Hello

 

I need to replace the tip top on an older G Loomis 844c IMX.

It's been 37 years since I wrapped a rod, and have no idea about sizing.

From some research I've done I believe I need a 6 5.0 size tip.

Can anyone confirm this? Also it seems like some sites list the tips in a confusing way. Is there another way they are measured that I'm missing?

 

Thanks!

They're measured in 1/64".  A size 6 5.0 is tube diameter 6/64ths and 5mm ring.

The ring size is designated by the outer diameter of the ring in millimeters.  Try to match this with the new one.  Usually it will be about 6 mm.  As stated above, the tube is designated in 64 ths of an inch.  As long as the tube is larger than the tip you're OK, unless it gets really sloppy.  You don't want to have to sand the blank to get it to fit, but you can use generous hot melt to install the a larger new one most of the time.  Or wrap the tip with thread to increase its ID if you cannot find a true match.

 

To remove the old one pull on the tip top with a string at the same time you're applying a little heat.  If it is held on by hot melt it should come off with just a little heat.  If it doesn't readily come off, get a pro builder to help.  It's easy to damge the blank with too much heat.

1 hour ago, MickD said:

The ring size is designated by the outer diameter of the ring in millimeters.  Try to match this with the new one.  Usually it will be about 6 mm.  As stated above, the tube is designated in 64 ths of an inch.  As long as the tube is larger than the tip you're OK, unless it gets really sloppy.  You don't want to have to sand the blank to get it to fit, but you can use generous hot melt to install the a larger new one most of the time.  Or wrap the tip with thread to increase its ID if you cannot find a true match.

 

To remove the old one pull on the tip top with a string at the same time you're applying a little heat.  If it is held on by hot melt it should come off with just a little heat.  If it doesn't readily come off, get a pro builder to help.  It's easy to damge the blank with too much heat.

What’s a good method of heating? Is a hair dryer hot enough?

I have done a few.  I just used a candle.  It doesn’t take very much heat to do the job.

Looked in all my old catalogs, when tip top tube size is mentioned, it is listed as a 6.0 or 6/64 size. Original real G Loomis rods had Pac Bay guides, after Shimano bought the company, Fuji. The Fuji guides are all stamped with an "F". The ceramic ring sizes changed over the years early rods started with 8s, my early 90's rods were 6s and they probably still are today.

On 1/17/2021 at 9:03 AM, waymont said:

What’s a good method of heating? Is a hair dryer hot enough?

Whoa!  Hair dryer CAN BE way too hot, and you cannot focus the heat well.  You don't want to heat the blank; you want to heat the tiptop.   When I do this the heat I use is so little that I can handle the tiptops without gloves and without burning my fingers.  I use a butane lighter with the edge of the flame on the side of the tube of the tiptop.  If you have a rubber band with tension pulling on the tiptop, trying to pull it off, and you apply the heat, the tiptop will slide off when the cement melts thus avoiding more heat than necessary.  If it doesn't readily come off, epoxy was used to fasten it on.  Get a pro builder to take it off, and use hot melt on the new one, not epoxy.

I hope I got to you in time.

3 hours ago, MickD said:

Whoa!  Hair dryer CAN BE way too hot, and you cannot focus the heat well.  You don't want to heat the blank; you want to heat the tiptop.   When I do this the heat I use is so little that I can handle the tiptops without gloves and without burning my fingers.  I use a butane lighter with the edge of the flame on the side of the tube of the tiptop.  If you have a rubber band with tension pulling on the tiptop, trying to pull it off, and you apply the heat, the tiptop will slide off when the cement melts thus avoiding more heat than necessary.  If it doesn't readily come off, epoxy was used to fasten it on.  Get a pro builder to take it off, and use hot melt on the new one, not epoxy.

I hope I got to you in time.

You did catch me in time! A few days ago I used a lighter just like you mentioned, worked great. I'm still waiting for my guide to arrive.

 

 

I use a paper clip, rubber band, and piece of string. Tie the string to something, the rubber band next, paper clip clipped to the tip top. Put some tension on the setup, heat the tip top, it will pop off as soon as the glue releases so you add minimal heat to the blank.

Putting this here for reference. I can confirm 

both the 844c and 843c Loomis tips are 6-5.0 size if anyone needs to get a tip top for their rod.