My Flex 740 experience with Eagnas

[kooguy]

I was looking for a six-point mounting to retrofit my 2-point food pedal drop weight stringing mahine. I must say I have lot's of thinking after reading some the posts over here regarding Eagnas's order history. Anyway, I took the risk and have ordered the Flex 740. It came 5 days later after I have placed the order, not bad service. I have accounted every parts and they are all in good shape, nice clamps, decent quality for the price of $219.

The drop weight/rachet system works but not very efficient compare to my old machine. Since I have no intension of using it, I just took the six-point mounting section and with some modifications, it fits well on my old drop weight machine.

I had no complains with Eagnas so far and they were kind to answer my questions over the phone.

[MikeV]

Show us some pics! Which old machine? I think i know where I can get ahold of an old Serrano.....

[kooguy]

If you can get hold of an old Serrano machine cheap, get it! My machine is similar to the Serrano and have been with me for more than 20 years, no maintenance required, the drop weight system is all mechanical, no springs. All you have to do is to remove the top part which is the two point mounting system (just lift it up, may be a little heavy). There should be a base with some gaps remain in the trunk. You will see a 7/8" hole at the centre.

There are two ways you can retrofit the Flex 740 to the old serrano:

1. Have someone machine a round metal (abt 3/8" thick) with a 7/8" pipe attached to the centre. This will be your turntable, just put the Flex 740's mounting system onto it, screw it down to the turntable. Done!

2. Make a round turntable (metal or wood), drill a 5/8" hole. Just make sure 5/8" hole will fit the gap of the base. So the hole should not be at the centre at all. Next, put the small turntable base that came with Flex 740 into the 5/8" hole. Don't use the round washer (the big ring) under the turntable, put it away. We want to fit the turntable tight to the base to prevent any flexing during tensioning.


Method one is the best if you can find someone to build you the base, very stable, no flexing during high tension. Method two is easier to build it youself but it does flex a little during high tension but acceptable. This is due to the small turntable base that came with Flex 740 and it has to support a long span of the six point mounting system.

I'll upload some pictures later. It will be easier to visualize...

[kooguy]

Here are some pictures...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...icture_182.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...icture_185.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...icture_186.jpg

After 20 years of servide, I will put a fresh coat of pain on the body to make whole unit looks nice.

[Mike Cottrill]

Originally Posted by kooguy

Here are some pictures...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...icture_182.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...icture_185.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...icture_186.jpg

After 20 years of servide, I will put a fresh coat of pain on the body to make whole unit looks nice.

Nice work.

[MikeV]

Thanks for the pics! Nice job! Very cool. What kind of string gripper does the old girl use?

[kooguy]

Originally Posted by MikeV

Thanks for the pics! Nice job! Very cool. What kind of string gripper does the old girl use?

It is just a regular string gripper, nothing special - two pieces of metal with ball bearing, it graps the string when move forward. See the picture...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...icture_183.jpg

[fastdunn]

Hi, kooguy. Thanks for this update.
In fact, I'm think about doing same thing with 740 for my old electronic
machine.

May I ask the dimension of the mounting frame (length, width, height)?

I'm wondering if it would fit to my machine. I asked Eagnas/Maxline
for its dimensions but they would not reply...

Thanks,
FD

[kooguy]

Assuming you are looking at this picture,
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...icture_180.jpg

The white color base,
Length : 22"
Width : 7 7/8"

The blue frame,
Height : 6 1/4", measure from the white color base. Add 3/4" if you include the curve portion of the base.

[fastdunn]

Thanks, koo(l)guy.

Did you know, before you build this, if the heght of the stringing
platform would be same level as string gripper ?

May I aslo ask how does that ball bearing base get fixed on the
(seemingly wood panel) base platform ?

This is helping be a lot and I finally might be able to upgrade
my machine ! Thanks!

[kooguy]

Did you know, before you build this, if the heght of the stringing
platform would be same level as string gripper ?

No. I don't but I ensure my base unit which support the platform is height adjustable. This is important if the Flex 740's mounting system is too high for your old machine.

May I aslo ask how does that ball bear base get fixed on the
(seemingly wood panel) base platform ?

The ball bearing base from flex 740 has 5/8" threaded metal about 3/4" in length. Above thread is another 1/8" (no thread) before the base. This section is 3/4" in diameter. It came with a small washer and nut for the thread. There is also a big washer fit under the base of the turntable but not very useful for my purpose. On the wood base, I used a drill to drill a 3/4" hole, about 1/8" deep. The next step is continue to drill a 5/8" hole all the way through.

The reason for the initial 1/8" depth is to allow the small turntable base to get close to the wood base to minimize flexing during high tension pulling. You should keep the gap between the small truntable and wood base to minimum like 1/64" distance. I find that if there is large gap (1/8") between the base and wood base, the mounting system will flex even by pressing at the end.

If you use method one (see my ealier post), you will not have this flexing problem because of the large stable base.

[tonysk83]

That lever is huge. But I bet the build quality is great on it.

[theace21]

Nice...It is always nice to see someone with a new idea.

[kooguy]

Originally Posted by tonysk83

That lever is huge. But I bet the build quality is great on it.

Yes, it is. At times it scares my friends a little after seeing what machine I used to string the rackets.. I think this machine can last at least through my grandchildren if I keep it in good shape.

By the way, the string gripper from Eagnas's Flex 740 can be used/retrofit to my old gripper as well but I think mine is better since it has lasted over 20 years.

[LttlElvis]

Is there a website where we can see this type of stringer in action. Or can you post pictures on how it grips strings, and you use the pedal.

Thanks

[kooguy]

Originally Posted by LttlElvis

Is there a website where we can see this type of stringer in action. Or can you post pictures on how it grips strings, and you use the pedal.

Thanks

I don't have a tennis racket with me handy so I used a badminton racket for demo.

String gripper position before tensioning.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Picture164.jpg

Press the pedal.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Picture168.jpg

The lever goes up.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Picture167.jpg

The string gripper move up.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Picture170.jpg

If you pull the string perpendicular to the gripper, it will be gripped automatically. It is a little challenging for me to show you while one hand is holding the camera. See this picture,
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Picture166.jpg

The next step is to release the foot pedal and the lever goes down which in turn does the string tension. You may need to do one more pull if the lever is not in horizontal position but I find that a few degrees off is acceptable. Most of the time one pull is enough to keep the lever horizontal when you have finished the first few main strings.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Picture172.jpg

[LttlElvis]

Wow. Thanks for taking the time to show this. Looks like that thing is made like a tank!! How much does it weigh?

Good job with the retrofit. Once you paint it, it will look like a high dollar machine.

[kooguy]

Originally Posted by LttlElvis

Wow. Thanks for taking the time to show this. Looks like that thing is made like a tank!! How much does it weigh?

Good job with the retrofit. Once you paint it, it will look like a high dollar machine.

My estimate is about 130lbs and it is like a tank, very sturdy during stringing. It is going to be with me for a very long time.....

[LttlElvis]

Kooguy,

Now that you have retrofitted and used both kind of mounting systems, what is your opinion of the newer suspension 6 point mounting versus the 2 point screw down mounting?

I know the suspension mounting is much quicker, but do you feel you get the same support as the screwdown mounting?

Why did you choose this mounting system over a 6 point screwdown or clamp down mounting system ?

Thanks

[kooguy]

Originally Posted by LttlElvis

Kooguy,

Now that you have retrofitted and used both kind of mounting systems, what is your opinion of the newer suspension 6 point mounting versus the 2 point screw down mounting?

I know the suspension mounting is much quicker, but do you feel you get the same support as the screwdown mounting?

Why did you choose this mounting system over a 6 point screwdown or clamp down mounting system ?

Thanks

I did a lot of research on the above questions as well...Finally, I just do it to validate my choice on the six-point system.

Six point mounting - It minimize potential racket damage due to high tension stringing process. (I had problem using 2-points system for high tension stringing) I'm sure there is a lot of debate on this but I do have piece of mind by having it especially I'm stringing racket for someone else. It may be a little slower to string your first racket when compare to 2-points due to all the contacts around the frame but you will learn to adapt. I like it very much now and just wondering why I didn't do it sooner.

Six point floating system vs 6 point screwdown or clamp down mounting system - Initially, I too have some reservation about the support on the six-point floating system. But after using it for a while, the six point floating system does work and the frame didn't move a bit during high tensioning process. On my previous 2-point system, I have to screw it down tight to prevent the frame from moving (no kidding!). Just keep in mind that you have to make sure all the six-points contacts have been adjusted to a tight fit before doing the stringing process.