Question about my clamps.. - Page 2

jhutch · 11-08-2010, 08:19 AM

When you say tightening the clamp base do you mean taking off that black rubber piece and tightening it with an Allen key??

kevoT · 11-08-2010, 09:51 AM

Have you tried lubricant?

mad dog1 · 11-08-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuscleWeave

They recommend silicon for the tracks that the clamps travel along and rubbing alcohol for the teeth of the clamps. That's it. They didn't say anything about oil or WD40. Ask Mark what's going on. Tightening the clamp base solved the problem for me.

i don't think he's having an issue w/ the BASE CLAMP. his problem is w/ the 3 or 5 tooth STRING CLAMP. OP is saying the clamping action on one string clamp is smooth when he clamps down on the string, while the action of the other is rough.

OP, is this the part you're having problems with? one clamps smoothly while the other is gritty?

jhutch · 11-08-2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad dog1

OP, is this the part you're having problems with? one clamps smoothly while the other is gritty?

Yes that is the problem.

MuscleWeave · 11-08-2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhutch

When you say tightening the clamp base do you mean taking off that black rubber piece and tightening it with an Allen key??

Yeah, that's what I mean. It's trickier than it looks. And I know the two things seem unrelated, but they both resolved together for me. Customer service at Alpha is dynamite. Please call them before lubricating your machine.

MuscleWeave · 11-09-2010, 03:33 PM

I just remembered, at around that time I cleaned my clamps' teeth with rubbing alcohol. Since then, I haven't had to over-tighten the clamp and there hasn't been any more grinding.

diredesire · 11-09-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tennisplayer01

Is it the blue part that youre talkign about or the clamp its self
Generally I would contact Mark as he is always here to help around. Which clamp do you have?

Just send Mark an e-mail, he is extremely good about responding, I've gotten <1/2 hour responses, and I'm not even a customer. That's one of the perks of ordering an Alpha in the first place, great after sales service. He'll give you a very specific answer on how to solve your problem, and you won't have to fiddle with disassembling things and not knowing how to put it together, just call and/or e-mail, trust me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuscleWeave

They recommend silicon for the tracks that the clamps travel along and rubbing alcohol for the teeth of the clamps. That's it. They didn't say anything about oil or WD40. Ask Mark what's going on. Tightening the clamp base solved the problem for me.

*silicone. You can find these at bike stores/autostores, (dry) silicone spray is commonly used for bike chains. You can also try white lithium grease, or graphite powder (used to clean guns). These are all going to work better than WD40. WD40 wasn't designed to be used as a lubricant, the WD actually stands for "water dispersant," it also tends to get a lot of grime/crap in it, and gums up.

Edit: I dropped Mark a line for you, he might drop into the thread to help out.

DrewRafter8 · 11-13-2010, 04:41 PM

I've had a similar problem with a clamp. I have the five tooth and the machine is almost two years old. You know how the clamp "locks" down? One of mine does not do this, rather it just squeezes the string and does not allow it to slip. It works fine, but I continue to worry about slippage because it never locks.

I've been debating on whether the three tooth are an upgrade. I thought about just buying two of those. Any thoughts there?

MuscleWeave · 11-20-2010, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuscleWeave

I just remembered, at around that time I cleaned my clamps' teeth with rubbing alcohol. Since then, I haven't had to over-tighten the clamp and there hasn't been any more grinding.

The grinding is back and it's not responding to cleaning very well. But I don't think lubrication is going to help. I might have to pester Mark again.

MW

jhutch · 11-20-2010, 06:19 PM

I oiled it with basic 3 in 1 oil on the latch and it is smoother, but I can still feels as if it's crushing the string.

MuscleWeave · 11-26-2010, 02:17 PM

I'm going to try compressed air next. It sounds and feels like there are some metal filings in there.

Steve Huff · 11-26-2010, 07:25 PM

1st--don't bother with the Eagnas clamps. The posts won't fit your Alpha bases.

2nd--if you look at the clamp handle (the part you squeeze to tighten it), there's a rounded part that's up against the body of the clamp. As you move the handle down, you'll see that it kind of rolls over the body to a clamp tight. I have filed the shape of that before to get a better clamping feel, so that might work. Mark is good to work with, so don't hesitate to call him.

diredesire · 11-27-2010, 01:18 PM

I pointed Mark to this thread, but he wasn't able to log in for some reason to post, MW, shoot him an e-mail, he'd be eager to help you.

MuscleWeave · 11-28-2010, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diredesire

I pointed Mark to this thread, but he wasn't able to log in for some reason to post, MW, shoot him an e-mail, he'd be eager to help you.

Thanks diredesire. I'll send him an e-mail to ask about this.

MW

jhutch · 11-29-2010, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuscleWeave

Thanks diredesire. I'll send him an e-mail to ask about this.

MW

Let us know what he says if you talk to him.

MuscleWeave · 11-29-2010, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuscleWeave

Thanks diredesire. I'll send him an e-mail to ask about this.

MW

Hi Kevin,

I see that you bought this in May. A couple of shots of silicone spray in the pivot point will help this quite a bit.

I normally require that clamps be returned first for inspection and repair. However, I'll send you another clamp and you can return that one.

I have your address on file.

regards,

Mark

On 11/29/2010 8:01 AM, Kevin McGovern wrote:
Hello

A few months ago, I purchased a Pioneer DC+ machine, and I am very happy with it. One problem though is that one of the clamps grinds while I am closing it on the string. I think I have it figured out how to close it properly, but not with the same smoothness and feel as the other clamp. I've cleaned it with rubbing alcohol four times so far, as I only string my own four racquets. Do you have any other information on how to improve the performance of this clamp?

Thank you
Kevin McGovern

MuscleWeave · 11-29-2010, 04:05 PM

Following Steve Huff's advice above, for where to lubricate with silicone spray, the problem clamp operates even better now than the good one. It's good to know what to do when one of these clamps starts to deteriorate.

jhutch · 11-29-2010, 04:57 PM

Can anyone please tell me where I can get silicone spray? Thanks.

mad dog1 · 11-29-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuscleWeave

Following Steve Huff's advice above, for where to lubricate with silicone spray, the problem clamp operates even better now than the good one. It's good to know what to do when one of these clamps starts to deteriorate.

think this was basically what i said early in this thread. i recommended oiling/lubricating the hinge of the clamp. guess it would have been clearer if i said "lube/oil at the hinge/pivot point/cam of the clamp lever."

MuscleWeave · 11-30-2010, 06:42 AM

I have difficulty going outside the recommended maintenance for the machine, without the customer services say so. And Mark is so accessible. On other topics, I value the information that I receive here.

11-08-2010, 09:51 AM	#22
kevoT Semi-Pro Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: sweden Posts: 748	Have you tried lubricant? __________________ Dunlop 4d 200 x2 Syn gut/multi/Poly (occasionally) @54lbs

11-09-2010, 03:33 PM	#26
MuscleWeave Semi-Pro Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 709	I just remembered, at around that time I cleaned my clamps' teeth with rubbing alcohol. Since then, I haven't had to over-tighten the clamp and there hasn't been any more grinding. __________________ 4 racquets: Dunlop, Dunlop, Dunlop, HEAD Alpha Pioneer DC Plus stringer Last edited by MuscleWeave : 11-09-2010 at 03:35 PM.

11-13-2010, 04:41 PM	#28
DrewRafter8 Semi-Pro Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 756	I've had a similar problem with a clamp. I have the five tooth and the machine is almost two years old. You know how the clamp "locks" down? One of mine does not do this, rather it just squeezes the string and does not allow it to slip. It works fine, but I continue to worry about slippage because it never locks. I've been debating on whether the three tooth are an upgrade. I thought about just buying two of those. Any thoughts there? __________________ I am going to win Wimbledon one day -- even if it is the over 40s doubles ..." Goran Ivanisevic

11-26-2010, 02:17 PM	#31
MuscleWeave Semi-Pro Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 709	I'm going to try compressed air next. It sounds and feels like there are some metal filings in there. __________________ 4 racquets: Dunlop, Dunlop, Dunlop, HEAD Alpha Pioneer DC Plus stringer

11-27-2010, 01:18 PM	#33
diredesire Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,973	I pointed Mark to this thread, but he wasn't able to log in for some reason to post, MW, shoot him an e-mail, he'd be eager to help you. __________________ 2x Babolat Pure Storm Tour +s // Gamma 5800 ELS (2pt) Help me on my quest to clean-up the boards, report abusive posts!