An overlap of 3" or 4" is not too little, and is probably not too much. Was this tip-over-butt ferrule designed by the manufacturer, or you?
The two ferrule sections naturally have two slightly different tapers. So, the fact that one ferrule goes deeper than the other shouldn't be an inherent problem or much of a surprise. The walls have to keep contact to prevent loosening or twisting. The blunt end of the male should not hit the inner wall before the flats of the parts mate, if that's what you mean. If you rub some pencil lead along the shaft of the male, and then insert, you can see if the flats are rubbing correctly. Usually a male that bottoms out is loose at the mouth of the ferrule, and rocks or clicks when flexed.
It doesn't sound like the ferrule is defective, per se, as you are describing it. Do make sure you have wrapped the ferrule with thread before flexing the blank. Check out some recent Post & Replies for helpful comments on how wide a ferrule wrap should be. -Cliff Hall-.
Ferrule Wrap (Bruce Tomaselli) January 24, 2005
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Re: Lamiglas fiberglass and ferrules (Cliff Hall) Dec. 17, 2004
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Testing Blanks (Gene Maxson) 01/24/05 10:07AM
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