Caution: Installation Of Spikes On RTi100s Can Crack Base

[paul schwartz]

I'm not sure if the engineers at Polk realize this, but the threaded holes on the bottom of the RTi100s are not deep enough to fully accomodate the threaded studs of the floor spikes. I found out the hardway recently.

During the installation of the floor spikes, I found that the studs bottomed out before becomming fully seated. When I used an ignition wrentch to tighten them the required additional two turns, my base cracked laterally.

Luckily, I noticed this before applying the wrentch to the second speaker (though I did confirm that the hole wasn't deep enough on the base of that speaker to fully seat the spike either.

Has anyone else come across this problem?

So, what options does Polk offer to repair this speaker (I'll return the complete 6 piece system if I have to return the speaker at my expense to either Crutchfield or Polk . . . ) Can /will Polk send me just the replacement base (since it looks like it is fastened on by only 4 screws)?:(

[mantis]

paul,
I'm not sure about what you did exactly, but I think you overtightened them.

Check it out,
the carpet spikes are there to level and stable the speaker on a carpeted floor.
Here's how you should use the carpet spikes to avoid an accident like the one you had.....that sucks.
When you install the carpet spikes, you run them in hand tight..more like hand loose, just snug.The sit the speaker upright and put a plastic non scratching level on the top of the speaker.For starters Id just level the speaker front to back and side to side.
Now there are some really cool helpfull tips I could give you on offsetting the level of the speakers, but It changes from room to room.In general you want a slight uplift on the front of the speaker, causing it to be unlevel from front to back But side to side you still want level.The amount of height you need out of this is judged by the distance you sit from your speakers.

This is a big improvement of depth and height.Imaging seems to increase some as well.
I hope your speaker is still usefull or Polk can help you out with a new base.

[GuitarheadCA]

Paul

Yes sir, I know exactly what you're talking about. When first setting up my 70s, I overtightened the carpet spikes. I noticed there was a hairline crack developing on the back side of one of them the next day. I loosened up the spike, and the crack disapeared, but if I hard turned it another half or full turn I would have been in deeper trouble.

I agree with Mantis and others that the carpet spikes suck and leave room for improvement.

[mantis]

I didn't notice,
do the new rti series floorstands have the thumbwheel like the older model rt lines???

If they took that away from them, yes the carpet spikes need inprovement.If they have the thumb wheel, I feel that is the best carpet spike around.

I have the thumbwheels on my rt1000p's and love that,but the Lsi 15's have the regular spike with the nut on there for adjustment,that sucks ass.

[paul schwartz]

There's no thumbwheel . . just a six sided nut on the thread which intuitively told me to put a wrenth on it to tighten . . . the instructions for installing the spikes are sparse and include no warning on going beyond hand tightening (of course, it wasn't like I put a monkey wrentch to them . . it was a small ignition wrentch)

[nascarmann]

Paul....email Kenneth Swauger and he will gladly send you a new base.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Hello Paul,
I'm sorry you had a problem with the RTi100's base. Please contact me at kswauger@polkaudio.com or telephone me at 1-800-377-7655 extension 891 and I'll immediately send you a replacement base, it's very easy to replace.
Regards, Ken Swauger

[alexlzl]

Too sad, I just found the same problem on my brand new RTi100. Emailed Kenneth for help.

[VR3]

Not to question this, but why did you re-activate a thread that was started over a year ago....