seriousdetecting.comAnswer
May 28, 2026 - 12:55 PM
Your S-Telescopic stem's camlock needs replacement when the stem slips or wobbles during swings even after tightening the lock. Common failure symptoms include the shaft collapsing under swing load, the camlock lever feeling loose or failing to engage fully, or visible structural cracks in the plastic housing. Camlocks wear gradually over years of heavy field use, with the overall clamping force degrading until the stem no longer locks reliably at your preferred length. If you are constantly stopping mid-hunt to readjust your configuration, the camlock has worn past its service life. Many detectorists keep an extra factory camlock in their field kit alongside other metal detector parts & accessories to avoid unexpected field downtime.
