Hello Gerry-Originally Posted by sugezwolf
Maybe I can provide a another response here. The comments on this thread are indeed surprising, in that we have never had a handle come back with pulled screws for a warranty replacement, or sent back because it would fall off and needed adjustment . . . . "like, ever" (to quote Taylor Swift's popular song).
We have never see a handle that has failed or had screws pull out, whether used by us here or member of the Pro Team who are selected as hard users with long seasons. Not one handle ever returned because parts became separated, the mounting points become worn, or failed in some other way. And that's a pretty significant record with thousands and thousands of receivers out there going back to 2007.
So in that sense, it's been a really great design, actually.
But it's certainly cause for alarm when several people make negative comment here on the Forum so quickly in place of simply calling or emailing us for help or a replacement. Maybe our perception is really skewed because of this, and more people are out there not letting us otherwise know. By in my own direct experience with it, six seasons in the field and numerous receivers being tested, passed around, carried, visiting with and talking to Distributors around the world, etc. is that, once the thumbwheel is tight and locked into placed, it just stays there.
And, the new handle builds on what we've learned, but provides a much better feel through well-placed curves and volume giving additional leverage and beef to it. It also "backwards compatible" so anyone with a 2007 or newer receiver design can try it.
The new handle uses a self-tapping screw, which is specially designed for plastic and offers even greater thread engagement, holding the aluminum bracket and glass-reinforced nylon handle piece together securely. My guess in that you could hang actually from it.
The thumb wheel engagement/handle mechanism is intended to be tightened down very snugly by hand. But it's probably wise to check it from time to time. For extreme cases or for anybody wishing to have their handle more permanently fixed, a simple dab of Loctite on the thumbwheel screw before assembly will do the trick.
The very reason for the design is to give users a quick-release option, and many people are now dispensing with the handle altogether making it essentially a "pocket receiver," while others who need to avoid the appearance of a weapon in the urban areas they hawk also never use it. Together with the quick-release handle design, in 2007 we narrowed the width of the receiver body 30%, gave it generous and smooth radius corners to make it a pleasure to hold without a handle.
Anyway, if you'd like to try the new handle, just PM your shipping address and we'll send one out so you can slide it in place, crank it down tight, and see what you think.
For such a low-tech improvement, it's my belief they really turned out great.
Makes the whole receiver feel different now.
RB
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