FISH TAPE RETHREADING

My Stream Line by Gardner steel Fish Tape stopped working. Actually it would not unwind or wind. One day I took it apart, being mindful of the high tension the tape is under and just didn't know what to do with it. About a year later I decided to tackle the project of fixing or trashing it. In looking over the different parts and discovering there wasn't much avail on the internet, I decided to share this experience.
WARNING
Opening any Fish Tape product can result in injury due to the high tension the tape us under. Secure clam shell halves with tape to prevent it from flying apart. Wear safety glasses and gloves.

[@MarkWilson-en9mu]

Wonderful, thanks. Exactly what I needed to fix my 30 year old fish tape! A bit like a slow burn drama movie, but 150% playback speed was perfect :)

[@alarce129]

Mark, sorry for the slow burn, but indeed I too find the faster playback can come in handy on KZbin videos. That you for watching (at any speed).

[@thehonestman26]

Just wanted to let you know fours years after your video, you still helped someone. I had a new Klein Fish tape that jammed on my second use. Tried a few things but really didn't want to open it and start that process. Tried your idea with tension and worked like a charm. Drilled a screw to a 2x4, let out the slack, pulled with backward pressure and it wound back in perfectly. Gave me a free wrist workout too! Thank you for the info.

[@cfldriven]

Delighted to hear this video is still helping people. Thank you for taking the time to share your story.

[@bobterzian4724]

Very good description of 1. how to take apart, 2. to clean, 3. to reassemble, and 4. to use back pressure when rewinding to repair and for each use.Very thorough. Thanks

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for the kind feedback.

[@ianthefifth7790]

Thank you man. Just spent an hour outside fixing my 250 ft roll. It came out like a giant ball but I got it and it's smoother than ever.

[@cfldriven]

Certainly saved me from junking it and having to buy another. Good to hear the video helped you out even at 250 ft!

[@michaelcostello9910]

I was ready to dump mine until I seen your video and your advice worked. Top advice.

[@cfldriven]

Good news, we both saved our fish tape. Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@christopherduncan4033]

Hi, I'm gonna try to resurrect my Klein Fish tape. This video is giving me confidence. Thank you.

[@cfldriven]

Christopher, hope you are able to get it working again. Thanks for watching and writing.

[@DokDream]

I had three fish tapes. The first one had broken internally and I didn't know about it until I tried to use it. The second one was also broken. Both went into the trash. That left number three, very similar to the one you restored. It was jammed. I opened it cautiously, mindful of the tape springing everywhere. I checked it over and found it in good shape. What I did not do, and I think I will after the fact, is to lubricate it. I'll use lithium grease so it will stay. WF-40 does dry up and then the parts rendered "free" tighten up again. It is true that rewinding must be done with tension. Otherwise, the coil does not wind evenly, leading to a "bubble" on one side that is the mechanical equivalent to a hernia. Frankly, I watched your presentation to learn if the "stiffness" and jamming of the tape was due to my handling of it, or if it was inherent in the design. I conclude it is problematic and just something to live with. Thank you for taking the time to post your short video.

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for sharing your experience and for the tip on the lithium grease. Good to hear you were able to salvage one of the three.

[@shieldcracker]

Hernia...thats a good one.

[@thehonestman26]

Appreciate it. Mine has jammed and it's two weeks old. Surprised since it's a Klein but I'll give it a shot. Thank you.

[@cfldriven]

I used to just coil it back in, but since my jam up I now apply some occasional back pressure to keep the coil closely wound. Hope it helps.

[@ldr4278]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@alarce129]

I appreciate you taking the time to watch and write. Thank you.

[@Kourkos14]

You saved my life with this

[@cfldriven]

Good to hear. Thank you for watching.

[@CR-xl7zu]

I have one exactly like that. I think they hardened it too much, and the tape was brittle and fractured in about 10 places in it. Too bad, too. It's otherwise a very nice design.

[@shadowdog500]

Is the trigger a drag mechanism to keep tension on the tape while retracting? I have the same problem with my 50’ Klein fish tape and need to hold the handle with my three smaller fingers and pinch the tape between my thumb and index finger to keep tension while retracting the tape.

[@cfldriven]

The trigger applies tension to the tape stopping it from moving. You can use this to tighten the coil as you reel in the tape. Hope this helps. Thank you for the view.

[@stoneadams7325]

Every 20 turns you have to hold the case and pull the slack out of the fishtape all fishtapes will bind unless you do this. The metal tape needs to be tight in the case or it will bind up.

[@cfldriven]

Stone, thank you for sharing this good advice.

[@bigbombas]

Thanks. I just fixed mine. Older model but insides were the same

[@cfldriven]

Cesar, congrats on fixing it and saving some money, glad the video helped out. Thank you for watching.

[@scottbrown4337]

Good job! Thanks!

[@tbh5789]

Back pressure is the key. Thanks!

[@cfldriven]

Its one of those times I wish I had three hands. Thanks for watching.

[@moi01887]

I have a tape like this and have the same problem. I wonder if that "trigger" thing on the handle is meant to be used to create some "drag" when rewinding it, to avoid it binding up?

[@cfldriven]

Unlike a measuring tape, you don't want to wind it back in without applying some tension to tighten up the spool. I tend to wind in the tape and than apply some pressure to it and wind some more. I can see why my electrician prefers the fiberglass rods.

[@shieldcracker]

The trigger is thing used to create tension on the tape so that is wound taught.

[@shieldcracker]

Is this tape a Gardner Bender -Stream line or just Streamline?

[@cfldriven]

The tape is a Streamline Gardner Bender.

[@DanielDiaz-uw2ob]

The rethreading jam you identified in minute 10:00 and the solution you show are validated in this KZbin video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnbWe415ep2SmKM I wonder if fish tape manufacturers supply rethreading instructions. I had this problem too. Prevention of injuries during the disassembly caused by the steel tape pop-up should be covered in some other video. Thanks for sharing.👍👍👍👍👍

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for sharing. Working around anything that is torqued, under tension or compression can be very dangerous and one must be knowledgeable and careful.

[@tunes62]

@@cfldriven Easiest way to avoid the "spring explosion" problem is to almost completely unwind the fish tape out of the holder before opening the case... getting 98+% of the wire out of the holder takes off nearly all the tension and reduces the risk. To do so, just fasten the "business end" of the tape to something like your 2x4 and pull as you unreel. Thanks for the comprehensive video.

[@cfldriven]

@@tunes62 Good tip, although you need lots of space for all the tape that wants to coil. Thanks for watching.

[@robertrosenberg6354]

Mechanically gifted.... you're NOT.

[@cfldriven]

Robert, sorry I didn't measure up.

[@MarkWilson-en9mu]

Ouch, Robert. Relax and enjoy CFLDriven’s archeological exploration :)