Bimini top-how do you cram an eye end in a crimped pole with no set screw

[Hunter Lake jet]

Got a replacement nylon internal eye end. Can't hammer it in without mangling the part. Any advice? Should I try to torch the pole first?

 

[tdonoughue]

Torch doesn't sound right to me. But I am having trouble picturing it. Got pics? Thinking probably the crimping is holding it in, no? Might need to hack saw the eye and drill it...

 

[Hunter Lake jet]

These pix aren't great since it's dark out, but one pic is one of the ends properly attached and the other is the end and the pole. There's no set screw, just the crimp in the pole to hold it in. I've been trying to bang the end past the crimp, but it's not going in easily and is starting to trash the nylon eye end. They probably have some machine that stuffs them in at the factory. Ever seen this sort of thing before?

 

[tdonoughue]

Never have (but I am young (?)). Banging doesn't look like the answer either. That ridge is way too thick to get over that way. Torch is going to melt/burn things, so that is no good. Slow steady pressure? Like get a 2x4, put a notch in it the size of the flat part, and use a long bar clamp? Not even sure that will work... that is a pretty deep ridge. I wonder if they didn't put in that crimp thing afterward...

 

[zipper]

It is hard to see exactly what happened. But I might try a different eye end. https://sea-dog.com/groups/415-top-fittings