Do not immediately compress wet sections
Wipe visible moisture and loose dirt off first. Work somewhere clean so opening the connections does not introduce more soil. LEKI recommends a dry cloth and no oil, grease, or other lubricant for its telescopic poles. That specific instruction matters more than the assumption that every stiff connection needs spray.
Check the model's disassembly procedure. Suitable telescopic sections may separate for drying, but folding constructions differ. Their cord and tension mechanism are not arbitrary dismantling points. A section released for folding is not necessarily a freely removable repair component.
Keep telescopic sections clean
Release the lock and separate only approved sections. Lay them out in order. Clean accessible shaft surfaces gently. If something sticks, investigate grit and alignment instead of pulling forcefully.
Dry separated areas completely. Moisture can remain at a joint after the outside looks dry. Reassemble afterward and respect insertion marks. Cleaning is not a reason to assume the previously chosen length has automatically returned.
Avoid grit in folding connections
Folding poles require clean mating surfaces and the prescribed drying arrangement. LEKI describes a different sequence for damp folding models than for telescopic ones. Follow the actual construction. Keep open ends out of sand and prevent stones entering between sections.
Check complete seating before tensioning the mechanism. A visible gap is not reliably resolved by pulling harder. Release and inspect as instructed. A damaged cord, deformed shaft, or failed lock calls for service rather than improvised pressure with tools.
Inspect the clamp
Remove loose particles from accessible locking areas. Do not alter an adjustment screw without model guidance. Torque, movement, and checking methods differ. Tightening as hard as possible is not an appropriate maintenance procedure. A clean lever still needs to close fully.
Inspect both poles before reuse. If a section slips despite correct operation, do not simply continue as before. Record the model and affected connection for support. Maintenance should retain a verifiable normal state rather than temporarily conceal a defect through force.
Store dry
Keep poles dry in their specified storage arrangement. A tight sleeve holding residual moisture is unhelpful. Protect other equipment from tips and baskets and retain accessories with their own model. This avoids combining similar-looking incompatible pieces at the next assembly. A clear arrangement also makes a missing or changed component easier to identify.
