I've got a crappy CAP bar from one of 300lb sets. It's been fine for the lifts that I do (don't do any olympic lifts or anything), but over time it has become less and less usable. The end of the sleeve (large circle that prevents the plates from coming any farther onto the bar, collar?) on both ends began to slide bit by bit. I got around this by simply pushing them back in; however, now any movement from the floor causes the plates to push on the collars as I set the bar back down and slide them in. Eventually the collars slide too far and the plates cave in to the sides as well, making it damn near impossible to finish a set of more than 2 or 3 reps.
I stupidly tried superglue in hopes that it would help, but it had virtually no effect. Is there any way to prevent the collars from sliding around, or do I have to spent money on a new barbell? I'm going to be moving out and going to college between 6-8 months, and therefore would rather not have to buy a new bar since I would rarely be able to use it.
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Thread: Broken barbell, how to fix?
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11-24-2012, 06:36 PM #1
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Broken barbell, how to fix?
University of Florida
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11-24-2012, 07:04 PM #2
Typically more expensive bars are warranteed against things like this happening - CAP is not a very expensive bar, and does not have a good warranty (30 days, no bending, and damage cannot be from dropping) for this very reason. They are expected to break, either in this manner, or with the sleeves entirely falling off (or, if it's left with weights on it, by bending). I'm not aware of any way that you can fix this - next time you get a barbell, spring for one with a warranty.
Rogue, Again Faster, Vulcan, Pendlay/MDUSA, Eleiko, Werksan all have lifetime warranties. York and Troy have extremely limited 1 and 5 year warranties (they don't cover bending or dropping). I'm sure I'm leaving out brands here, but you get the idea.
The cool thing about buying a nice barbell though, is that you'll be able to use it for a VERY long time - after college, or even in college if you end up living off campus. Think of it as an investment, and put in the money to get a return on it.
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11-24-2012, 07:38 PM #3
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Stop using this bar right now. You cannot fix it. You need a new bar.
I disagree with much of the poster above has said (about warranties, discussion for another day), but he is 100% right about that fact you need to invest in a good bar.
Just don't use it ever again. It sounds like the pressure fit between the flange and sleeve has failed. I'd actually like to see pics of this of you don't mind. You just gave me a new idea for some cheap sleeves I have left over from a bar.
Go to about 37 sec into this video. It is these parts that have separated?
Last edited by GarageIron; 11-25-2012 at 11:05 AM.
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11-24-2012, 07:53 PM #4
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Ah just what I didn't want to hear. I'll probably just buy a CAP 86B, I've heard they're great for the price and not like the other CAP bars? I'll get pictures of my bar tomorrow, it's late and I'm about to go to bed. Thanks for your help guys
Edit: ^ something like that. The sleeve itself doesn't move around, it's the other piece that slides onto the thinner part of the barUniversity of Florida
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11-24-2012, 07:58 PM #5
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I have one on the way for review... but I bought it for the same reasons. Guys here with great equipment experience have said its a great value. I'll get my take on it next week.
Dont' feel bad that you need a new bar after some use. This is what I did to a 300lb set bar in 20 minutes from brand new with almost no weight. I'm not going to spam this video in a bunch of posts but feel its relevant.
Last edited by GarageIron; 11-24-2012 at 08:04 PM.
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11-24-2012, 08:02 PM #6
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11-24-2012, 08:03 PM #7
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I would imagine that a competent welder could patch it back together well enough to get a few more months out of it. It wouldn't be a "proper" repair, but it would be functional...for a little while, anyway.
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"An adult male weighs at least 200 pounds." - Mark Rippetoe
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11-24-2012, 08:05 PM #8
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11-24-2012, 08:07 PM #9
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11-24-2012, 08:08 PM #10
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While I recommend getting a new barbell, there are things you can do to keep that part of the sleeve from pushing onto the bar. You could take off the sleeve and have someone weld the two sleeve pieces back together. JB Weld might even work for a while (as it's not actually a load-bearing part). Plates knocking against it will theoretically break it eventually, but I've had god luck with doing things with JB Weld that you wouldn't think an epoxy would be able to handle.
A simple, cheap and easy "fix" might be to get two pipe hangers from your local hardware store and putting them as stops on the bar, preventing them from traveling down the bar, but allowing them to rotate.
http://imagethumbnails.milo.com/024/...40_trimmed.jpg
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11-24-2012, 08:17 PM #11
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11-24-2012, 08:22 PM #12
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While I agree that someone may be able weld the sleeve and flange back together (If I'm even understand the problem correctly), That fact that this has failed before the hex bolts just freaks me out. I pictured this failure as a result of a loose hex bolt sliding the sleeve's back forth over and over, the load of the plates/sleeve loosely banging into the flange causing it to fail.
This is purely my logic trying to picture how a compression fit would fail before the hex bolt failed. I guess that the threads on that hex bolt are pretty messed up too. Maybe a bad fit, maybe both. regardless. I wouldn't trust that sleeve/flange/bolt. Too much to risk for something you put over your head.Last edited by GarageIron; 11-24-2012 at 08:53 PM.
()---() York Barbell Club #30 ()---()
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11-24-2012, 08:24 PM #13
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11-24-2012, 09:07 PM #14
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11-24-2012, 09:24 PM #15
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The point is to demonstrate that a 500lb bar will not necessarily support 500lb in all situations without failing. That is all. People tend to think that because they have a 1000lb bar, that its will be sufficient forever because they will never load it with that much weight. Dynamic load such as dropping it or pulling it change those load ratings significantly. I didn't see a barbell showdown in that video did you?
I've demonstrated my point. Would you like to demonstrate yours? I'd like to see how expensive a bar is relates to when it bends.Last edited by GarageIron; 11-24-2012 at 09:33 PM. Reason: Too harsh
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11-24-2012, 09:37 PM #16
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Get another cheapo $40 bar? Any significant repairs will cost that much and be a pain. Also not a crazy idea to buy a $300 bar even if you barely use it because by the time you're out of college they'll probably cost $500. If you can keep it stored well and not rust it, might come in handy.
And^ a 1000 or 500 lb bar advertising isn't claiming it will handle dynamic load. Only a static load, preferably on a slower lift like deadlift. Some 500 lb rated bars permanently bend by squatting 500 lbs with them. Some bars bend from just loading 600 lbs of plates.-!!!---!!!- No Excuses Homemade Equipment Crew #24 -!!!---!!!-
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11-24-2012, 10:00 PM #17
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11-24-2012, 10:38 PM #18
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You can calculate the force if that's your concern. I wasn't too worried as I thought it was pretty clearly demonstrated. I included the drop height and weight so force (or at least energy) could be calculated. I'd like to know what you come up with if you decide to figure it out.Last edited by GarageIron; 11-25-2012 at 07:04 AM.
()---() York Barbell Club #30 ()---()
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11-25-2012, 03:41 PM #19
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11-25-2012, 04:20 PM #20
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11-25-2012, 04:34 PM #21
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Sorry, bad wording on my part. Its not that I disagreed about getting a bar with a warranty. I just wouldn't make a choice based on a warranty alone.
I beleive Rogue's lifetime warranty is only on select bars and has exclusions. Werksan's is limited to their higher end bars. York's warranty does include dropping for olympic lifting on Elite bars (but excludes bending).
I'm interested in the Vulcan bar. I've seen bars onlind very similar and the tests done on them are pretty impressive. I tried to order one a few days ago but hit a hiccup with shipping. They were quick to respond to emails, under 30 minutes each time.Last edited by GarageIron; 11-25-2012 at 06:46 PM.
()---() York Barbell Club #30 ()---()
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11-25-2012, 07:29 PM #22
Ah, that makes a lot more sense. I'm actually shopping around for barbells myself, and the warranty is definitely not a decider - I'm just looking for a great olympic lifting barbell in my price range (probably pendlay bearing bar) - but having a lifetime warranty certainly makes me feel more confident in a choice, and definitely can't be considered a bad thing.
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11-14-2015, 06:37 PM #23
I know an old thread,but the collars were sliding off the sleeves? Those collars thread on the sleeves(at least with my two barbells) Mine was doing the same thing,collar on one side sliding off ,I took it apart,the sleeve was bent where it threads on. The problem was that from the manufacturer they didnt put a bushing in the side to prevent it from bending. Good thing I saved my old bar(bent) . Switched the sleeves,threaded on the collars to the other sleeves,and put the sleeves back on the current bar. Had one problem,the old bushings were too small for the barbell,so I am still missing one on one side.Im just going to be careful and not drop it until I get one of those,in which Ill be searching.
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11-15-2015, 05:12 AM #24
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