rather not mess around with a laminated maple blank that has been hollowed out and filled with foam or silicone.
Because of the same issue you are having .............

Pm Me, I have solid maple shafts in stock that will fit your McDermott ready to go in a 3/8 x 10 pin.

I can make you a shaft to your specs and have it in the mail Monday........

No screwing around , fast shipping, no questions asked return policy......
Customer satisfaction first......................................
 
Do you mean that the pie shaped laminations have started to separate? That has always been a lifetime warranty, as far as I remember. I had Predator replace one or two of my shafts that separated that way, and they sent brand new replacements. I did not have the receipt, and this was probably 10 years ago.

Anyway, if the issue with your shaft is this, I would request it be replace free of charge with an equivalent shaft (new model if they don't have old stock). You can google search and find their original warranty. I'm sure its floating out there somewhere.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Do you mean that the pie shaped laminations have started to separate? That has always been a lifetime warranty, as far as I remember. I had Predator replace one or two of my shafts that separated that way, and they sent brand new replacements. I did not have the receipt, and this was probably 10 years ago.

Anyway, if the issue with your shaft is this, I would request it be replace free of charge with an equivalent shaft (new model if they don't have old stock). You can google search and find their original warranty. I'm sure its floating out there somewhere.
Click to expand...

The separation is along the glue joint as you have described... as far as I can tell...

I did Google search... and did not find anything other than the current warranty.. if anyone has any leads... that would be great...

The place that I purchased the shaft from is no longer around...

I explained the situation to predator and the above is what they have told me...

Here are the pics

 
If you're going to spend all sorts of money on a shaft, why not get a shaft from a company that:

a) warrants against warping (predator doesn't)
b) actually honors their warranty when the cue falls apart, even though you lost a 17 year old receipt.

Even if you HAD the receipt, if it was printed on that paper they use these days it would probably be faded to nothing anyway and illegible. I have receipts just a year or two old that are already difficult to read.

OB makes a great shaft, competes head to head with Predator, they're made in the USA, reasonably priced, warrant against warping, and actually honor their warranty in a reasonable way. Mcdermott as well. I would (and have) given my money to them before giving more to Predator. At least check them out.

Just my opinion.
 
I got an contacted by Jessica Wise... and she is shipping me out a 314-3 shaft under warranty

Very happy w/ the customer service Jessica provided!!!
 
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